![\"ccs-62657-0-78883600-1502042943.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-78883600-1502042943.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Yolande de Villiers celebrates victory at the 2017 Glacier Storms River Traverse. Photo by Seamus Allardice.<\/span><\/p>\nHill had travelled down to the Storms Traverse on the back of a fifth place finish at the South African cross country championships at Mankele two weeks before but when her stage race partner, Nicolle de Greft, fell ill. She was paired up at registration with Giant South Africa\u2019s Gavin Salt, to form the Liv\/Giant team, and the pair immediately struck up a rapport. Salt and Hill\u2019s neighbours in the luxury tents soon informed her of the more relaxed spirit at the Storms River Traverse. \u201cI absolutely loved it here. I think it\u2019s definitely a race that everyone should come and experience. That\u2019s what it ends up being, an adventure. You get to socialise, you get to meet people and you get to ride with some really awesome, strong, crowds.\u201d Hill said upon finishing the final stage.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the three days of riding Hill concluded: \u201cIt\u2019s a great mental break, to come here and have a whole lot of fun, and to still ride. You can be competitive if you want, but the Storms River Traverse is more about pedalling and looking up to see and appreciate where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite having slacked off the pace from her usual level; Hill was more than a match for the men in the race, including her partner Salt. In addition to winning the mixed category and being the team with the overall fastest time, the Liv rider was also the fastest rider up the toughest climb of the race. The 1 kilometre long, 15% average gradient, climb from the Storms River Mouth to the plateau at 172 meters above sea level is undoubtedly the toughest section of an otherwise relatively unchallenging route. Hill set a remarkable time of 8 minutes and 55 seconds for the climb, to claim the Strava Queen of the Mountain and set the sixth fastest time ever.<\/p>\n An even more impressive performance was turned in by Yolande de Villiers, as she won all three stages of the 2017 Storms River Traverse by 17, 8 and 10 minutes respectively over the next fastest finisher, Vincent Hill. \u201cI had to do it for the girls, it\u2019s women\u2019s month\u201d de Villiers said when asked about why she rode so fast despite no pressure from the rest of the field. \u201cI\u2019m trying to peak for next week\u201d she elaborated. \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful. This area is awesome for mountain biking. So well done to Dryland.\u201d<\/p>\n Further behind the leading women Nikki Haywood was riding with her Trail Angels club members. Haywood had brought a number of first time stage racers along with her and was impressed at how they grew in confidence over the course of the event. \u201cNext year I\u2019ll definitely be bringing more of my Trail Angels along, it\u2019s the perfect event to introduce riders to stage racing\u201d Haywood said. \u201cThe routes are not technical and the social spirit makes the Storms River Traverse a non-threatening mountain bike event. And there are not enough of those\u201d she finished.<\/p>\n To find out more about the 2017 Glacier Storms River Traverse visit www.stormsrivertraverse.co.za<\/a>, click here<\/a> to view all the results, or like the Storms River Traverse Facebook page<\/a> to view all the photos and the event highlight videos. The 2018 event will take place from the 2nd to the 5th of August next year, and though entries will only open in October this year it is advisable to book accommodation in the Tsitsikamma Village Inn now to ensure the best possible Glacier Storms River Traverse experience in 2018.<\/p>\n<\/a>Yolande de Villiers went on the attack early on each stage, dropping the field of leading male contenders within the early kilometres of each stage. Photo by Oakpics.com.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The beautiful Tsitsikamma Forest set the scene for a relaxed weekend of riding during the Glacier Storms River Traverse which took place from the 4th to the 6th of August from the Storms River Village, in the Eastern Cape. Photo by Oakpics.com.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Stage 2 of the Glacier Storms River Traverse proved a trial by water and mud, after heavy overnight rains. Photo Oakpics.com.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>A group of riders get silly in the forest. Photo by Oakpics.com.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>#TankwaLift at the #StormsRiverTraverse. Photo Oakpics.com.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n