2 weeks into the Quarter De France

We are now 15 stages into the Quarter de France (we are riding a quarter of the distance of the Tour de France every day the Pro’s ride).  

 

You can choose to ride any stage, or miss a few and jump back in. The contenders however, are doing EVERY stage, just like the Pro’s. Scroll down to the bottom to see the list of Contenders who are still in the running for the converted finishers yellow jersey. 

 

 

This is how Lisa is doing after 2 weeks, she is still a contender. We have 35 contenders left, and 6 stages left! Good luck and keep going.

 

 

‘I am not a triathlete or any kind of athlete to be fair, just a 51 year old working mom from Cape Town.

I was inspired to do the QDF when I saw my friend Tracy Kruger do it last year and decided there and then I would give it a bash this year.

 

I ride mainly alone in weird times as I run my own Pilates studio and teach after hours. The QDF will be the most distance I have ever done in such a short time and also the most consecutive days of training since my ballet dancer days. It has been a challenge, not only physically but also from a scheduling perspective, trying to fit it into my working and mom life. I am NOT a good cyclist, I just love being on my bike so I am slow which adds to the time challenge.

 

I have done some fabulous Atlantic Seaboard cycles and one cycle in Blouberg on the road bike in the good weather. 

 

 

I cycle with my son on the MTB on weekends so we have done two lovely rides on the trails in Tokai and the Greenbelt with him doing most with me and then chilling at Bootleggers while I finish up the required distance. My favourite stage has definitely been Stage 8 on that idyllic Saturday on the trails with him.

 

 

The bad weather has brought the biggest challenge. Sitting alone in the Spinning Studio at gym and doing those long rides has been uncomfortable, boring(even with Netflix) and totally not how I like to ride but gritting my teeth and just getting it done has taught me the most about myself.

 

This past week in the awful weather I even rode outside on my MTB just lapping up and down the Sea Point Prom and circling the stadium complex to stay off the roads which felt dangerous in the wet and the wind. Although a bit boring it has also been exhilarating and way more fun than the gym.

 

I am determined to finish the challenge. Although we don’t ride together just knowing that Tracy will be doing the stage no matter what is a huge inspiration. I also believe that these difficult challenges teach us so much and show us how resilient and strong we can be. I see it as learning life skills. I am also aware that even on my worst day I am SO lucky to have a body that can do this and that some people who are not able bodied or are ill would probably give anything just to experience my bad ride, let alone the great ones, so I also ride for them.

I also hope to show my son the importance of finishing what you start no matter how difficult and how with determination anything is possible.

 

 

 

List of contenders:

Andrew

Anneri

Ashley

Ashton

Britt

Carly

Colin

Dave

Deborah

Emile

Everett

George

Gert

Grant

Henk

Jax

Juan

Kegan

Lisa

Mike

Martin

Naomi

Nicolas

Reynard

Robyn

Rory

Roy

Sam

Shirley

Suzanne

Taschyana

Tracy

Wessel

Zhandre