Bike Run Tri Stoke

Bike Run Tri

Chatting all things bike, run, and triathlon from the southern tip of Africa - Cape Town.

Episodios

  1. 21/07/2022

    E 11. What's The Deal With Doping?

    Most conversations about competitive cycling that go on long enough will sooner or later get to the controversial subject of performance enhancing drugs. In the midst of the Tour de France you have likely very recently had one just like it. The times Pogacar and Vingegaard posted up the Col de la Croix on stage 13 were faster than Lance rode it, almost as fast as Pantani, once again raising speculation. Doping has been synonymous with professional bike riding for decades, with several documented cases of riders and teams being bust, some even dying in races, loaded with dangerous substances. Cynics would argue that racing for 3 weeks, nearly 200km per day, at 40km/h, let alone winning, isn't humanly possible without drugs. In the last 20 years there have also been numerous cases of amateurs being caught out and banned, and this is not unique to cycling. 7 of the 8 sprinters in the crazy fast Seoul Olympics 100m were caught and banned. Even ball sports have been affected. Sport is too competitive and lucrative to expect athletes not to seek marginal gains, especially if like so many they believe their competitors are doing the same. There was a time when those who accused flamboyant, seemingly insanely driven and talented riders like Pantani or the American hero Armstrong of being dopers, were branded as negative cynics. Then, after the most sensational sporting drama in history, that played out over a decade, even the most committed sports fans realized that doping was very real and in need of policing. Runners, rugby players, swimmers and all forms of sports people were caught and banned in an era where even teams from entire nations like Russia were denied access from competing in the Olympics by the IOC. It's been a decade since Lance finally confessed to his disgraceful career on the Oprah show. He lost all 7 of his TDF winner jerseys. The fact that nobody else was awarded any of those wins says a lot about how widespread drug abuse was in the pro peloton. Raw emotional stories shared by high profile riders in the aftermath gave us all deeper insight into the dark underbelly of sport that was almost impossible to escape for anyone with career aspirations. It's hard to imagine how anyone clean could have competed successfully in those times. Sponsors dropped teams for fear of repercussions and still today aspiring pro's and amateurs struggle to secure endorsements. Blood passports and out of competition testing has been ramped up in efforts to reduce the influence of drugs in all forms of sport. Wada (world anti doping association) and the likes have far greater insight on steroids, human growth hormone, testosterone, blood rinsing and EPO among the many scientific formulations they knew too little about. In recent years cycling has in fact led the way among sporting codes for cracking down on cheating. Let's not even Let's not even start with concealed engines. So where are we now we wonder? Riders are still climbing the legendary alpine ascents at the mind boggling speeds they were back then, and world records continue to fall despite stricter controls than ever. Sporting teams and individuals earn millions making untraceable doping affordable and a lucrative gamble for those who dare to venture into the grey space.

    1 h y 16 min
  2. E6. The Changing of the Guard with Anriette Schoeman & Hayley Preen

    29/10/2021

    E6. The Changing of the Guard with Anriette Schoeman & Hayley Preen

    Anriette Schoeman has won more bike races than any woman in South African history.  Her career wins exceed an unfathomable 400, that's more than most people will ever participate in. She has been winning races since she was at school and has continued to do so over nearly 30 years. She has raced, Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Champs among races for teams in Europe and road and mtb races on all continents. Cycling was her salvation from a tough childhood and has given her an incredible life travelling all over the world, spending time with people she enjoys. The ever smiley,  diminutive 'pocket rocket' is a sprint ace with grit - she loves to race hard and wishes women could still race among the men like the good old days. She wisely points out that gender bias stems from treating people differently from birth, a lesson that transcends cycling. Her healthy appetite to train consistently and continue to race is a reason why, at 44, she's still racing and looks half her age. On the other side of the generation gap is another South African road cycling champion who's half her age. Hayley Preen is only 22 and rocketed into the South African team at Worlds after a stellar season. The multi talented, effervescent youngster has performed at a national level in both show jumping and triathlon. She very recently crashed out of the Cape Epic with a broken wrist while lying 3rd overall, yet despite a cast on her arm when we met to record this podcast, she was revving to get doctors clearance to race 947 Ride Joburg just 3 weeks later. Women's cycling is on a high in 2021. The inaugural action packed Paris Roubaix then the launch Zwift Tour de France Femme in 2022 just happened on the back of the most exciting ladies World Cup XCO mountain bike series ever. There has never been a better time to be a pro lady cyclist, they are finally close to on par with men's cycling. Hayley is relishing a potentially much more lucrative career with less obstacles and far greater incentives than Anriette had. We found our timely discussion, witnessing the changing of the guard as Anriette passes the baton over, highly entertaining, interesting and insightful. We hope you do too.

    46 min
  3. E4. The Mental Battle with Donovan Geldenhuys

    08/09/2021

    E4. The Mental Battle with Donovan Geldenhuys

    Donovan Geldenhuys, aka 'Donovan Dutch', 'Frank the tank' or the 'Wattbazooka!', is probably the most intimidating amateur athlete in South Africa. He's the reigning Ironman World Champion, he's a Chartered Accountant, he runs 3 businesses, and he has a wife and 2 kids. The 40 year old's publicly available training regimen is enough to scare off opponents before the start gun. He trains harder, longer and more consistently than some pro athletes half his age. 10 years ago Donovan was a 125kg, plain cigarette smoking, nightclub bouncer. Today he's a global endurance sports world champion. Fair to say the tattoo'd giant of a personality is an overachiever. He never races to win his Age Group, he aims to wind-chime overall, always. Now into mid-life crisis stage, Don is facing his childhood demons. Introspection and reflection have led him to decide to speak up on a deep and frightening truth. He had extreme body dysmorphia, a mental illness which we are learning is far more prevalent among sports people, especially in modern times.   He's chosen to share that very dark period of his life, 24 years later. He decided to open up on this deeply suppressed life experience with us. We're grateful for the enormous bravery this very personal and traumatic revelation required. We have no doubt that people of all ages, genders and cultures will benefit from hearing his story. Coming from this guy it's an even greater shock and thus no doubt a reflection on society which suppresses mental illness among other historically frowned upon conditions. Try to find an hour or more to switch off the world and tune into this moving story. It may help you, or someone close to you, deal with their demons.

    1 h y 27 min

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Chatting all things bike, run, and triathlon from the southern tip of Africa - Cape Town.