![\"ccs-62657-0-38912800-1485011669.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-38912800-1485011669.jpg\")
<\/a>Annika Langvad (right) and Robyn de Groot lead the women\u2019s front pack during the early stages of the Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge that took place in South Africa on Saturday. Photo credit: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\nIt was Langvad\u2019s debut appearance at the demanding 121km event, which is considered South Africa\u2019s toughest one-day mountain bike race. She clocked a time of 05:25:55 to slice almost five minutes off the previous record of 05:30:58, set by five-time winner, Ariane L\u00fcthi in 2015 in cooler, calmer conditions.<\/p>\n
South African champion and 2016 winner, Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health), finished second in 05:30:00 with Swedish champion, Jennie Stenerhag (CBC\/Abro) rounding out the podium places. L\u00fcthi (Team Spur), the Swiss champion, finished fourth, with South Africa\u2019s Amy Beth McDougall in fifth.<\/p>\n
From the first climb at 5km, it was essentially a four-rider battle for the coveted title. De Groot, L\u00fcthi, Stenerhag and Langvad moved off the front and stayed close together for the next 25km through the Karoo, an inhospitable semi-desert region. But at the summit of Sonnop, a technical ascent at 30km in, Langvad held a 15-second lead over De Groot and Stennerhag with L\u00fcthi cresting a minute-and-a-half later in fourth.<\/p>\n
De Groot and Stennerhag then rejoined Langvad and the trio entered the Attakwas Reserve together with De Groot impressing on one of the technical climbs, riding away briefly from Langvad and Stenerhag, who had to climb off and push.<\/p>\n But Langvad, a former three-time marathon world champion, three-time Absa Cape Epic winner and current XCO World Champion, was in her element through the Attakwas Reserve, an isolated wilderness region, which includes a series of impossibly steep climbs and rough, rocky descents. She took the lead, claimed the Queen of the Mountain title and went through Waterpoint 4 (with 35km remaining) holding a 2:00 lead over De Groot.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a really good time. I tried to keep reminding myself to just enjoy this. But you know, when you\u2019re sitting there pedalling in so much pain, it\u2019s hard to enjoy the views. But when I did look up it was amazing, especially coming out of the Attakwas valley. It was so beautiful, but you could have turned down the headwind at the end of it,\u201d smiled a content Langvad.<\/p>\n<\/a>Robyn de Groot on her way to second place at the Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge that took place in South Africa on Saturday. Photo credit: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Jennie Stenerhag on her way to third place at the Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge that took place in South Africa on Saturday. Photo credit: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\n