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<\/a>3. The start of the 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, saw the race attract its largest ever field. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\nThe cool conditions which prevailed in the early phases of the race, before the riders entered the Attakwaskloof Nature Reserve, allowed for fast paced racing in the elite men\u2019s race. The PYGA Euro Steel duo were the main protagonists leading up to the King of the Mountain climb. \u201cMatthys (Beukes) and I really pushed the pace, aiming for the course record\u201d Philip Buys explained. \u201cWe knew if we made it hard, and increased the pace on every climb we would cause the lactic acid to build up in the other rider\u2019s legs\u201d Beukes elaborated.<\/p>\n
Gert Heyns, DSV, helped Beukes and Buys with the paces making duties and eventually forced the split with Beukes as Buys was unable to match the pair as they raced for the King of the Mountain hot spot prize. Heyns was first over the summit of the Attakwas but punctured soon thereafter in a tricky section which was to affect the women\u2019s race too.<\/p>\n Beukes forged ahead on his own, gradually extending his lead to three minutes and forty seconds at the 85 kilometre mark and a full nine minutes by the finish. Heyns never recovered from his puncture and ended up finishing in tenth position as a series of riders, led by Buys and Bohme passed him before he was eventually handed a pump and was able to re-inflate his tyre.<\/p>\n Buys remained in second position until the 85km mark when the Team Bulls rider, Bohme, caught him. The pair then worked together until Buys could no longer match Bohme, allowing the German to ride away to a hard fought second position. Buys completed the podium making it a first and third for PYGA Euro Steel.<\/p>\n The women\u2019s race started with a tactical battle of cat and mouse between the leading contenders. A mechanical forced Carmen Buchacher out of the lead group. Reaching the first feed zone at the forty six kilometre mark Ariane L\u00fcthi lead a group which included Robyn de Groot, Sabine Spitz, Jennie Stenerhag, Candice Lill and Yolande de Villiers. Spitz then drove the pace on the Queen of the Mountain climb and one-by-one the bunch was whittled down until only L\u00fcthi followed Spitz\u2019s wheel and Stenerhag, though not able to stay in touching distance kept the leaders in sight.<\/p>\n Spitz claimed the Queen of the Mountain prize but then the same fate which blighted Heyns affected her race. \u201cI did not realise straight away that I double flatted,\u201d Spitz said. \u201cI plugged the rear tyre and then noticed that the front was flat on the next descent and had to stop to bomb it too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI used my strengths and rode the descents in the Attakwas as fast as I could,\u201d L\u00fcthi revealed upon being asked where the decisive move was made. With a gap established she relied on all her years of Attakwas Extreme experience to race to victory. \u201cIt was so lonely. I just time trialled all the way from water point three (at the 65 kilometre mark) to the finish\u201d she elaborated.<\/p>\n The past two years have been the leanest in terms of victories in L\u00fcthi\u2019s career, which makes the 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, win all the sweeter. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u201d a visibly emotional L\u00fcthi confessed. \u201cIt is a massive confidence boost for the rest of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Stenerhag gained a confidence boost too. \u201cI had a silly crash just rolling home after finishing my intervals last week. I hurt my arm and it bothered me all week, so I only decided to ride yesterday (Friday) morning\u201d Stenerhag said post-race. \u201cI did not feel that good and I struggled a bit for focus between water points three and four\u201d she said. All things considered then Stenerhag displayed the signs of repeating her dominant form from 2017, especially when she teams up again with Esther S\u00fcss for the Momentum Health Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen, in February.<\/p>\n Spitz recovered to finish third behind Stenerhag after she managed to reel in local favourite De Villers. Spitz and De Villiers worked together for nearly thirty kilometres before the pair entered the final descent side-by-side. De Villiers opened a slight gap with a risky ride on the treacherous, moss covered downhill, but she carried too much speed into the final corner and only just avoided a crash \u2013 but the loss of momentum handed Spitz the third position.<\/p>\n The 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, was certainly one for the record books. Not only was this the largest ever field of starters, but the rain which soaked the course made it the wettest Attakwas in the event\u2019s twelve year history; and with L\u00fcthi winning her sixth race and Beukes becoming the first South African winner since he last won the race in 2012 it live fondly in the memories of the victors in particular for many years to come.<\/p>\n<\/a>Gert Heyns, of DSV, raced to the King of the Mountain title at the summit of the Attakwas Pass. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>4. The PYGA Euro Steel riders, and Matthys Beukes in particular, set the pace from the off during the 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>5. 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, race winner Matthys Beukes in action. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>7. Ariane L\u00fcthi looks over her shoulder as she wonders when the assault on her lead, which never transpired, would come. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Cape Brewing Co’s Jennie Stenerhag crosses the finish line of the 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, in second position. Photo by Zoon Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The 2018 Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, men’s podium. From left to right: Frans Claes (4th), Philip Buys (3rd), Matthys Beukes (1st), Tim Bohme (2nd) and Dylan Rebello (5th). Photo by Marike Cronje.<\/span><\/p>\n