Attakwas 2020 - Another Sub 7 attempt
Before & After My 2020 cycling calendar started off with my 3rd attempt at an Atta Sub 7. First try was in 2016 , that year I missed it properly by 17 minutes, 2017 I came fairly close - I was cruising on my way to a Sub 7 when vicious cramps jumped me on the last 2 climbs and I missed the Sub 7 by 2 minutes. This year I was confident, form was good, trained well over the December holidays. The new full suspension bike on it's own surely would surely be worth 5 minutes down on previous attempts? But in the lead-up to the race the obstacles to my goal started piling up. As in my previous 2 attempts I was seeded in C bunch (I have now made peace with the mystery of my bad Atta seedings and the resulting struggle through crowds for at least the first 50km of the race). The weather predictions were also unfavourable , with heavy rain & headwinds for the last 50 kilometers being predicted. As every year we started off at the Chandelier game lodge near Oudtshoorn. The w