#185km

"Waiting on Mishaq to start the day; we'd begun #TourOfAra here July end, then also the last stage to Matjiesfontein early August, so there was a sense of familiarity between place, crew, riders of both. Community within cycling is a contextual thing, but with rides like these it runs deep, with bonds almost familial." Sutherland 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

Hydrating and Fueling well #185km in to Bike Leg #umoz2018

Panorama 1/3. "Riders, crew, friends, Tannie Poppie and even a paramedic welcome last man in, Eric 'The Machine' Basson, bringing #Karoobaix 2017 to a close. Like #TourOfAra, there is a level of respect shared amongst those drawn to the race that reflects as equally on the last one to finish as it does on the first." Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

"Stan, just arrived, enjoys a beer with John Watson of #TheRadavist. John would have ridden this day but an old knee injury flared up and he had to sit it out, much to his regret. Incidentally, Stan was headed off on another lengthy bike tour to Die Hel the following day, with John sadly also missing out on this. John's photos and story of #Karoobaix are up on #TheRadavist along with Stan's of Die Hel trp." Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

"Ettiene Jordaan, just in, chats with Commissaire Mishaq in the blazing Karoo sun." Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

"Darren Lill, second on both days and overall, well into his relaxation time, watches Gilles come into town. I'd just arrived, parked my bike under a tree and stumbled across the road when I saw this..." Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

" 'Slow and steady wins the race' seems such a falsehood in view of my pointless scramble to reel in the leaders on day two. I'd spotted what I thought was an ominous rock in the road and in avoiding it, saw this tortoise whip its head into its shell. A short stop (or stoop) and then I carried it out of harm's (or cyclists') way, when I saw..." Approaching Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX

"I'd found a tear in the heel of my boot, probably from the chain or tire of the bike as I tried to keep it upright and moving through the sand from the last stretch. As I limped into the bar to get a drink, I saw the top riders chilling, looking the absolute opposite of how I was feeling, winner Charles Keey sitting hand on his head with the rest of what amounted to the top 5 or so. Charles had impressed everyone with his win on the first day and the news that he'd been the only one to not walk up Oubergpas, but ride it all the way. These guys are a breed apart; I'd come nowhere close to catching any of them in a photo, sweeping from the back of the 185km day." Matjiesfontein 10•October•2017 Photograph by @LiamLynchPhoto #Karoobaix #Stage2 #Moordenaars #Sutherland to #Matjiesfontein #185km #Karoo #SouthAfrica #MoordenaarsKaroo #Desert #GravelRace #CyclocrossStyle #DropHandlebars #400km #KBX