Professional endurance competitor Rebecca Rusch has tackled her fair share of adventure races and 24-Hour mountain bike races throughout the years. Now, the Idahoan is in South Africa competing in the Absa Cape Epic, a nine-day endurance mountain bike stage race across the country’s scenic Western Cape. And we’re along for the ride. - Editor

I was lucky enough to escape Ketchum Idaho, where below-freezing temperatures and no promise of dirt riding for months is what March usually holds. Instead, I’m in South Africa with Specialized for training camp, some tire testing and the Cape Epic. I just picked up the race packet and now the fear and excitement have started to creep into my brain. A few months ago it seemed so easy to just click the button and sign up for an adventure in a foreign country. I remember saying to myself, “I can do that. It doesn’t look THAT hard. It won’t be THAT hot…”

Now that I am here, with 1200 racers from 41 countries strutting around in matching uniforms and super-toned legs, I feel pretty nervous. Most of my race preparation for this event consisted of cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing and a few hours a week on my trainer. I did not have a partner confirmed until just a few weeks before departure. Of course I do have a lot of years of adventure racing and endurance riding in my legs.

However, this is my first mountain bike stage race. The total mileage, total ascent and total time riding make a 24-hour solo race seem puny. The South African entries fill up immediately and many riders in this country train to peak for the race. Another good portion of the teams are pro cross-country and roadies, Olympians, world champions, national champions and other forms of really fast people. The list of accomplishments in all the categories is staggering.

Finding and appropriate partner for this adventure turned out to be harder than I thought. It’s a long way to travel, an expensive endeavor and I also admit, I am a bit picky about teammates. Spending nine days racing, camping, eating, sleeping and traveling alongside someone can put stress on even the best relationships. Add into the mix is the fact that I can be a little competitive. Okay, I am damned competitive — I want to do well, be competitive and ride fast. That said, I also want to laugh, share a beer and have a great time with my teammate.

Before the race I felt strongly about wanting to race with another woman — it’s early season and snowing where I live, so the thought of struggling to keep up with a fast guy immediately made me feel stressed and insecure. Second, I really like racing with other women. I have spent 10 years as the sole female and team captain on an elite adventure racing team. Believe me, I like guys as much as anyone, but racing with women is a whole different vibe, and can bring a breath of fresh air. It feels good to be on a level the playing field. And we can share the same clothes!

After hearing of my search, Nat Ross connected me with Cristina Begy. Nat and I have raced alongside each other for two years in 24 hour races, and he was the first person in the mountain bike scene to take me under his wing and share some of his experience. Cristina is one of the first female endurance mountain biking queens. We had not formally met until a few days ago, but I knew about her endurance prowess from loads of other riders and magazines. She had been out of the race scene for a couple of years, but has raced the Cape Epic twice and was looking for a partner for number three.

After one phone call, we both felt good about the match up. We both hold 24 Hour mountain bike National and World Championship titles. She has a ton of stage race experience, including Trans Rockies, Trans Alps, La Ruta and Cape Epic. I have plenty of multi-day race experience from Adventure Racing. On paper, we should be really compatible. For personality compatibility, we are both banking on Nat’s ability to choose friends.

Cristina trains in Jonkershoek

Our first official ride together was in Jonkershoek South Africa just a few days ago. It was a success — neither one of us rode away from the other, and we both labored up some of the bigger hills. The most reassuring thing is that we are both here to soak in the experience, to ride hard and have a great adventure. I have no idea where that will place us in the final rankings, but at least we are both on the same agenda. She also likes to quote Borat and Southpark, so how can I go wrong?

The heat has been a shock to my system and I am thankful to have had some time to ride and acclimatize. Cristina lives in Hawaii and is tanned and toned from lots of riding. It doesn’t seem to bug her. Africa feels a hell of a lot hotter than Idaho.

Thanks for reading
Rebecca