Cyclists power through muddy conditions
19-year-old Matt Wilkinson claims victory in Bestmed Ballito Expedition cycle race.
DAYS of much-needed rain on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast left the trails around Sugar Rush Adventure Centre awash with mud for the Bestmed Ballito Expedition recently. But the swampy conditions were not enough to deter those hardy mountain bikers who took on the 50km feature race, which was won by 19-year-old Matt Wilkinson in a time of 2:13:58. Alan Hatherly claimed the runner-up spot, with Tyrone White rounding out the podium.
“I had to watch the first batch leave without me. I quickly got my gear ready and was off when the third batch left the line. From the start I went flat-out, trying to match the pace of the guys from the first batch. For the first hour it went really well, but then the rain started coming down and I had to slow down a bit,” Wilkinson said.
The local rider said the muddy and slick single-track sections meant he had to ‘cope without too much braking’, opting to slow down instead of risking a slip and possible injury.
“I managed to stay on my wheels, which I guess is the key to finishing any mountain biking event.”
His win followed some controversy, as Alan Hatherly, who started with the first batch of riders, crossed the line first.
Wilkinson was however awarded the win as he set a quicker time after starting in the third batch.
Wilkinson, who placed ninth in both the sani2c and Hill2Hill mountain bike races earlier this year, said the Ballito Expedition was his last ‘leg test’ for the year.
Junior national marathon champion, Frankie du Toit, was the first woman home, adding the Ballito title to her long list of accolades in a time of 2:37:52. Debrah Thomas and Celeste Langenberg finished second and third.
“The ladies’ field thinned quite a bit. Because of the conditions, I think many decided to rather do the shorter route, but I still gave my best and went hard right from the gun. The route was amazing, especially the single-track sections. I actually had a lot of fun sliding around in the mud and it was a welcome change from the usual dirt tracks we ride,” she said.
