Tara's report of Epic Day 6: Wanaka-Queenstown

Ok, so the day started out relatively normally for Epic Camp (although I did notice that it was particularly windy). We (Scott, Clive, Albert, John and I) started with a 50min run towards the pool. We saw Charlsey along the way and we were then picked up by the van heading to the pool. On to a 6K swim. I did the 20x100 again with Scott just to make some of the time go by more quickly but all my swim sets have been completed so no extra points for this - I was just tagging along for the ride.
Todays ride was supposed to beWanaka - Queestown and then after lunch a Queenstown-Glenorchy out and back but after experiencing the conditions that we did, the out and back section was cancelled. For safety reasons. Because if there wasn't a safety issue, I can tell you this would have happened as there is no mercy at Epic.
I would just like to say that today was totally insane...The pace line riding was ok until the breakaways happened. I did my darndess to bridge that dreaded gap and definitely missed the love train today. I rode on my own for most of the way to and up the climb and my quads were blown up from trying to hang on...Oh, and also, my quads were already blown up from 5 days of insanity.
Up the KOM only to be passed by Alfred in the Yellow jersey towards the top part of the climb, as well as by Douglas and John. I was hurting. But little did I know that the hardest part of the ride was yet to come.
It was raining but I didn't notice how cold it was as I was climbing. All my warm clothing accessible in my day bag did me little good as I started the cold, wet, and frightening descent. Full brakes on and not being able to completely stop. Switch back after switch back and shivering and shaking went on forever until I finally managed not to wipe out over the last cattle guard and make it into the van with the heat blasting. I layered up with every piece of clothing in my day bag and gave Gordo my Zoot bathing cap for him to wear under his helmet. I headed back that last 20K to the hotel with Albert and BDC and not only did we almost get blown off our bikes, we felt like we were being belted with hail as we rode on a complete sideways angle, we saw a massive branch come flying down, but we also saw a bird literally be blown out of the sky (I swear!) We finally made it back to the hotel and I think I may have taken the longest hot shower on record.
THAT was Epic, for sure.
Albert actually did a 2hr run today and it kicking in the points. I am now in 4th...still hangin' on. I think the survival starts now: Tomorrow is a big day with a HUGE run up the mountain that apparently will take the fast guys a minimum of 2:30...Then we swim...Then we ride...
A great dinner was devoured tonight and coffee, ice cream, and beers and pizza were had in Queestown to end an incredible day!