Sappi Karkloof Classic

The Karkloof Classic has always been a highlight on the racing calendar as it is well organised and has a brilliant course with some spectacular riding. The race takes place in the beautiful Karkloof valley situated just outside of Howick.

Karkloof Classic is not just a one day event but presents a whole weekend of racing. The event opens up with a night race on the Friday, followed by an Enduro (downhill) event the Saturday and finishes with the blue ribbon 60km marathon event on the Sunday.

In the past, I’ve ridden Karkloof twice and on both occasions I thoroughly enjoyed the event. This time around I experienced a somewhat different Karkloof Classic. It started raining 2 days prior to the event and the deluge totalled up to 192mm of rain in the area comes Sunday. To say the course was muddy would be an understatement.

By some miracle we woke to clear skies on the morning of the event. I couldn’t believe our luck as I was prepared (as much as one can be) for a wet and cold day on the bike. Soon after we left the start line I wasn’t so sure about our ‘luck’ anymore. The few hours that the weather cleared was just enough to turn the mud from sloppy to tacky. As a result the mud stuck to everything and became the day’s main challenge.  

The ladies started in the C batch and after a few kilometres I found myself alone at the head of affairs. At one stage I thought I had gone the wrong way as riders were coming towards me from the opposite direction. If only I knew then what was lying in wait, then I would have probably turned around with them.

On the first climb around 15km into the race my equipment couldn’t cope with the harsh conditions anymore. I was forced to stop with chain suck and clogged up tyres and gears. This would be my story for the day as I repeatedly stopped to clear mud from my drive train, just so I could keep moving. In the last 3^rd of the race I was forced to ride in my big chainring as the chainsuck was just too much. I didn’t give up fighting as I moved up and down the field like a yo-yo with all my mechanical stops, but eventually all I could do was try to get to the finish line without breaking my chain.

I was very relieved when I finally crossed the finish line and still managed to hold onto 3^rd place.

I am sure every rider has his/her own war story to tell as the weather conditions made for quite a battle on the day. Like they say, any experience is a valuable experience as long as you learn something from it. I learned that you have to keep mud tyres close by and that your drivetrain is in good working condition otherwise it might be a long day in the saddle (or on foot) in muddy conditions.

I feel sorry for the organisers as the weather sadly can make or break your event. Judging by all the marshals out on route, the professional race venue at Karkloof Polo Club and the good course they deserved to have a successful day. I guess I’ll have to go back next year to experience Karkloof as it should be.

Final Results:

1^st         Jeannie Bomford

2^nd        Ashleigh Parker Moffatt

3^rd         Yolandi du Toit

Lowveld Quest Stage Race

The Lowveld Quest is a four day stage race which traverses parts of the beautiful Lowveld. The event is also the region’s first mountain bike point 2 point stage race which makes the Lowveld Quest a real pioneering initiative.

Our bizhub team consists of 4 girls, so normally I would partner with one of my teammates for a stag

e race. This time things were a bit different and when the opportunity arose to ride with a good friend and local legend Francois Lourens, there was no way that I could let it slip.

Stage 1 - 80km & 1700m ascent

The first stage started in Lydenburg and finished 80km later at the renowned Mankele bike park. The clement conditions made for a great day of racing as one could appreciate the magnificent views along the way. Francois and I combined well as a team and it showed when we won the stage and took the lead in the mixed category by stage’s end.

Stage 2 – 70km & 1600m ascent

Fine rain fell throughout the stage which went from Mankele to Sabie making race conditions very tough.  The rain was quite unfortunate as this was another scenic stage and the low cloud meant visibility was quite limited, especially at the aptly named Misty Mountain lodge which lies at 2000m above sea level. Fortunately Francois and I coped with the muddy course and hilly terrain, making it safely to our camp ground at Merry Pebbles in Sabie for another stage win.

Stage 3 – 63km & 1600m ascent

From Sabie to Graskop we encountered some more big climbs rewarded with glimpses of big waterfalls through heavy mist. For once the restricted visibility was a good thing as one couldn’t see how long the climbs actually were - ignorance truly is bliss! I enjoyed the stage as there was quite a lot of single track criss-crossing the huge pine forests which made for some good fun riding. We finished at the environmental centre tugged away just outside of Graskop. Despite Francois disappearing under water in a mud “puddle” close to the finish, we still managed to win the stage and finish with smiles all around.

