Race to the Sea – MotoMarshal Event
Saturday 02 September 2023
Ready Steady Go!
The MTB cyclists who dared to enter this monster of a race woke up the town of Franschoek very early on Saturday, 02 September 2023. Before the sun had time to rise, the town was buzzing with cyclists getting in the last cup of coffee, breakfast snack and tyre check at the foot of Franschoek pass. Probably one of the most intimidating yet beautiful race starts I have ever seen. Franschoek Hugenot Monument set the scene for the gunshot to go off.
Just like the cyclists did a lot of prep work before the time to ensure they are well prepared for the monstrous 160kms that waited for them, so a lot of work goes in behind the scenes to make events like these run as flawless as possible, knowing all the elements that need to come together at the perfect time. The BMW MotoMarshal team has become a value-added service to events like this to make sure that happens.
The Marshal team arrived just after 6 in Franschoek, spirits were high while the orange brigade huddled together discussing some last final touches to the day. The team spirit amongst this team is very special and immediately we felt at home amongst our ‘new’ teammates.
As the Elite racers took off, so each marshal gracefully joined his group and took off over Franschoek pass. Each marshal knows his role and it just happens. No scrambling or guessing. It just happens. This team really runs as a well-oiled machine.
We headed out with the second last group, up over Franschoek pass. Starting with an uphill like that, I was grateful the MTB stayed home, and I was snuggled at the back of my husband on his 800. The cyclists came flying down the pass. So far so good. Everyone was in the right place at the right time.
Coming to the end of the pass we saw Ellis and co-pilot guiding everyone comfortably across the road.
Soon we headed out onto the gravel. The fun part started. We gained race access to farms and was blessed to be able to ride through the orchards of Grabouw. The cyclists must have felt this the same way we did. Breathe in – Breathe out, Damn! We live in a beautiful province.
The route took us all through Van der Stels pass and then a quick and out of Botrivier via Beaumont Farm. Another sneak peak at riding through a beautiful farm. We had single tracks, mud, beautiful roads, slippy slide roads, and the lets not forget the loose pebbles in empty beds. The cyclist’s playground was open. And they could choose their poison because they were spoiled for choice on the day.
Off to Caledon and Tesselaarsdal, the route continued to unfold into a more beautiful canvas for everyone. Riding under bridges that opened up to views of yellow and green. The marshals still guided their teams through it all and the banter between cyclist and rider became more as the day continued. The day seemed to start like strangers on a field, by lunch time we were all in it together. Some cyclists got side wall punctures and bought some land out there, while some of us ended up doing the same, just to keep us all humble you know (wink).
The role of the marshals is primarily there to ensure safety of the participants and also ensure the race rules are adhered to. With this being said, everyone who decides to marshal, does it because they want to be there and have a passion for people and the sport.
Coming to the end of the day we headed to the finish line in time for the first rain to start falling. Sitting in the VOC with Andy, our eyes in the sky, we heard that the last cyclist wasn’t as close to home as we hoped. Our captain Donovan headed out again to go assist with some of the other marshals. They stayed with the group until everyone was home.
This is what makes this team even more special.
Having participated in a few sports events, running, cycling and so on, I must admit when I felt like the wheels literally were coming off, there would be a marshal waving a flag or suddenly next to me somewhere on the route giving a few words of motivation. I know the value of that. Knowing you are safe, knowing that there is someone there who has your back, even though you don’t even know their names, maybe just the color of their bikes or a number that stuck in your head for the 5 seconds you looked up to catch your breath.
Thank you, BMW MotoMarshal team. I know everyone who enters and completes an event like this is a winner and a warrior, but you guys are definitely the Guardian Angels that fly above it to make sure everyone is race ready.
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