Belli has been blind since the age of 16 due to Pigmentary Retinitis. His standard answer to anyone asking about his sight is "all I see is what I've seen". Commenting on communicating during a race, Roma adds that “verbal communication is very important in our case. For Adauto, everything comes down to my voice and sounds. I report everything that is coming and what action we need to take”.
With regards to riding a tandem, he adds that it definitely is more difficult. “A tandem is heavy, lacks flexibility and can’t brake as fast – it’s similar to driving a truck in the Paris Dakar. Adauto is far more experienced on a tandem than I am. He has already won several events and is part of the Brazilian Paralympic road cycling team. I have much to learn from him.”
Belli says after completing Stage 4 and reaching the half way mark that the Absa Cape Epic is tough, but amazing as they are able to finish every day before the maximum stage time. “Every day after the race is the worst day, as I’m exhausted and suffering and my muscles are in so much pain. To be able to continue the next day is such a gift.”
On whether he would have still participated had he known before the time just how hard the event is, Belli says “absolutely – I knew it was going to be challenging and my motto is ‘no pain, no gain’. I’m still very happy I’m here and I’m part of this journey.”
With Belli living in Brasilia and Roma in Sao Paolo, they were never able to train together. “Unlike most, I don’t believe that training together is the most essential factor in finishing this race. The most important thing is team spirit. Adauto is used to living every moment as a team and for me it’s my 13th mountain bike race stage race. It certainly will make a difference for us to achieve this challenge. We’re going great as a team and learning a lot individually about being riders. Although we’ve reached the half way mark, we don’t think about that. We just take each day as it comes and will do everything we can to make it to the end. You can only experience victory on completion of the last day as with this race, anything can still happen – even during the final stage.”
For the next couple of stages, the team says they are going to be careful with both themselves and their bikes – saving as much energy as possible.
As an experienced Absa Cape Epic veteran, Roma says that riding with Belli is a completely new experience for him. “It’s really a battle with lots of suffering riding in the back-end like this. I’m not used to spending so much time in the saddle. I jokingly said that as the driver, we’re starring in our version of the movie ‘Driving Miss Daisy’. In our case it’s ‘Driving Mr Adauto’.”
Roma says that Stage 3 was the most difficult stage ever in his Absa Cape Epic history. “Dr Evil certainly lived up to his name – he was tremendously evil. I’m just hoping that he made a mistake and that tomorrow’s Stage 5 will be easy for a change.”
To this team, “determination, keeping a good pace, and cycling as a team” are what matters most. Says Roma: “Team spirit is the fuel that allows common people to achieve uncommon results.”
Commenting on the participation of the other blind rider Hein Wagner in this year’s Absa Cape Epic, Roma comments: “It just gives us extra motivation and one more reason to think that we're not the only crazy ones. Hein and Gerrie (Olivier) can count on our support throughout the race. We get together often and sometimes even ride together. With our two teams we can achieve our goals and encourage many blind adults and children worldwide that there are no barriers and by example push them to be more active, playing sports and gaining confidence in their daily routines.”
