![\"ccs-62657-0-34565600-1559550281.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-34565600-1559550281.jpg\")
<\/a>[\/caption]<\/span><\/p>\nWith his cross country background 60km was a big ask for the former junior world cross country champion, however he dug deep to take a satisfying win. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really hard for me and the last twenty kilometres were tough,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI got onto the front for the final five kays and got myself a little bit of a gap and was lucky enough to hold it until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having been born in South Africa, Wright moved to Australia seven years ago and he was happy to be back racing in the Karkloof. <\/p>\n
\u201cI probably haven\u2019t ridden here in eight or nine years and it was pretty hard not really knowing where to go!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to be back and I\u2019ve got another month in South Africa which is great!\u201d he added. <\/p>\n Second place\u2019s Henry Liebenberg\u2019s race wasn\u2019t without drama but he showed good temperament to get himself back in the race.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately just before Lebanon I got a slow flat so I had to stop and bomb it quickly,\u201d he said. “I had to work hard up Lebanon and caught the group at the top. <\/p>\n \u201cThere was some tactical riding after that but Cam just had a bit more in the single track and on the dice to the line.\u201d<\/p>\n Stuart Marais also came unstuck when he got a stick in his spokes but 2018\u2019s runner up put in a big effort to finish in third.<\/p>\n The ladies race was also laced with drama with Tiffany Keep taking a wrong turn when she was in full control of the race.<\/p>\n She ended up riding an extra four kilometres which meant that Frances Janse van Rensberg was able to come through, and to her surprise, take the ladies title in her first 60km marathon.<\/p>\n “Tiffany and I weren’t too far apart but I couldn’t see her so this is a huge surprise!<\/p>\n “Being my first 60km race I didn’t really know what to expect so I took it easy,” she said.<\/p>\n “I had a crash so I had to take it easy after that but it was a lot of fun. I got pretty tired but loved the single track and it was a great day out.”<\/p>\n In the shorter races, it was Mitchel Potgieter who was the fastest rider over the Sappi 40km Half Marathon on Sunday, over six minutes ahead of Chad Stevenson in second and then Jordan Brandon Bold finished in third.<\/p>\n Chloe Bateson was in a league of her own in the women’s race as she finished eighth overall in the 40km half marathon with Jean Hackland coming home in second place and Bronwyn Evans finished in third.<\/p>\n Completing the family appeal of the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival there was a great turnout for the aQuell\u00e9 20km Family Ride as well as the very popular aQuell\u00e9 10km Kids Ride.<\/p>\n More info can be found at www.karkloofmtb.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>
It was a great performance from Australian cross country ace Cameron Wright as he took the overall honours in the 60km Sappi Marathon at the 2019 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/p>\n<\/a>It was an exciting race throughout but an unfortunate incident meant that Stuart Marais had to settle for third place in the men’s 60km Sappi Marathon at the 2019 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>It was more of a surprise for her, but young Frances Janse van Rensberg, in her first ever 60km marathon, won the overall ladies title in the 60km Sappi Marathon at the 2019 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Unfortunately for Tiffany Keep, she got lost and lost her lead which meant she had to settle for third place in the women’s 60km Sappi Marathon the 2019 Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday. Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n