50 Spanish cyclists, thousands of euros lost to the coronavirus and an odyssey from the Cape Town airport

The Cape Epic It is one of the most important races in the world of mountain bike. With only a few years to live, his brilliant success had led to the enrollment of 1,400 runners for the edition of 2020. A couple of cyclists, 647 kilometers to tour in eight days Y 15,550 meters of ascent. An absolute madness with an end in Cape Town, one of the most spectacular cities on the planet.

Between that thousand runnersProfessionals and amateurs included Borja Bergareche, European champion of cyclocross in category 65-69, and fifty other Spaniards. He had already run the Titan Desert and other renowned tests and it was going to be his first time on the South African route … But it was not like that.

After spending close to seven thousand euros Between the race bib, the physical therapists and mechanics offered by the organization, flights from Spain, a hotel for the previous two days and the motorhome that was going to help them during the 8 days of effort, the coronavirus.

In the days leading up to the test, Borja contacted those responsible for the Epic Cape. Like him, all runners. “I know run, no problem“They said. The closer the date got, the more the virus spread and the more concern there was among the participants.” They told us that it was going to be celebrated, that they had taken measures, so we traveled on the 12th, “he tells EL MUNDO. The race started this Sunday on the 15th.

“On the 14th, 24 hours before the start of the test, we went for the bibs. And to our surprise they tell us that is canceled. Sure, people smoked a pipe … You can leave between 5,000 and 7,000 euros per person. There began a moment of stress. You're trying to catch a fast-paced flight, which is more money, of course, because we already had one booked back. There were people from Italy, Germany, France, United States, Argentina … We could not travel via Turkey because they did not allow Spaniards to enter, so we had to do it through Doha, and from there to Madrid, “he summarizes.” You panic, In case the airports close and you can't go back, you think about your family … Now I'm at home, in quarantine because I don't know if I could catch the virus and I don't want to infect others. “

These types of tests benefit from the boom they have had in recent years and draw much of their income from amateur participants, who spend thousands of euros on trips and hotels to enjoy a unique moment in their lives. “They where the most money is made by the fans, who take time and money from our work and our family to be here. They are the ones who make a test successful. Now we are trying to make us count the registration for the next year , because they gave notice the day before the start of the test “.