The Absa Cape Epic 2017 'underdogs' Cannondale Factory Racing XC are riding back with a bang
"I think we are putting more pressure on these top teams because we are unpredictable." - Henrique Avancini
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| Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini |
Although having ridden together for the first time back in 2016, last year was rather special for them as they came out as the underdogs of the Cape Epic. They worked as a team and conquered all the stages for the first five days of the race and managing to finish podium. They shocked many fans of the biggest race in South Africa alike in the way they managed to step up to the plate and give teams like Investec-Songo-Specialised and Team BULLS a run for their money.
Last week Tuesday (February 13) the organisers of the Cape Epic organised a mixer for pro-riders and media to interact with each other ahead of this year's race which is set to kick off on the 18th of March. We managed to catch up with Cannondale Factory Racing's other half, Henrique as Manuel was not the in the country at the time to brief us on their preparations for the most enduring race to date.
How are the preparations for this year's race going so far?
"It's going really well. . . we are spending more time in South Africa this year. We also included a race here in our schedule. We are doing very well physically and mentally. . . . I am really looking forward to it (the epic), I am very excited. I am confident this year with the shape that I have, I have a bit of a different situation because I was coming from an injury, I was out of the bike for a long time and I had the shape at the epic but it was just a different process but I am feeling really good."
In comparison to last year (where they came out as the underdogs) what are you hoping will be different?
We have got more experience this year because we raced together for the first time in 2016 as more of a preparation for the season and we were targetting the stages, and we finished fourth overall and we exceeded our expectations. In 2017, we had a slightly different target we wanted to give the GC a try. We weren't sure how we were going to do it but yet again we did quite well. We had the shape and rode quite aggressively for the first five/six days and I mean we could've fought for the win till the end but we ended up having some physical issues which is a part of the learning process and I think I took a lot out of the 2017 epic so I am feeling more confident for 2018. It's a completely different race to the other ones, so I have had the experience and have it now to compete even more aggressively but the epic is different even now with the cross-country and the mountain riders so it will be more interesting to see how it goes. So we need to learn how to behave during the 8 days, its not easy but I feel like I am more prepared.
Are you feeling the pressure in anyway to emulate last year's performance?
I don't feel pressure, I think we are putting more pressure on these top teams because we are unpredictable and they are really good at what they do but they are predictable in a way that they know the way to ride and approach the race and these stages. They are more steady and consistent but predictable so I think in the end we are the ones that add a lot more pressure to the race than other riders because they dont really know how we are going to be, sometimes we can just smash a stage and another day we are compeletely broken so we are not that stable, and I think thats the barrier? of the cape epic because they mix up the top teams with the more intense teams, and consistent teams. ?Thats what really makes this race more interesting.
How do you guys generally prepare for the Cape Epic?
Its more about the environment you are in, the people that surround you so it depends how it goes because with races like this you can have a tough day like last year with mechanics like last year so its quite hard to keep the good mood for the next dayand thats why you need to get on well with your team partner which in my case is Manuel and also the crew around us so you need to feel at home somewhere comfortable to get back to after a long day on the stage.
As team partners how do you guys handle the conflict that may arise amongst yourselves?
I mean in 8 days, we change quite a lot, like who is first on the team, who is dealing better with the pressure so you just need to kind of balance your emotions so to me its not when I ma racing the epic, i just try to look after my partner and thats my main goal in that moment. Of course i need to focus on doing my stuff but i am always looking out for my partner and how he is doing. We have gotten to a point of just knowing each other now. I am just really looking forward to riding again this year with Manuel.
The 2018 Absa Cape Epic is set to kick-off from 18 - 25 March with the Prologue going back to the University of Cape Town.
From The L.A Dosage team, we send our best wishes to all the riders who will partaking in this year's race. May the best team win!
Till next time. . .
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