![\"ccs-62657-0-84989400-1497361863.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-84989400-1497361863.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Brendon Davids (Road Cover) taking the lead during the second stage, in the last major climb at the 4th round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series in Champagne Valley. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\nAlthough racing mainly in road events for Team Road Cover this year, Davids is a former African Under-23 mountain bike champion in the XCO discipline and he confirmed at the weekend that he\u2019s still a force to be reckoned with on the dirt, winning both stages in dominant fashion in the Men\u2019s marathon event to secure the overall title.<\/p>\n
Second place went to Philip Buys of Team Pyga Eurosteel who was second on both stages, with Matthys Beukes, also of Pyga Eurosteel, third on both stages and third overall.<\/p>\n
The racing took place on some brand-new trails, built with the support of Advendurance, the event organisers, and which will remain in the area as part of the company\u2019s trail legacy project. There was widespread praise from participants about the new venue and the trails.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was blown away by the potential at this venue when we first came to have a look. The first year at a new venue is always difficult, but we got a really good route together, which does need some manicuring. This year we built six bridges and eight kilometres of singletrack and will make improvements and additions each time we visit here in the future. As a venue, Champagne Valley is just awesome,\u201d said Francois Theron of Advendurance.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to call the routes here raw mountain biking. Cattle tracks, some jeep tracks and purpose-build singletrack. Some harsh climbing, including sharp, steep ascents and fast, challenging downhills. This is definitely one of the events that\u2019s more suited to technically strong riders,\u201d added Theron.<\/p>\n Stage 1 was a 67km leg with 1700 metres of ascent. Beukes and series leader, Max Knox (New Holland\/This Way Out) set a rapid pace from the start, splitting the lead pack up on the first climb. Davids rode across the small gap to them and grabbed the King of the Mountain prize within the first 10km, while Knox didn\u2019t even make it to the KOM, forced to withdraw with a snapped chain.<\/p>\n The riders behind assumed chase mode with Buys the only man able to put any meaningful pressure on Davids. The pair rode close together until a large climb after halfway, where Davids moved clear of Buys to create a more significant lead, which he extended to over three minutes at the finish.<\/p>\n Stage 2 was a distance of 50km with 1330m of elevation. Buys and Beukes set a snappy pace from the gun in an effort to regain some time on overnight leader, Davids. Buys managed to build up an early solo lead, but Davids remained calm and rode a steady pace that eventually saw him reel Buys in and then drop him on the final major climb. He went on to secure his second successive stage win and the overall title.<\/p>\n \u201cPhil and Matthys made my life hard probably from the first corner of the race today. They were attacking and I was holding a steady, consistent pace. I watched my numbers the whole time. When the long climbs came, I reeled Phil back in.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d have been happy to give Phil the stage win if we were together at the end because the overall title was more important for me. But on the last major climb I had a gap on him, so I just kept the pressure on just in case anything happened. I\u2019m just very happy to get my first national marathon series win,\u201d smiled Davids.<\/p>\n<\/a>Philip Buys (Pyga Eurosteel) on the last climb of stage 2 of the 4th round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series in Champagne Valley. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Matthys Beukes (Pyga Eurosteel) on a flat forested jeep track during stage 1 of the 4th round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series in Champagne Valley. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n