Howick – Sunday’s captivating Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival, saw Brendon Davids (Team Jeep) reign victorious over fellow elite stars Rourke Croeser (Kargo Pro MTB) and Travis Walker (Team Jeep) after an enthralling cycling shootout through one of the country’s leading MTB facilities, whilst Jeannie Dreyer claimed a deserved win in the women’s race.
Brendon Davids (Team Jeep) claims the win in the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
After two days of non-stop rainfall which saw the festival’s Peri Night Race on Friday and Saturday’s Stihl Karkloof Enduro staged in exceptionally challenging conditions, Mother Nature finally smiled upon the region on Sunday morning and the over two and a half thousand entrants took to the muddy yet manageable trails in warm conditions and under clear blue skies.
Despite the tricky conditions Davids’ class saw him complete his maiden victory at the event, giving him an important confidence boost ahead of his journey to the year’s first two World Cups in upcoming weeks.
“I haven’t been around for the last couple of Karkloof Classics having spent the past two years in the States so it’s really special to have been able to come back here again and get the win,” said Davids.
“I’m super stoked with how things went for me today and it’s definitely a nice result ahead of the first two Worlds Cups that are coming up.
Rourke Croeser (Kargo Pro MTB) narrowly out sprints Travis Walker (Team Jeep) to the line in the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
After a frenetic early pace it was the trio of Davids, Croeser and Walker who managed to streak away from the rest of the field at the bottom of the notorious Lebanon climb however it was all Davids by the time they reached the summit.
“I wanted to try get away early and ensure I could go solo through the single track but when I broke Trav (Walker) and Rourke (Croeser) managed to come with me so I really pushed hard up Lebanon. When we got to the top I was on my own and by the time we got to the bottom of Bat out of Hell I had a two minute lead,” said Davids.
Gert Heyns (Contego) leads the troupes early on in the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
“From there I just tried to ride at a constant pace and keep a steady tempo. I pushed up Khyber but with about five kilometers to go I had a bit of a crash and hurt my leg which obviously slowed me down quite a bit.
“Fortunately I had quite a bit of a buffer and was able to get up and get going again but it was then that I decided to try and consolidate, not risk things too much and just ensure I got the win.
Despite many expecting the worse, Davids and the rest of the 60km competitors were able to enjoy a wet yet manageable adventure throughout.
The beautiful Karkloof region played host to the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
“It was obviously muddy, more so on the climbs than the single track, but it really wasn’t too bad. It’s a great course here at Karkloof with some really special features,” said the Maritzburg College old boy. “That new Bat out of Hell descend from Lebanon is possibly my favourite trail I’ve ever ridden!
“As we crested Lebanon the view from up there was simply breath taking. As we got to the top I thought we were could see a load of clouds in the distance but then I realized all the white was actually the snowcapped mountains in the background and it was just an amazing, amazing sight!
Having pushed to stay with Davids in his initial break Croeser and Walker simply had nothing left to give in the final stages of the clash leaving them to battle it out for second place, a battle which was only eventually settled by an end sprint which saw Croeser pip Walker by the narrowest of margins.
Kargo Pro MTB rider Rourke Croeser chases hard in second place during the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
“It was such a weird feeling. As Brendon went I just had nothing left to give, which I guess comes after a bit of time off the bike, but take nothing away from Brendon – he rode a great race today,” said Croeser.
“Overall I’m still really happy with how things went. It’s obviously always nice to win so a bit of bitter sweet there but second is still great.
“It was tight at the end there but fortunately I’m a bit more experienced than Trav is so I possibly knew how to handle those situations a little better and managed to just get ahead of him right on the line.
The highly competitive ladies field also produced a race to remember as Jeannie Dreyer (USN/Hi-Tec), wife of Dusi Canoe Marathon legend and keen mountain bike competitor Martin Dreyer, claimed what was a comfortable victory in the end over Ashleigh Moffatt (BMC-SA) whilst Yolandi du Toit (Team Bizhub) claimed third.
Despite sitting a couple of places back in the early stages of the 60km event Dreyer made her move after the 10km mark, signaling the start of the climbs, and never looked back from there.