Stage 4 – 55km & 650m ascent

The last stage took us from Graskop to the finish at Induna Adventures just outside of Hazyview. Everything seemed to play along for the finale - the sun was out, a primarily downhill stage, plenty of single track and a hearty meal waiting at the finish – what more could you want?

Along the way there was an underwater forest which sadly I could only steal a glimpse of, a ride through the Lowveld Hedges (rock formations) and over the ‘drie klein varkies’(three little pigs ). This all added to the unique experience of the final stage. Team bizhub –Lion Sands ended the week on a high by winning the final stage and locking up the overall title as well.

A few things that stood out for me was the effort the organisers put into designing a spectacular race route building trails to link the route were necessary, delicious food and the sparkling atmosphere surrounding the event. Thanks to everyone involved in making the Lowveld Quest a unique experience! This is definitely an event you don’t want to miss out on.

Final results

1^st           Francois Lourens & Yolandi du Toit

2^nd          Garry McNaughton & Samantha Oosthuysen

3^rd           Gerhard Bersohn & Christine Jansen van Rensburg

USN CUP Series #3

The beautiful B’Sorah game farm just off the Broederstroom road, west of Johannesburg was the venue for the 3^rd round of the USN Cup Series.

The owner of B’Sorah game farm’s two sons are passionate mountain bikers which lead to them building single track on the 1600 hectares of farm land. The hand built trails are now on offer to like minded people seeking an opportunity to enjoy riding their bikes in safe, yet beautiful surroundings.

The result is 50km of remarkable single and jeep track through dense bush which offers views of various game (Kudu, Waterbuck, Blesbuck) for those who could steal a glimpse while riding. Sadly I only heard of this afterwards as I was clearly too focused on my race.

With the course only being 50km in distance riders didn’t want to muck about and started racing hard from the word go.

During the opening kilometres of the race, I struggled to find a good rhythm on the tricky single track. This dropped me back to about 4^th place in the ladies field. Amy MacDougall (Team ASG ) on the other hand rode the single track as if it was one straight line (which it was anything but) and moved into the lead with around 10km into the race.

Although I lost some ground early on, I never gave up and kept chasing hard, trying to make contact with the girls up front. Around the halfway mark I moved up to 2^nd place and caught sight of Amy as the course opened up a little bit. Having Amy back in view motivated me as I could see I was making progress.

With fresh motivation I tackled the only long climb of the race intent on catching Amy. I pushed extra hard and managed to close the gap on Amy and passed her to take the lead. I know she is fast on single track, especially downhill single track which meant the final 10km of the race suited her better.

Not wanting to make the same mistake as at Sappi Mankele, I road my heart out to the finish line crossing it only a couple of seconds ahead of Amy. 

Taking the victory at the USN CUP race in such a close and hard fought battle really makes the win extra rewarding. If it wasn’t for Amy I wouldn’t have pushed myself so hard which is what racing is all about.

Results

1^st      Yolandi du Toit (Team bizhub)

2^nd     Amy McDougall (Team ASG)

3^rd      Michel Coetzer (Cycle Lab)

4^th      Nicci Grobler (Team bizhub)

5^th      Reinette Jooste 

Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge

Despite the race being in its 3^rd year of existence, it was my first time taking part in the Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge. As with every new race, I was very excited to discover what the event had to offer. Adding to the experience was the fact that the race took place in my favourite part of the country, namely the picturesque Lowveld.

Mankele Bike Park was the venue where the race was run from and you’d be pushed to find a better spot to host a mountain bike race. Upon our arrival on Friday night, the atmosphere at Mankele was very reminiscent of the Isuzu 3 Towers race and the camping terrain was packed. It is so nice to see that people still enjoy the outdoor lifestyle available to South Africans.

The race organisers provided us with our own tented accommodation for the evening and on finding our tent I was totally surprised! I was expecting the usual two man tent that they use during the Three Towers event, but instead we were given a huge eight man tent. This meant there was enough room for us and our bikes inside the tent after we had our dinner under a starlit sky.

