{"id":13835,"date":"2022-01-15T16:54:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-15T16:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2022\/01\/15\/andreassen-and-de-villiers-beat-the-heat-to-win-attakwas-extreme-titles-r8363\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T18:57:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T18:57:29","slug":"andreassen-and-de-villiers-beat-the-heat-to-win-attakwas-extreme-titles-r8363","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/andreassen-and-de-villiers-beat-the-heat-to-win-attakwas-extreme-titles-r8363\/","title":{"rendered":"Andreassen and De Villiers Beat the Heat to Win Attakwas Extreme Titles"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tOudtshoorn\u2019s Yolande de Villiers and Denmark\u2019s Simon Andreassen coped relatively well with the extreme heat in the Klein Karoo on Saturday, 15 January 2022. In doing so the pair were able to best survive the 16th edition of the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. Their victories were completed in 6 hours, 6 minutes and 18 seconds; and 5 hours, 11 minutes and 20 seconds, respectively.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Attakwas
\n\tThe Imbuko {type}DEV equipped by Giant team\u2019s riders and Philip Buys, of PYGA Euro Steel, drove the early pace; despite the extreme heat. Photo by Ewald Sadie.<\/em><\/p>\n

\tNeither of the eventual winners, nor anyone else on the start line in Oudtshoorn was under any illusions at 06:30 in the morning. It was clear then, with the mercury already climbing to 30 degrees Celsius, that it was going to be an exceptionally challenging day. The type of day which provided the race with its Hell of the South nom de plume.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the men\u2019s race the action was as hot as the temperature from the off. Marco Joubert, of Imbuko {type}DEV equipped by Giant, was the first to drive up the pace. \u201cThey were going like crazy early on already\u201d Tristan Nortje, of Specialized, recounted. \u201cI looked at my bike computer and saw that I was already over my VO2 Max and we were inside the first 20 kilometres. That\u2019s when I decided to rather take it a little easier.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\tNortje\u2019s tactic was echoed by the Cannondale Factory Racing pair of Andreassen and Alan Hatherly. The trio passed through water point 2, at the 54 kilometre mark nearly 2 minutes behind the front selection. This elite group was driven on by Matt Beers (Specialized), with Phillip Buys (PYGA Euro Steel) and Wessel Botha (Imbuko {type}DEV equipped by Giant) shadowing the South African Marathon Champion.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Attakwas
\n\tThe mercury rose to above, or very close to 50 degrees on the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, route. Photo by Ewald Sadie.<\/em><\/p>\n

\tJoubert\u2019s early aggression was undone by a binding front brake, perhaps caused by the extreme heat expanding the oil in his brake lines. The temperatures were so hot that some riders reported their bike computers registering 50 degrees Celsius in places. Though a more reliable high of 47 degrees was measured by Mike Posthumus\u2019 Wahoo.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tStaying cool or attempting to stay cooler was the order of the day. \u201cWhen I saw Simon [Andreassen] stopping to refill a bottle at the first water point I thought he was struggling\u201d Nortje confessed. \u201cIn hindsight that was the right move.\u201d \u201cI was suffering with the heat right from the start of the Neutral Zone\u201d Andreassen allowed. \u201cBecause of that, I stopped at every water point to fill a bottle and after water point 2, to pour cold water over myself. I think that really helped.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Attakwas
\n\tSimon Andreassen\u2019s cross-country skills helped him conserve energy on the loose and rocky climbs approaching the Attakwaskloof. Photo by Ewald Sadie.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve never experienced anything like this\u201d the Danish cross-country champion added. \u201cIt was the toughest race I\u2019ve ever done. The course is obviously difficult, but the temperature made it far harder.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAndreassen and Nortje lost their companion, Hatherly, to a pair of punctures on the climb towards the King of the Mountain point. There, with 70-kilometres to race they were 3 minutes behind Buys, who was first over the summit, and Beers. Botha had faded back to the chasers as the toll began to tell on the 2021 champion.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tOver the next 20 kilometres Andreassen and Nortje rode conservatively. Despite not pushing the pace they reduced the deficit to Buys and Beers. Shortly after exiting the Attakwaskloof the pair caught and passed Buys. Within 5 kilometres they had reeled in Beers too.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cI was getting dizzy and my vision was blurred\u201d Beers recounted. \u201cI honestly thought I was going to die. It was terrible. I didn\u2019t sit up and let Simon [Andreassen] and Tristan [Nortje] catch me. I just couldn\u2019t put any power into the pedals. I had hoped that riding with them for a bit would give me a chance to recover, but that wasn\u2019t to be and they just rode away from me.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cSimon [Andreassen] flew through water point 4\u201d Nortje said. \u201cI was really surprised, I thought he\u2019d made a mistake. But he was the strongest rider today and looked after himself in the heat really well too.\u201d \u201cI think I had an advantage coming from Denmark and -4 degrees\u201d Andreassen joked. \u201cI was still thawing while everyone else was already hot.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Attakwas
\n\tSimon Andreassen lifts his bike above his head in celebration after winning the 2022 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. Justin Reinecke for www.zcmc.co.za.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhat\u2019s 15- to 20 seconds in a 5 hour race?\u201d Andreassen asked. \u201cTaking the time to pour cold water on myself really paid off.\u201d His speedy water point approach meant he never conceded positions on the road in the process and once he distanced Nortje, with 30 kilometres to race he was able to time-trial to Pine Creek to claim a commanding victory.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tNortje was second, 3 minutes and 24 seconds behind the Dane. Beers hung on to finish third, 7 minutes and 44 seconds back. Botha was fourth and Buys completed the podium in fifth.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tIn the women\u2019s race De Villiers was dominant from the off. \u201cI like starting fast\u201d she explained. \u201cI set a good tempo early on and Amy Wakefield came with me. But I could hear her struggling with her breathing behind me. When I asked her to come through and do a turn, she said she couldn\u2019t. So, I put in an acceleration on the next climb and rode the rest of the race solo.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\"Attakwas
\n\tYolande de Villiers excelled in the scorching conditions and defended her Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, title. Photo by Justin Reinecke for www.zcmc.co.za.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201c110 kilometres solo was really tough! Especially in the heat\u201d De Villiers pointed out. \u201cBut I just kept going, pouring water over myself at every opportunity and drinking far more than I usually do. I normally start the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, with a single bottle on my bike. Today I rode with a hydration pack and I had finished it before water point 2!\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cIt was brutal but I\u2019m really happy to take the win\u201d De Villiers concluded. Sarah Hill and Mariske Strauss were second and third, while Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius and Leone Verster completed the podium. \u201cI said last night that this would be the toughest Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, I\u2019ve ever done\u201d Hill laughed. \u201cAnd it was! But I think everyone who finishes today can be really proud of themselves. It was brutal.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