Jeannie Dreyer (USN/Hi-Tec) makes her way through the forest en route to victory in the women’s race of the Sappi 60km Karkloof Classic, the feature race of the largest mountain biking festival in South Africa, the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
“I’ve been off the bike for a couple of years with the birth of children but I’ve been back riding competitively since the Triple Challenge in November last year and it’s been a really good six months since then,” said Dreyer.
“I’ve been training with Mart’s (Dreyer) RMB Change a Life youngsters in the Valley of a Thousand Hills and every race the focus for them hasn’t been on where they finish overall but rather about whether they beat me or not so I’ve had some really good preparation coming into this.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting this though, especially with Mart and I focusing on the upcoming Freedom Challenge rather than the shorter, harder, faster stuff. Obviously there’s something still left in these legs though,” she chuckled.
Moffatt, having just returned earlier this week from a hugely successful European tour, has been in good form in recent weeks. Unfortunately she was just unable to match Dreyer’s performance on the day, crossing the line over nine minutes behind the leader.
“I’m still really happy with my performance today,” said Moffatt. “And it’s great to be back on home ground again too!”
“The pace was really good up front and then the mud made things a little more technical but all round it was a great race.
In the aQuellé 40km Half Marathon it was Westville Boys’ High School matric pupil Wade Finch who claimed a comfortable six minute victory over Dani Jensen (Varsity College) and James Damant (Kargo Pro MTB).
“I broke away with one other after the first kilometer and then at the 10km mark I managed to go off on my own and held that lead until the finish,” said Finch. “I’m super chuffed, especially with it being my first 40km event win ever!
The day also played host to the aQuellé 20km Family Race and aQuellé 10km Kids Ride which saw hundreds of cycling enthusiast young and old and of all walks of life take to the trails, bringing down the curtain on all yet another Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
More info can also be found at www.karkloofmtb.co.za
Eager young mountain bikers prepare for their aQuellé 10km Kids Ride at the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Kyle Gilham/ Gameplan Media
Martin Bentley put in an inspirational effort to complete the 20km aQuellé 20km Family Ride on his unicycle during the Sappi Karkloof Classic MTB Festival.
Kyle Gilham/ Gameplan Media
SUMMARY OF RESULTS – SAPPI KARKLOOF CLASSIC MTB FESTIVAL
SAPPI 60km KARKLOOF CLASSIC
Overall
1.Brendon Davids 2:58.21
2.Rourke Croeser 3:03.09
3.Travis Walker 3:03.09
4.Ben Melt Swanepoel 3:04.47
5.Gert Heyns 3:07.45
6.Jan Withaar 3:08.47
7.Andrew Warr 3:09.17
8.Patrick Belton 3:10.23
9.David Low 3:21.29
10.Alan Hatherly 3:23.09
11.Tyron Bird 3:23.34
12.Evan van der Spuy 3:25.17
13.Leeroy Emslie 3:26.19
14.Werner Moolman 3:26.42
15.Lance Chapman 3:31.00
16.Warren Price 3:31.03
17.Wesley Botes 3:31.03
18.Jeremy Thompson 3:37.34
19.Siyabonga Njiva 3:38.08
20.John Ntuli 3:39.51
Women
1.Jeannie Dreyer 3:49.48
2.Ashleigh Moffatt 3:59.02
3.Yolandi du Toit 4:02.01
4.Natalie Bergstrom 4:02.50
5.Brenda Potts 4:09.48
aQuellé 40km Half Marathon
Overall
1.Wayde Finch 1:53.04
2.Dani Jensen 1:58.53
3.James Damant 2:01.09
4.Cornel van de Venter 2:01.15
5.Fritz Rexrodt 2:01.35
Women
1.Lyn van Breda 2:09.58
2.Nadia Botha 2:23.31
3.Amanda Hawke 2:29.54
aQuellé 20km Family Ride
Overall
1.Aaron Mitchell 1:03.26
2.Aaron Wood 1:07.14
3.Travis Stedman 1:07.17