The next morning at 8am we set off to tackle the 60km marathon route. The race started with a long (10km) ascent which saw riders climbing out of the valley (775m) to reach heights of 1190m. Samantha Saanders (Valencia) started off at a blistering pace opening a small gap to me on the lower slopes of the climb. I kept focusing on my own race and steadily rode up to her. Maintaining my speed I passed her and drew away as the ascent continued.  From the summit I settled into a good rhythm pacing myself throughout the event in an attempt to hold on to the lead.

Samantha is well known for her world class technical abilities and I pushed hard knowing that she wouldn’t give up the chase. She is a local and winning in front of her home crowd and sponsors meant a lot to her. 

Basically we were both making the best of our strengths while trying to limit the damage everywhere else. As it turned out we were very equally matched and Sam caught me with 200m to go. No doubt she was inspired by seeing her quarry just ahead of her in the final kilometres.

With her cross country racing pedigree and focus Sam had the better sprint and she crossed the line just ahead of me to take a well timed win. I was disappointed to lose such a close battle, but Sam was better on the day and it made for a close, exciting race. The ever improving Janneke Leask finished in 3^rd place completing the podium. More importantly we all had a great time on and off the bike. The route (especially all the single track) was great fun and the scenery always more than made up for the suffering.

Mankele bike Park always invites you to come and enjoy their trails. So don’t be silly - accept the invitation, it’s an invite you won’t regret!

Sasol Cross Triathlon, Vanderbijlpark

GO MULTI sports magazine has the slogan – Life is too short for one sport. This past weekend I experienced it firsthand.

I’ve always wanted to take part in an XTERRA but being a professional cyclist and racing almost every weekend I obviously have other commitments. This weekend however I got the opportunity to take part in my first off road triathlon.

As an athlete, you always look for areas to improve and prevent injury. This year January I decided to take up a bit of swimming and running to improve my overall fitness.  So with minimum running and swimming experience I participated in my first Cross Triathlon which was held at Ascot Boat Club in Vanderbijlpark this past weekend. The event consisted out of a 1km swim followed by a 24km mountain bike ride and finished with a 6km trail run.

Standing in the Vaal River amongst other competitors waiting for the gun to sound before diving into the unknown was quite daunting. I’ve heard several stories about how intimidating the swim can be as others swim into you and over you. Therefore I decided it best to start at the back. The fact that I was the “fastest” swimmer had nothing to do with this decision :). It turned out to be the right choice as I ended up having a free swim with no major bumping/drowning issues.  My swim leg was slow compared to the rest of the field but at least I managed to swim the whole way and that for me was an achievement in itself.

Coming out of the water amongst the latter half of the field gave me a nice empty transition area but a packed mountain bike course making some interesting passing manoeuvres.

Jumping onto a bike just after having waddled from left to right for the last 25min was interesting.  I felt a bit disorientated the first 2km as I zigzagged all over the place. But once I got my rhythm and blood flowed back into my legs, I set off in hot pursuit of the leaders who got out of the water a full 14min ahead of me.

The biggest challenge on the day was trying to move up the field on a route mainly laid out on single track. There wasn’t a lot of place to pass but I did manage to move myself into the front quarter of the field.  

Lastly I swapped my Rocky Mountain for a pair of New Balance trail running shoes in transition 2. Luckily I didn’t have ‘heavy legs’ as I’ve heard was quite a common sensation when one transitions from the bike to the run leg or maybe I was just enjoying the experience too much to notice. With good advice I focussed on running a high cadence by giving smaller steps and that seemed to work well for me. I managed to keep my rhythm, running the whole way which for me was again a big accomplishment in itself.

I crossed the line in 4^th place in a time of 2h06min, only 1min 42sec off of a podium spot. Sylvia van Tromp won the event with Riana Robertson in 2^nd place and Karyn South Gate in 3^rd place

I enjoyed every moment of the event and it was a refreshing challenge to have 2 extra disciplines to consider.  It is true – Life is too short for one sport!

The Columbia Thin Air Mountain Bike Challenge

It is always a privilege to be part of a new race on the calendar, especially when it is held in a beautiful tourist destination like Dullstroom.