\n\tMomentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, Results:
\n\tMen:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n\t\tSimon Andreassen: Cannondale Factory Racing (5:11:20)\n\t<\/li>\n
  2. \n\t\tTristan Nortje: Specialized (5:14:44)\n\t<\/li>\n
  3. \n\t\tMatt Beers: Specialized (5:19:04)\n\t<\/li>\n
  4. \n\t\tWessel Botha: Imbuko {type}DEV equipped by Giant (5:21:15)\n\t<\/li>\n
  5. \n\t\tPhilip Buys: PYGA Euro Steel (5:28:03)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \n\t\"Attakwas
    \n\tMen\u2019s podium (from left to right): Philip Buys (5th), Matt Beers (3rd), Simon Andreassen (1st), Tristan Nortje (2nd) and Wessel Botha (4th). Photo by Ewald Sadie.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

    \n\tWomen:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n\t\tYolande de Villiers: The Coopetto (6:06:18)\n\t<\/li>\n
    2. \n\t\tSarah Hill: Liv Cycling (6:45:15)\n\t<\/li>\n
    3. \n\t\tMariske Strauss: Liv Rola Garmin (6:54:56)\n\t<\/li>\n
    4. \n\t\tElrika Harmzen-Pretorius: Project Barrier Breakers (7:12:51)\n\t<\/li>\n
    5. \n\t\tLeone Verster: Project Barrier Breakers (7:52:43)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \n\t\"Attakwas
      \n\tWomen\u2019s podium (from left to right): \u00a0Leone Verster (5th), Mariske Strauss (3rd), Yolande de Villiers (1st), Sarah Hill (2nd) and Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius (4th). Photo by Ewald Sadie.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

      \n\tMomentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Half, presented by Biogen, Results:
      \n\tMen:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n\t\tCronje Beukes (2:04:26)\n\t<\/li>\n
      2. \n\t\tJayden Durandt (2:13:57)\n\t<\/li>\n
      3. \n\t\tJaco Jacobs (2:16:05)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \n\tWomen:<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n\t\tAya Du Plessis (2:51:50)\n\t<\/li>\n
        2. \n\t\tEsrie Looch (2:58:14)\n\t<\/li>\n
        3. \n\t\tAmri Williamson (3:00:06)\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \n\tFor more information and the full results from the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, please visit www.atta.co.za<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Oudtshoorn\u2019s Yolande de Villiers and Denmark\u2019s Simon Andreassen coped relatively well with the extreme heat in the Klein Karoo on Saturday, 15 January 2022. In doing so the pair were able to best survive the 16th edition of the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. Their victories were completed in 6 hours, 6 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":58057,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5305],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-13835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-null"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13835"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=13835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}