Team Buff-Megamo 2022 Cape Epic double interview

As the dust settles in South Africa after another great edition of the Absa Cape Epic, we are extremely proud to be back in the game after our short break. It’s where we feel at home and where we have been many times in the past, with great experiences. The last being with the pair of José Antonio Hermida and Joaquim 'Purito' Rodríguez in 2018.

This time we were back with our own great “pair” too: the brand new Red Zone Carbon. These are the wheels that we’ve supplied to the riders of the BUFF-MEGAMO TEAM. At the Cape Epic, more than anywhere else, maximum performance and absolute reliability are essential for a great result. 

For this special occasion both the BUFF-MEGAMO TEAM pairs were racing on Red Zone Carbon wheels, with a custom finish to match their special Buff racing kits. The first pair, formed by Hans Becking and José Dias, put on a great show finishing the epic race in fourth place, whereas Enrique Morcillo and Hugo Derchou gave their absolute best before having to stop due to health issues that forced them to scratch from the competition. Derchou finished the race solo anyway and the pair were absolutely crucial in the first stages in support of Team 1.

It’s been an unforgettable experience for everybody regardless and we had a chance to ask the riders about it in a fun double interview. Enjoy their take on the race and some behind the scene stories!

 

 
What makes the Cape Epic different from all other races?

HB-JD: It's probably because of the media coverage. Many fans follow the race. It's a good race to shine in. The fact that it's 8 days long makes it special too.

EM-HD: It’s THE RACE. All the best riders are there. It's more than 700 kms and 8 days of racing. The whole MTB world watches it.

HB-JD: It's the daily routine. It's hard to recover every day. It's a physical and mental rollercoaster.

EM-HD: Everything…the combination of the length, the heat and the 8 days of racing.
  
How much do tactics count before and during the race? How important is the presence of the second team? 

HB-JD: You can prepare the best tactical plan in the world, but your body needs to have the watts... no watts, no party! You can make a general plan, but the main thing is to wait and be ready to push when it’s needed.

EM-HD: The tactics are really important. During the long, flat stages it’s important to be as close as possible to our top team to help them. It’s also important to be there if they have a mechanical problem we can help with.
 

Did you change the setup of the bike for the different stages? 

HB-JD: No, not really. It's the basic marathon set up.

EM-HD: No, just the tyres and the pressure.
  
Worst and best moment of this edition? 

HB-JD: The best moment was the flawless start, we didn’t have any major issues in the first half. Then we had some mechanicals and some mishaps and our chances of a podium slid away.

EM-HD: The best moment was being in the first group and feeling really good, while the worst was the stomach problems during stage 6. In the end we couldn’t start stage 7 and had to accept a DNF.

HB-JD: We found out that Morcillo has no idea how a washing machine works. He probably has a wife taking care of him at home. We also found out that Marc’s lasagna is the best in the world and that it's impossible to find tiramisù in South Africa.

EM-HD: Racing with Hugo. He is a newbie to such races and he was always asking me for advice and for the best way to tackle the stages.
We also had a lot of fun at the team house. It was a really nice 10 days with a very positive atmosphere.

HB-JD: About 2 weeks and 12 bottles of wine.

EM-HD: I usually need three weeks to be 100% again.
  
Last but not least. Has it been easier to race with the Red Zone Carbon? 

HB-JD: It's been a walk in the park on a sunny afternoon thanks to our wheels! Jokes apart it makes a huge difference to have wheels that never let you down and you feel confident to cross the African jungle with!

EM-HD: We were so happy with the wheels! We didn't have any problem whatsoever and they really flew on the trails.

 

Thank you for your time guys and good luck for the rest of the season!