The Dunkeld Country Estate, just outside of town was the venue for the inaugural Columbia Thin Air Mountain bike Challenge. Situated at over 2000 m above sea level, the high altitude was sure to be a factor during the race.

The only factor that didn’t play along was the weather. Two days of rain prior to the event forced race organisers to reroute some of the course which unfortunately meant the loss of some hand built single track.

Luckily on race day the rain stopped long enough for us to start and finish the 75km marathon without getting wet (from above). We started with a loop of Dunkeld Estate before heading onto open gravel roads. The kilometres literally flew by until we reached the biggest challenge of the day - a 10km long climb named Everest by the locals...I wonder why??

The fast rolling gravel roads from the beginning ensured bunch riding but ‘Everest’ quickly put a stop to this. The group I was in got steadily reduced on the climb until we were only 4 riders left to crest the climb together. From the summit it wasn’t all downhill to the finish as the undulating terrain made it tough to maintain good rhythm during the second half of the race.

The scenery more than made up for the suffering with some beautiful views of the countryside as we descended through the mist lining the top of the escarpment.

The final 10km stretch was a reality check with rocky jeep track and some technical sections demanding all our dwindling attention. I was very pleased to cross the finish line in 1^st place in just under 3hours.

Dunkeld Country Estate is an ideal mountain bike destination and having had the opportunity to stay and race my bike in such enchanted surroundings made my weekend an unforgettable one.

The Rocky Mountain Garden Route 300

Last Wednesday the team made its way down to Knysna for the 2^nd edition of the Rocky Mountain Garden Route 300.  The reason for coming down a day prior to the event was to do the team photo shoot on Thursday.  With the riders on the team being geographically spread across the country, it is not an easy task to get everyone together. As our full team (Nicci Grobler, Leana de Jager, Catherine Williamson and myself) was competing, it was the ideal opportunity for a team photo shoot.  (You are welcome to have a look at the pictures on the team’s Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/teambizhubcycling

With all the formalities completed it was time to start the race.

The Rocky Mountain Garden Route 300 takes place over 3 consecutive days and covers a total distance of 300km (hence the name).

Each stage starts and finishes at the Cruise Cafe situated next to the Knysna Lagoon with the beautiful Knysna Heads as a stunning backdrop. As the days went by and the calorie deficit grew, the focus shifted from the Knysna Heads to the delicious buffet meals Cruise Café had on offer.

The race routes were mostly laid out in and around the lush green Knysna forest and largely consisted of single and jeep track.  Some of the single track had logs placed across them to form steps, so I guess walking trails would be a more suitable description for some of the single track we negotiated. It is a peculiar feeling racing your bike on routes surrounded by thick forests allowing just enough sunlight through to not leave you wondering around in the dark.

Day 1 – 105km, 2100m ascent

Last year I rode the race with Catherine but for this year’s edition I teamed up with Leana de Jager.  I’ve ridden several stage races with Leana as team mate and we’ve always combined well making for some good memories. I was looking forward to another adventure alongside Leana and upon reflection it was indeed an adventure.

At first everything seemed to be perfect (the trails, the weather, the location etc) but the morning of stage 1, the entire team woke up feeling a bit under the weather. A stomach bug made its way into the race village and affected all of us in the bizhub camp. As the saying goes – we ride together, we die together...

Leana and Nicci were the first to get affected by the virus.  Despite feeling ill, Leana rode her heart out and pushed herself over barriers I’m sure she didn’t even know she had. At the end of day 1 we crossed the finish line in 4^th place in a time of 5h 40min.

Day 2 – 115km, 2300m ascent

Stage two was the ‘big’ stage of the race as it was the longest stage and included the most climbing.

Leana felt a bit better while I started to feel the ill effects of the virus. This levelled things out making us quite a fitting pair on the day. We kept focusing on maintaining a good race pace which would get us to the finish line as soon as possible without fading out on course.  After a long day we were happy to cross the line in 3^rd place in a time of 6h 02min.

Day 3 – 80km, 1700m ascent

We started the stage with high hopes of fighting for a podium spot. Sadly my hope vanished as soon as we were set off to start the final stage. Leana felt her old self again while I felt the exact opposite. I started feeling nauseas and “empty’ with nothing left to give. I was moving pretty fast that day, unfortunately just in the wrong direction (backwards). Leana and I assessed the situation and we both decided it would be best for me to not risk my health and rather stop before causing any permanent damage. I hate pulling out of a race but this time I honestly couldn’t see myself reaching the finish line in one piece. Very disappointingly that is how our tour ended- 20km into stage 3.

