Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 58, May 2014 | Page 18

Running & Sport

Tenacious
Thea-Marie
In 2011 Thea-Marie van der Sandt was asked
to ride the ABSA Cape Epic for a charity with
renowned athlete Elana Meyer. However, she was
a runner and climber, and didn’t own a bike...
Unsurprisingly, the Epic was a rude awakening,
and on stage three she missed the cut-off by less
than two minutes. Fast-forward to 2014 and she
was signed up for her second Epic just 48 hours
before the race, but this time she was ready for
it. – BY NICOLE DE VILLIERS

W

hen the phone call came in 2011, inviting
her to team up with former Olympic silver medallist
Elana Meyer to ride the ABSA Cape Epic, Thea-Marie
thought it was a joke. “I thought it was a prank set-up
by ‘Whackhead Simpson.’ I didn’t even own a bike, I
was purely a runner, and I had absolutely zero muscle
memory for riding, because I didn’t even cycle to
school! But after 12 weeks of riding I found myself on
the start line of the Epic, completely oblivious as to
what I was letting myself in for.”
Having been a competitive runner and swimmer most
of her life, and having climbed the highest mountain
peaks on five out of seven continents, Thea-Marie
says that first attempt at the Epic was possibly the
most challenging experience she has ever taken on.
“I was used to getting podium spots in running and I
couldn’t fathom why I was stone last and the sweeper
vehicle was riding behind me! It was a devastating
experience to miss the cut-off, but I vowed to be
back... one day.”

TRYING AGAIN

Well, this year, having done a lot of mountain biking
since 2011, she came back with the muscle memory
and experience needed for the Epic, and had a superb
ride, despite only signi