![\"ccs-62657-0-17149000-1476108893.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-17149000-1476108893.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Tristan de Lange navigating the singletrack through Harmanus, with CP van Wyk hot on his trail. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\nJurgens Uys (Kargo Pro) set a fast pace from the start. This led to the establishment of a five-rider leading group until just before 20km was covered. Then De Lange put in an attack and Van Wyk was the only rider that could stay with him. The pair worked together until De Lange powered away up a steep switchback climb just after 50km in.<\/p>\n
De Lange maintained a steady pace over the last 12km to capture the victory, but Van Wyk was caught and passed by a fast-finishing Senekal less than 3km from the finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was quite surprised at how much climbing there was. That last climb to the finish was quite a kicker! The route was stunning and the trails were fantastic. It was a really enjoyable race,\u201d said an elated De Lange, a student from Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter having done the race last year, I knew what to expect. For me it\u2019s the perfect mix of singletrack and road sections. I really enjoyed it. You have to work throughout the race \u2013 no free kilometres. I paced myself quite well and was happy to catch CP before the finish,\u201d said Senekal.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s race, the pace was reasonably quick from the start and the pack began to splinter after 20km where the technical sections began. Lennard was the strongest on the technical terrain and was the lone leader before the halfway mark.<\/p>\n
She kept a constant pace and steadily increased her lead, clocking a winning time of 3:24:26. Tanja Oosthuyse was second in 3:29:19 with Catherine Colyn claiming the final podium spot a minute later.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first time I\u2019ve done this race. The route delivered proper mountain biking, which I like. Lots of rough surfaces, some mud, lots of climbing and descending and plenty of singletrack. And there was beautiful scenery,\u201d smiled a delighted Lennard.<\/p>\n \u201cI struggled a bit in the first 20km as I\u2019ve been ill this week. I was just hanging in there and talking myself through it. On the technical sections I started to open up a bit of a gap on the other ladies and then at around 30km I was on my own. I quite enjoy being on my own as there\u2019s no pressure and I started to feel stronger in the second half,\u201d added Lennard, a medical research scientist at UCT.<\/p>\n \u201cRiding out here is awesome! This area has the best mountain biking in the Western Cape. The conditions were perfect too \u2013 no heat, wind or rain and the trails were just beautiful,\u201d said runner-up Oosthuyse.<\/p>\n \u201cThe weather is always a bit unpredictable in the Cape, so the pre-entry numbers were a little lower than what we expected, but there were a lot of late entries so we are happy with the final numbers. This area boasts some of the best riding in the country and it\u2019s a pleasure to be able to offer a round of the Nissan TrailSeeker Series here again,\u201d said Fritz Pienaar, director of Advendurance, the event organisers.<\/p>\n In the 36km Half-marathon, Robert Hobson and Vicky van der Merwe won the male and female races overall respectively.<\/p>\n For complete results, visit www.saseeding.co.za<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Katie Lennard on rocky singletrack, with no opponent in sight. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Breath-taking Sumaridge venue. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za.<\/span><\/p>\n