Despite the team having to endure some setbacks over the 3 days of racing, we still had a happy ending as Catherine and Nicci went on to win the final stage and finished 2nd overall for the weekend.

If all goes well we will be back next year to fight another battle and hopefully this time it will be the right one!

USN CUP SERIES

The 2nd round of the USN Cup series was hosted at The Big Red Barn on the outskirts of Pretoria.

The 50km race route consisted mainly out of single track; yes your eyes aren’t deceiving you - 50km of fun, fast, flowing single track in the middle of Midrand. This forced the race organiser to limit race entries to 1200 people to prevent bottlenecks from happening and ensuring everyone had a pleasant ride.

Overnight rain storms cleared in time for us to start under pristine summer skies. Unfortunately flash floods had caused some damage with wooden bridges being washed away during the night’s deluge.  Andrew Grobler and his team did a fantastic job of rerouting the course and the race still ran smoothly despite a few last minute detours.

A furious pace was set from the word ‘GO’ as riders were fighting for position going into the first stretch of single track. In the opening kilometres of the race I found myself battling for the lead alongside Cherise Stander. The two of us road together until I was forced to stop with a deflating rear tyre around 15km into the race. I inspected the tyre but couldn’t find a cause for the loss of air. I quickly ‘bombed’ the tyre (inflating it with a CO2 canister) and set off in hot pursuit of the leaders as I now found myself back in 3rd position.

It took quite an effort to make up time as the flattish route didn’t really lend itself to chasing. Just before the 20km mark I passed the lady in 2nd place and shortly afterwards I caught Cherise who had to deal with a flat tyre herself.

It wasn’t long before I felt my rear tyre going flat again. Now I had to gamble between stopping again and continuing with a slowly deflating tyre. Which would cost me the least amount of time?  In the final 10km I felt my tyre starting to fold over the rim through the corners and I had no other option but to stop and ‘bomb’ again.
Luckily none of my competitors passed me while I was inflating my wheel. This time it was just a brief stop and I quickly got going again. I gave everything I had left during the final kilometres as I couldn’t afford another stop and I had no idea how close the other ladies were to me.

In the end I managed to hold on to the lead and won the 2nd round of the USN Cup Series. I am very pleased with the victory as it is my first victory for this year and the first in team bizhub’s 2013 colours!

The USN Cup series is only in its 2nd year of existence and judging by the entries being sold out well in advance of each event, it just goes to show what a great job the VeloCourse team are doing. So make sure you enter well in advance as the USN Cup races are definitely not to be missed.

Cross Country Provincials series #1, Thaba Trails

I wasn’t quite sure, but I knew it had been a long time since my last cross country race. In fact, while reviewing my racing calendar I found that the last time I did a cross country race was back in 2010! Fast forward a few years and I found myself standing on the start line for the first event in the Provincial Cross Country Series, also named the The Burry Stander Memorial XCO.

Needless to say, I didn’t know what to expect from a cross country race, my competitors or my skills. The only thing I did know was that the event was held at Thaba Trails Bike Park in Alberton, which is part of my training ground, so how can one not support a local race... :)

On arriving at Thaba Trails Bike Park there was a palpable buzz in the air. The younger category riders were already out on course racing for the coveted top spots on the day.

Cross Country racing in itself is a lot more spectator friendly as riders do several laps. The laps are usually around 4 to 5km long and riders can be seen on every lap as they fly through the start/finish area before making their way onto the next lap. The supporters took full advantage of this and put up gazebos alongside the course to cheer on riders and hand up much needed sustenance to tired riders.

The Elite and Under 23 ladies set off together at 9am to do 5 laps of the 5km course. It was a flat out sprint on the 400m gravel road leading into the first single track, as riders were fighting for the lead position.

Amy MacDougall won this ‘sprint race’ and was first on course with Yolande Speedy right on her heels. I found myself lying in 5^th place and by the end of lap one I moved into 3^rd place, 45sec behind the 2 leaders.

