Route 42 Cycling Club in collaboration with EWN&S Welding Supplies, the new official MTB challenge title sponsor, delivered yet another spectacular mountain bike challenge on September 23.
With over 157 cyclists taking to all three newly created MTB route/s for the 2018 MTB challenge.
This year’s challenge took place at Oppiedam – a picturesque wedding venue in the foothills of the farming community of Nigel.
The new route/s also presented cyclists with an array of excellent mountain bike riding through newly made sections.
The “porcupine ridge”, “tornado alley” “ edge of the world”, “white desert” and the super cool adrenalin filled downhill sections and great fence bridges allowing riders to accelerate over the fences in true MTB style.
The amazing scenery through game, cattle and sheep farms along the route brought the riders to a well-deserved final sprint. Along the big dam wall but not before they experienced the all new equally exhilarating 60m water bridge crossing.
Riders’ technical and climbing skills were properly tested on the KOM (King of Mountain), “Wilkie’s Bulkie” and “Horrible Hill”.
Route 42 club members worked magic on creating three brand new MTB routes; the 10km fun ride, an intermediate 30km half marathon and a very demanding 62km marathon event. Which saw these riders physically and mentally challenged with the nearly 850m climbing and severe headwinds experienced on race day.
Claiming victory for the first time in the 62km feature race (men), Andries Nigrini.
Who rode an amazing time in 2:16:45, beating the runner up Cobus van den Berg by almost 14 minutes.
Ryan Shehab completed the challenge in third position and also claimed the KOM (King of Mountain) trophy.
Sharon Krisch won the women’s 62km race in 3:47:37, claiming the QOM (Queen of Mountain) for overall ladies.
Finishing ahead of Debbie Snyman and Kate van der Bank.
Kyle Laing (1:25:49) and Carol Dias (1:44:22) won the respective men’s and women’s 30km race.
Taking the men’s 30km half marathon open category was Kyle Laing who put in a blistering time of (1:25:49). Edging out Steve Viviers (1:26:29) and Louis Nigrini (1:28:24) and ensure he was the overall half marathon champion for 2018.
The ladies were just as competitive and a hard fought battle ensued by Carol Dias to win in an excellent time of (1:44:22) , Zelda Pieters came in second (1:49:41) and Marisa Williams (1:54:58) in third place.
A very impressed National MTB Commissaire Stefan Colmanet from Cycling South Africa congratulated the club and organisers for a professional, safe and well organised event.
Route 42 Cycling Club chairman Jurrie Davel has extended his sincere gratitude and appreciation for the local community support. Especially local farm owners allowing unlimited access to create the wonderful routes that resulted in this year’s successful mountain bike challenge.
“We promise to work harder and bring an even better riding experience for all mountain bike enthusiasts in 2019,” he said.
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