STAGE 5 RECAP | CAPE EPIC 2025 | CYCLESPORT.COM ALEX WILD + ZACH CALTON | Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast 522
Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad
TrainerRoad
4.9 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 21 March 2025
⏱️ 21 minutes
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// TOPICS COVERED
(00:00) Welcome!
(01:50) Zach’s Nightmare Mechanical
(11:59) Will Zach keep racing Cape Epic?
(18:32) Looking Ahead to Stage 6
In today's episode, we recap the rigorous Stage 5, also known as the Queen Stage, of the 2025 Absa Cape Epic. This stage included a total distance of 98 kilometers and 2,850 meters of climbing. Alex and Zach faced severe challenges, including a crash and a catastrophically broken rear wheel, which led to time-consuming struggles including shouldering the bike and walking without shoes to reach the tech zone. Despite debates on whether to continue or pull out of the race, both Alex and Zach discuss their resolutions to push through adversity. We also provide a preview of the next stage, covering the expected route and weather conditions. Stay tuned to hear their gripping journey and perseverance! Don't forget to leave your messages of support and check out CycleSport.com to help support Alex and Zach.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Queen Stage Recap of the 2025 Apsic Cape Epic. |
| 0:03.9 | That's stage 5, 98 kilometers, 61 miles, 2,800, 250 meters, 9,350 feet of climbing. |
| 0:13.2 | A truly massive stage. |
| 0:14.8 | It's got a spike at the end called The Neck. |
| 0:17.2 | That sounds like a terrible climb. |
| 0:18.6 | And it looks even worse than it sounds toward the end of it. |
| 0:21.9 | We have some stories to tell. The stage time came in 47th today. Six hours and 35 minutes and |
| 0:28.8 | seven seconds. That's two hours and 21 minutes and 40 seconds behind the leader. If you're keeping |
| 0:33.5 | track of things, that sounds like something went wrong. GC position. You're now in 44th position, so you've dropped 18 positions. |
| 0:41.8 | You have a total of 22 hours and four minutes. |
| 0:45.0 | You're four hours and 16 seconds and four hours, 16 minutes and 45 seconds behind the leader. |
| 0:49.8 | Sorry to go through that, guys. I saw pain going across your faces as I said that. |
| 0:53.7 | Zach, what happened |
| 0:55.1 | yeah i mean we were we were cruising uh kind of more of the saying that we've we've talked about |
| 1:01.3 | that's you know slower start for me but use our use the tactics that we've come up with and |
| 1:06.2 | we're making uh making some moves i I would say, earlier than days past. |
| 1:11.7 | And then it was like somewhere around 45K in, there was a wet bridge. |
| 1:17.3 | And they've all had chicken wire on them. |
| 1:19.7 | And so they'd been fine, but this one just didn't. |
| 1:22.6 | And before I had any time to process it, I was just on the ground. |
| 1:28.1 | And then I think what ended up happening is my bike was kind of propped on the bridge and trying to avoid me. |
| 1:36.9 | Alex also fell on the bridge and ran over my wheel, which is propped over like a, like a board, like on a herb, and then stomped on it with his front wheel, I think, which, yeah, |
... |
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