Local riders perform during gruelling three-day Magoeba

The area of Haenertsburg and surrounds was a hive of activity over the weekend as 232 mountain bike riders took on the Magoeba MTB three-day stage race.

The event, organised by Magoebaskloof Adventures and Haenertsburg Rotary, was the first ever mountain bike stage race to take place in the majestic Magoebaskloof mountains.

The entrants had the choice to either take on the Magoeba Race consisting of 70 km trails each day or the Magoeba Trails which were a series of 40 km stages.

The race format included three stages over three days, using a clover leaf layout that started and ended at Cheerio Gardens each day.

Read: Race to the summit

Where our local riders really showed their presence was among the female Trail riders. First overall were locals Lara Dando and Anna Elisa Gutierraz Hernandez from team ‘Thelma and Louise’.

Second among the women in the race overall were local residents Britt Dando and Janine Pretorius from team ‘Jy is my inspirasie.’

Janine Pretorius told the LETABA HERALD, “I am so incredibly proud of our local Noné friends who took the risk and organised such a wonderful race. Most beautiful event. Will always support it.”

Third in the category were riders from Gauteng, team ‘Blonde and Blonder’ consisting of Laura Milne and Sarah Hurliman.

Among the men riding the Trail routes, Polokwane residents riding for ‘Talisman Bandits’ took first place whilst ‘Snot en trane’ from Gauteng took second and ‘Takslepers’ from Limpopo took third.

Among the female Race riders, those who took on the gruelling challenge of the 70 km routes, the race was dominated by those representing various teams from Gauteng. Amy McDougall from Gauteng and her teammate Samantha Sanders from Mpumalanga, riding for ‘Team Dormakara’ took first position after the three-day stages. Second and third place was given to Gauteng riders from teams ‘Galileo Risk’ and ‘Dropoff Daisies’ respectively.

Among the male contenders in the 70 km Race rides, the winning podium place was taken by North West and Gauteng residents, Pieter du Toit and Philip Buys respectively for team ‘PYGA Eurosteel.’ ‘Team NAD’ riders Wessel Botha and Nico Bell from Gauteng took second place whilst a local resident, Alan Gordon scooped third place with his teammate Timothy Hammond from ‘Insect Science Pro’.

Local riders Gary Middleton and Chris Dando from ‘We’re not Wanzies’ finished in position twelfth and Ruan Rademeyer of Tzaneen Dental Studio with his riding partner Sarel Spies came in position 16th.

Chris Dando told the HERALD, “I consider myself lucky to have taken part in the Magoeba three day MTB stage race which took place at Cheerio Gardens this past weekend – a much anticipated first ever Limpopo mountain bike stage race which by far exceeded my expectations. The organisation was slick, the food the best I’ve had at any mountain biking event and the riding was sublime. Thank you to the whole Magoeba Team for making us local cyclists proud to be Tzaneeners – I WILL be back next year!”

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Key sponsors included Insect Science, BF Petroleum, Miami Canners, Talisman and Spar, with a host of other businesses and local landowners on board to ensure riders got the very best from the experience.

Although the race put the spotlight on mountain biking in the area, it also aimed to empower the local community.

“The mountain bike routes developed for the race will become a Tourism Magoebaskloof Association (TMA) product to support the local tourism industry and create jobs for MTB guides, shops, accommodation establishments and restaurants. Much needed funds will also be given to Haentersburg Rotary to support their many existing community programmes,” said Marc Noné.