Right before the top of the major climb on Tuesday's stage, Mark Fish was taken out of the race by the official Absa Cape Epic medical team due to severe blisters on his feet and cuts on his heels.

By the time the doctors arrived, Fish was already walking on his socks as he could not bear the pain of wearing shoes anymore. Fish says that he was experiencing skin irritation since Stage One of the race, and now regrets that he did not pay more attention to the warning signals.

"The shoes I'm wearing are fairly new, and I haven't spent a lot of time cycling with them, let alone walking. Today we were hiking for over an hour, and I was fighting the challenge mostly by walking on my socks."

"I'm so disappointed! When I start something, I want to finish it. I have to accept and do understand that health comes first. I'll be back next year, and then I'll be better prepared."

Fish says that despite no longer taking part in the actual event, he will stay on for the duration of this year's event after the organisers encouraged him to participate with the daily soccer and running school tournaments, and help support the development sports programmes that the Absa Cape Epic endorses.


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