TMC learners pedal up a storm
Two learners from Thomas More College kicked off the KZN MTB Lap Challenge with an exciting set of results.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/02/08lmride_23406.jpg)
STUART Marais had to work surprisingly hard in the early stages of the opening leg of the KZN MTB Lap Challenge Series before he was able to secure a convincing victory in Shongweni on Sunday.
The talented 29-year-old was in a class of his own, and despite searing heat, rode a cool and controlled race after some intense pressure from an unexpected source early on.
Travis Stedman, an U17 rider and learner at Thomas More College, went off at a pace and had Stuart under pressure for the opening two laps.
Stuart took control on the third lap and, after two sub-nine minute 40 second laps and continued at the sub 10 minute circuits to build a two-minute advantage.
“Kudos to Travis for those first two laps,” said an impressed Marais.
“He rode the socks off things today in the first two laps and I was really impressed with him.”
Travis soon fell back to the chase the trio of Brennan Anderson, Dean Wortmann and Mboneni Ngcobo.
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Ngcobo fell heavily and dropped back to sixth place, a spot he held until he crossed the finish line.
The top women raced in the B Batch and Thomas More College matriculant, Tiffany Keep, overcame the after-effects of her matric dance on Saturday night to claim the women’s title.
Despite the all-night party which ended at 6.30am, and allowed just 90 minutes of sleep before her event, Keep beat Candice Parker-Dennison by more than 10 minutes.
Results
A Batch (7 Laps) men:
1. Stuart Marais 1:08:36
2. Brennan Anderson 1:10:48
3. Dean Wortmann 1:10:50
4. Travis Stedman 1:10:59
B Batch (7 Laps) men:
1. Luke Chambers 1:15:00
2. Jeremy Thomson 1:15:52
3. Ewan Cochran 1:16:46
Women:
1. Tiffany Keep 1:21:08
2. Candice Parker-Dennison 1:31:59
3. Landy Puddu -1 lap
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