A new addition to the 2015 SRAM WP Gravity Enduro venue lineup saw riders head out to the Lebanon MTB Trails in the greater Grabouw area.
It’s an area that seems the perfect fit for any outdoor activities, with endless trails through mountains and pine forests.
With 4 stages and a total of 30km of riding, it is the longest WP Gravity Enduro so far, but also the flattest and least technical. Weather conditions were gloomy and overcast, but luckily the rain and thunder stayed away during the race, and the 81 strong field completed the race without any major incidents.
The young Matt Lombardi. Focussed and on a mission to follow up round 1 with another win.
A decent field of 81 riders attended round 2 of the SRAM WP Gravity Enduro.
Riders started liaison 1 in batches of 10 to avoid congestion at the uphill single track.
Karl Kielblock on SS2.
Mark Hopkins on SS2.
Devon Katzen on SS2.
Gina Nixon on SS2.
Matt Lombardi on SS3.
Myles Kelsey on SS3.
Pieter Henning on SS3.
Pierre van der Merwe on SS3.
Martin Prest on SS3
Luke Moir on SS3.
Grant Bender on SS3.
Mark Hopkins on SS4.
Adi van der Merwe on SS4.
Cole de Ridder on SS4.
Craig Rhodes-Harrison on SS4.
Theo Erlangsen coming in hot on SS4.
David Hartley on SS4.
Media squid Thomas Sandell styling it on SS4, fully loaded.
Sune Henning on SS4.
Free beer on tap. Yes please!
Unfortunately plagued by yet another timing malfunction, the event ended on a sour note and no podium ceremony took place.
Something that will hopefully be addressed and sorted out before the next event.
Apart from that, the event ran smoothly and we’d like to thank all the sponsors: SRAM, Pyga, Trail & Tar, 661, Five Ten, ONE Industries and BOS for making this event possible.
The top 10 overall (times with debatable accuracy):
1. Matthew Lombardi – 14:58.980
2. Louis-Bresler – 15:01.640
3. Nico Pfitzenmaier – 15:06.270
4. Martin Zietsman – 15:16.640
5. Albert Rust – 15:33.290
6. Darryn Stow – 15:36.090
7. Mark Moir – 15:41.840
8. Mark Hopkins – 15:43.960
9. Jusitin Novella – 15:45.410
10. Theo Erlangsen – 15:52.660
See you at round 3 of the SRAM WP Gravity Enduro!
Words & images by Ewald Sadie. Video by Thomas Sandell.
Good to see Louis Bresler's name again.