Virtual reality for MTB riders and runners
he three-day race offered runners and riders the option to compete on some of the routes planned for the July event, although the virtual nature of the event and social-distancing rules meant competitors were also allowed to compete against each other at any venue that suited them.
Competitive mountain biking and trail running took tentative steps toward a semblance of normality in KwaZulu-Natal recently when runners and riders took part in a version of head-to-head competition at the Sappi Scottburgh Virtual MTB and Trail Run.
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The event, which is part of the Quattro ROAG Series powered by Momentum and was originally scheduled for July, is something of a bridging event as sports organisers try and plot a route through new rules toward hosting post-Covid events.
The three-day race offered runners and riders the option to compete on some of the routes planned for the July event, although the virtual nature of the event and social-distancing rules meant competitors were also allowed to compete against each other at any venue that suited them.
Marius Mostert and Gillian von Buddenbrock produced the fastest MTB times for the 41km ride.
The 2019 ROAG Series runner up, Linda Zondi, was the fastest male in the 12km trail run with Hayley Mackinnon best among the women.
The winner of most elevation gain in his 41km ride was Michael Foster, who notched up an eye-watering 1 357m of ascent from his ride in and around the Lufafa Valley near Ixopo.
Women’s winner of the most elevation was Sanchia Malan who climbed just over 1 000m in her 41km ride in Karkloof.
The trail runner who took in the most hills was Alison Wasserfall, whose six repeats at Honey Trails added up to 792m of climbing in just 12km of running, a feat that was impressive enough to probably be classified as the performance of the weekend. Carel le Roux notched up 388m in Cedara to take the men’s trail running prize for the most climbing.
The Sappi Scottburgh event raised R5 000 for their designated charity, Cycling4Mobility.
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