The first half of the course consisted of steep, rocky single track ascents and descents. While the second half of the course was mainly on very flat slalom like single track. I managed to make up time on the first half of the course but the 2^nd half suited Amy and Yolande more than me. Evidently the snaking single track, being off camber and on loose gravel, is one area where I can still improve significantly.

Amy kept her lead for the entire race, winning the first leg of the provincial series with Yolande Speedy in 2^nd place, while I rounded out the podium in 3^rd place.

All in all I really enjoyed the cross country race. It was very different to what I am used to in Marathon racing. There seems to be some truth in the saying – a change is as good as a holiday.

Thanks to Wendell Bowl and his team for putting together a great course and spectacular event.  

MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan, Barberton #1

Barberton is widely regarded as the start to the season and one can always be sure to see a strong field competing for the coveted top spots and series points at this event. As it is the first leg in the MTN National 

MTB Series everyone comes to test their form and see how their preparation has gone.

 I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the woman’s field that lined up at the start of the 75km marathon event.  Not only did the field include all the top names in woman’s mountain biking, but also a few top road cyclists who decided to try their hand at mountain biking.

The race route was tailor made for a climber. Basically you climb for the first third of the race, then for the 2^nd part you ride alongside the escarpment and for the final stretch you slowly start making your way down the mountain on very fast jeep track, traversing several water crossings before you finally reach the finish.

The weather also played its part with overnight rain making the course quite muddy in places. This also meant you had to be on your toes as any loss of concentration could result in a crash on the rutted course.

After the neutralized start things got a little bit hectic as we had to navigate our way through some muddy and technical jeep track. With all the girls knowing that position was important, it was quite a fight to stay amongst the leaders. I steadily moved up the field and by the start of the day’s main ascent I found myself climbing next to my teammate Leana de Jager.

At this stage we were riding in 6^th and 7^th position and because we were of similar strength we decided to stick together. It was nice to have Leana alongside me as we motivated each other to keep pushing right to the end.  

At the end Leana and I crossed the finish line together in 5^th and 6^th place. At first I was disappointed with my result but looking back I know where I can improve and I look forward to upcoming races.

 As always I enjoyed racing my bike in the hilly terrain of the Lowveld. The area has some stunning scenery and riding through the lush green forests and mountainous terrain always adds to the racing experience. 

Race results:

1^st           Candice Neethling

2^nd          Roben de Groot

3^rd           Ischen Stopforth

4^th           Catherine Williamson

5^th & 6^th Leana de Jager and Yolandi du Toit

7^th           Ariane Kleinhans

USN MTB CUP Series #1

Saturday saw the start of the USN CUP SERIES for 2013, with the inaugural race held at Stoke City Wakepark in Midrand. With rain starting to fall a day prior to the race and continuing through the night we were left to race on a very wet and muddy course. Who says you need a wakeboard to ski around Stoke City. Just bring your bike and come join in on the fun J

The only drawback was that my new bike, a Rocky Mountain Vertex, was barely a week old and we all know what mud can do to a bike...

My teammate Nicci Grobler joined me for the race, and under grey skies we set off to do two 30km laps of the 60km event.

The first 5km of the route was on jeep track followed by long sections of winding single track. Once exiting the single track we had another 5km left on jeep track before going onto our 2^nd and final lap.

In order to find out where my form is at the beginning of the season, I went pretty hard from the start. Halfway into the first lap it was only Nicci and myself out in front. Nicci and I started to work together in an attempt to establish as big a gap as possible on the rest of the chasing ladies field. The 2^nd lap took us a bit longer to complete than the first as the muddy track was churned up by all the preceding riders. We also encountered some traffic while catching the 30km riders and the back markers on the 60km race, but generally they were very considerate and would let us pass without too much hassle.

Nicci and I rode together from start to finish and crossed the line together to take 1^st and 2^nd place. I can’t think of a better start to the season for Team bizhub and for me racing alongside a good friend and teammate taking the top honours on the day.

Well done to the Velocourse Team for putting together a very well organised event with a great route despite the challenging weather conditions. 

Omnicane Southern Tropical Challenge

Last year was my introduction to this unique 4 day MTB stage race on the Island of Mauritius.  I was very pleased when Aurelie Halbwachs invited me again this year to team up with her for the 4^th edition of the Omnicane Southern Tropical Challenge.

