Ricardo is a happy winner
The Transvaal Galvanised MTB Race took place at Van Dyk Dam in Brakpan on Sunday.
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/08/35srRAce5ar_49263.jpg)
This annual event drew more cyclists than ever before.
The 50km race started at 8am and was followed by the 35km, the 10km and the smaller children’s race.
Organiser Athol Davies says it is an exciting event, but the eagerness of the little riders is the highlight of his day.
All dressed up in their helmets and cycling gear, they queued at the start and waited for the whistle to blow.
Ricardo da Silva (7) was in front from the start and stayed in front until he reached the finish line.
He won the junior race and says he thoroughly enjoyed it.
Jayden Nagel (8) was speeding to the finish line and took second place.
The 10km race saw Heinrich Kamffer (22) coming in first and his father Johan Kamffer (51) took second place.
The overall winner of the 50km race was Kai Pritzen in a time of 01:42:45, followed by Charles Zeelie (01:45:31) and in third place Clifford Smit (01:45:32).
Bianca Cooper was the overall female winner with a time of 02:04:40.
Her runner-up was Dee Beukes (02:10:40) and in third place was Fiona Knight (02:10:56).
The first veteran man to cross the finish line in the 50km was Rudi Jansen van Rensburg with a time of 01:47:21.
Louis Meyer was second with a time of 01:47:44.
Fiona Austin was the first veteran woman who crossed the 50km finish line in a time of 02:10:58.
Tammy Whitby was second with a time of 02:27:31.
Paul Scott was the master’s winner of the 50km race with a time of 01:53:12 and Gary Benson-Armer with a time of 01:53:49.
Dee Beukes crossed the finish line first in the 50km master’s race in a time of 02:10:40 and Fiona Knight came in second with a time of 02:10:56.
The overall man who won the 35km race was Ryan Sheba with a time of 01:12:40, followed by Willie Human with a time of 01:13:04.
Odette Guy was the first woman to finish the 35km race in a time of 01:18:22.
Marisa Williams came second overall and was also the first veteran woman who crossed the finish line in a time of 01:20:57.
The veteran 35km race saw Dennis Williams in first place with a time of 01:19:04 and Raymond van Deventer in second place with a time of 01:20:57.
Dion Guy came third (01:22:14).
The master 35km winner was André Nel with a time of 01:23:58 and his runner-up was Allan West (01:26:27).
In third place was Paolo Pellisson (01:28:47).
Debrah Gough was the first female master home (01:31:31) and her runner-up was Mitch Korff (01:48:10).
Veronica McCarogher came in third (02:00:29).
Athol says although there was no water in the dam where the floating bridge is, the cyclists still enjoyed the race.
“We hope next year’s race will be even bigger,” he says.