![\"ccs-58780-0-02553300-1493799412.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-02553300-1493799412.jpg\")
<\/a>The elite men lined up at the start of the Nissan TrailSeeker Western Cape Series in Tulbugh on the Saronsberg Wine Estate. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\nAlmost 700 riders participated in the event, which offered four distances and which took place in hot, breezy conditions. The prestigious series attracted most of the Western Cape\u2019s top racers in the marathon event, with a strong Youth and Junior category showing in the half-marathon.<\/p>\n
In the men\u2019s marathon, a lead group of six formed early on comprising Alan Hatherly (Team Spur), Gert Heyns (Ascendis Health), Woolcock (Team BCX), Matt Beers (Red-E Cannondale), HB Kruger (Team BCX) and Marco Joubert (Momsen Bikes). Hatherly, Beers and Heyns were the aggressors and the pace they set soon saw their rivals drop off as they charged clear on the 68km route.<\/p>\n
But the unexpectedly hot conditions began to take their toll and with 20km remaining, the experienced Woolcock reeled the leaders in and focussed his efforts on maintaining his lead until the finish, even opting to skip a stop at a water point, despite having no water.<\/p>\n He survived the conditions better than his rivals and rolled across the finish line first in a time of 02 hours 56 minutes 02 seconds. Joubert managed the conditions well too and claimed the runner-up spot a minute and a half later, with Heyns rounding out the podium places in 2:59:10.<\/p>\n \u201cTulbagh never disappoints when it comes to a hard route. I also made the race bit harder for myself when I clipped a rock and damaged a pedal. That saw me struggle on the singletrack. Luckily the last half of the race had less singletrack so I was able to keep a good rhythm,\u201d said Woolcock<\/p>\n \u201cI had no water at all with 20km to go. I was too afraid to stop at a water point because when you\u2019re leading you never know what the gaps are like behind you. I\u2019m really happy to take the win against quite a classy field,\u201d added Woolcock.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite brutal. Alan, Matt and Gert set a hard pace from the start. The last 20 kays the heat started to affect all of us. Then it was a battle for survival and to see who could last. Luckily I managed to hold off Gert and Alan and get second place, but Waylon was just too strong and deserved the win,\u201d said Joubert.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quite hard from the start. I got away with Alan and Matt. It was a game of cat and mouse the whole race. With 20 kays to go, Waylon came from behind. We were all a bit tired and running a bit low on water. In the circumstances, I\u2019m happy with third,\u201d said Heyns.<\/p>\n<\/a>Early formation of the elite men comprising of Alan Hatherly (Team Spur), Gert Heyns (Ascendis Health), Woolcock (Team BCX), Matt Beers (Red-E Cannondale), HB Kruger (Team BCX) and Marco Joubert (Momsen Bikes). Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Waylon Woolcock (Team BCX) arms raised in victory as he crosses the finish line in first place at the Nissan TrailSeeker Western Cape Series in Tulbagh. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n