Prologue, 5.75km/ +152m ascent

The event started with a 5.75km prologue at Domaine De Lagrave, situated in the middle of the Island. This region is very mountainous meaning we were in for some tough, hilly riding.

Aurelie and I had a good start and we pushed hard for the first 3km on flat jeep track through some plantations. Just before the first long hill, Aurelie fell hard as we descended a concrete downhill jeep track section. She went over the handlebar, landing hard on her back, bending her front wheel and flattening her front tyre in the process.

We managed to get her bike in a ride-able state and carried on riding to the finish. I could see Aurelie was in a lot of pain, but she bravely fought on and we were both very relieved to make it across the finish line. Despite the setback we still managed to take the red ladies leader’s jersey going into stage 1

 Stage 1, 65km/ 1100m Ascent

The stage start and finish was at Domaine De Lagrave as the circular route took us into the surrounding mountains of the Midlands district. We didn’t know how Aurelie’s back would feel after her crash the previous day and therefore decided to start easier and hopefully finish strong.  Our strategy worked out better than expected as we both felt great and finished in the top ten teams on the day and extending our lead in the ladies competition. I’m sure the fact that we both enjoyed the route and spectacular scenery contributed to our good result on the stage.

Stage 2, 75km/ 1600m Ascent

On day 3 we said good bye to our tented accommodation for the last 2 nights at Domaine De Lagrave as we headed towards our new camp site at Bois Cheri. This day proved to be the most challenging as it was the longest, the hilliest and the bumpiest of all stages.

Still, riding on a Tropical Island one can be sure to find some motivation along the way and mine flourished every time we dove into forested single track. The stage was by no means easy and I was exhausted as we crossed the finish line after 4h30min in the saddle.

Our new campsite soon revived my spirit as it was situated high in the mountains surrounded by tea plantations. Bois Cheri is very well known for their tea and we got to sample several flavours of the brew over afternoon tea and pancakes.

Stage 3, 51km/ 500m Ascent

 The last stage took us from the heights of Bois Cheri through a crocodile farm and along the coast to finish fittingly on the beach at Point d’Esny.

Although it sounds easy, experience has taught me there is no such thing as an easy stage. The route had two very difficult river crossings which required climbing down and out of very steep and rocky ravines.  Upon reaching the home stretch on the beach all the pain was forgotten as Aurelie and I managed to regain our title at the Southern Tropical Challenge.

As always I really enjoyed racing with Aurelie. She is a great team player and it can make all the difference to the enjoyment of a race and the result attained at the end.

Also, well done to Yannick Lincoln and his team for putting together a well organised event. It is great to see the race improving so much in all facets during the four years of its existence. 

Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, 18^th November

Although the Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge was my last goal for the season, racing for me has still not come to an end. 

A week after the Momentum 94.7 MTB event, I took part in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge as well. It is one of South Africa’s biggest road races with 26 000 competitors taking to the start. We started in Woodmead and cycled the 94.7km loop through the streets and highways of Johannesburg to finish at Waterfall Country Estate.

Our 4 man (woman) team consisted mainly of mountain bikers namely Nicci Grobler, Catherine Williamson, Leana de Jager and myself.

During the early stages of the race a steady pace was set up front as a few teams tried to establish an early break. With this plan not succeeding, teams started pushing the pace higher on the climbs consequently reducing the numbers in the leading group.  Just before we got onto the N14 highway Sharon Laws (Team 

Momentum Cycle Lab) who hails from England broke clear from the leading group and soloed all the way to the finish to take the victory on the day.

As soon as Sharon’s lead grew to over 4 min it became clear that the group won’t be able to real her back in and started racing for 2^nd place. The last 10km stretch back to Waterfall Country Estate included 3 long drags and here the final moves of the day were made reducing the field to a mere 14 riders which included my teammate Catherine Williamson and myself.

Catherine had a very classy ride and took the bunch sprint to finish 2^nd overall with Cherise Taylor in 3^rd place. 

Coronation Double Century, 24 Nov

Two days prior the start of the Coronation Double Century (CDC) I received a phone call from Isabel Moolman asking me to join their Mr Price team for the event. They say you regret more the things you don’t do than the things you do. Needless to say on Saturday morning I found myself standing on the start line of the CDC in Swellendam.

The CDC represents quite a unique racing format. Teams consisting of 12 riders are set of at 1 min intervals to complete the 200km course in the fastest time possible. 

The weather conditions on the day proved to be an even bigger challenge than the distance as we had to deal 

with rain and strong winds.

The 9 men in our team set a fast tempo on the front from start to finish while the 3 girls (Isabel  Moolman, Claire  Matthews and me) hanged on for dear life. The hanging on paid off at the end and we crossed the finish line in 3^rd place in the mix category.

The Mr Price team (support included) is a great group of people together and I really enjoyed spending time with them on and off the bike.

On Thursday I will be taking part in the Southern Tropical Challenge alongside a good friend, Aurelie Halbwachs. The event is a 4 day mountain bike stage race traversing the Island of Mauritius. I can’t think of a better place to end the season and start the holiday!

Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge

The Momentum 94.7 Road and Mountain Bike Races mark the end of the South African racing season.  Being a final event on the calendar adds an interesting aspect to race tactics on the day as you don’t know what to expect from fellow competitors. Some riders might be long overdue for a break, while for others it might be their last opportunity to get a good result in order to secure a contract for 2013.

The Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge was held at the impressive Waterfall Country Estate in Sunninghill, Gauteng. The increasing popularity of mountain biking has forced race organisers to offer two route options (30km and 55km), instead of the previous year’s one route option (45km). This meant the race could accommodate varying levels of skill and fitness making it much more doable. 

The 55km route included a total of 1069 m of ascent, making for quite a challenge as the route wound through the Leeukop Prison and on the trails surrounding Waterfall Estate.

My teammate Nicci and I took the lead early on in the race and worked together to open a gap to the other competitors. About 20km into the race, we reached a river crossing which was immediately followed by a long uphill drag. Once on top I noticed that the group Nicci and I were with before the river crossing was reduced to only me and one other rider.

We rode at a fast pace, steadily catching up to other riders who had started a bit too quick. This meant the group changed constantly as some riders got picked up and others got left behind. I ignored the changing group dynamics, and focused instead on my own riding until I crossed the finish line in a time of 2h:25min. Nicci was lying in 2^nd place for most of the race but unfortunately had a flat tyre which saw her moving out of the podium placings.

I am very happy to finish the mountain biking season on a high note by winning the Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge. This coming weekend the team will be taking part in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge road race. My last time competing in a road race was at the Knysna Oyster Festival in July, 2011. Hope it’s not too late to start working on my bunch riding skills J

Nissan Trailseeker Series #5 Hakahana

Prior to the Nissan Trailseeker race, I had the privilege to form part of this year’s Continental Run2Stop.

It is a charity event whereby two teams “race” each other from PE to Johannesburg over a period of 8 days. Each 21-member team consisted of 2 runners, 3 cyclists, 2 drivers and some all-rounder support personnel. 

Apart from completing the allocated distances per day, the teams also went head-to-head in a series of challenges from start to finish, in aid of identified charities namely Stop Hunger Now and The Sports Trust.

We finished on Friday afternoon at 6pm and 12 hours later I was warming up for the Nissan Trailseeker Series # 5 Hakahana. The race was held at Hakahana farm east of Hartebeespoort dam just outside of Johannesburg.

The 70km event was set of at 7am in chilly conditions, which was quite strange for this time of year. Luckily the rapid pace set up front from the start served as a good warm up.

Yolande Speedy and I were trading the lead from the early stages of the race. She would gain an advantage on the technical single track sections and I would distance her on the climbs.

After a busy week at the Continental Run2Stop I could feel my concentration waning in the latter stages of the race. This caused me to make some silly mistakes on the technical, rocky, single track section, eventually crashing properly within the final 20km.  

Yolande didn’t make any mistakes and had a strong ride to win the race.

I collected myself, mentally and physically, to finish in one piece just behind Yolande with Michelle van der Merwe rounding out the podium in 3^rd place.

Once again the Trailseeker Series delivered a good race within easy travelling distance of Johannesburg making for a very popular event.