![\"ccs-62657-0-32469200-1473687342.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-32469200-1473687342.jpg\")
<\/a>Cross country specialist Jan Withaar, who races in the colours of Redhub, won the Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge in Krugersdorp at his first attempt. Photo: Jetline<\/span><\/p>\nHe was followed home by Wessel Redelinghuys, who crossed the line in 1:38:05, and Josef Bester in 1:40:02.<\/p>\n
The Redhub rider said he was somewhat surprised at his clear-cut victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, before the start of the race, I went to have a look at the finish because I was expecting there would be a few guys together at the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat didn\u2019t happen, which surprised me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Withaar said he had expected a stern challenge from defending champion Henry Uys, but the battle never materialised.<\/p>\n
\u201cHenry initially sat back on the first climb to see what the other guys would do. Towards the top he upped the tempo and a group of five of us got away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Withaar said he then positioned himself towards the front as they approached a stretch of gravel and managed to open up a gap on the technical sections that followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was surprised at how quickly the guys dropped off when things got a bit more technical.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, with my cross country background, that\u2019s the type of riding we do. With quite a few twisty trails, I was very comfortable on the route.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on my own after about 15 minutes and from there I just focused on keeping my pace as high as I could for as long as possible. You can enjoy it so much more when you don\u2019t have people on your back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Withaar said he was \u201cpleasantly surprised\u201d with the nature of the route.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a bit negative coming into the race because the last four or five mountain bike races I have done consisted mainly of gravel roads with the odd jeep track.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat wasn\u2019t the case here at all. I think the route was good, the tricky sections well marked and there was a good mix of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Withaar, who focuses on the national cross country events, said he used races such as the Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge to help him prepare during the off season.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically we are in a building phase at the moment, training during the week and then using races such as Silverstar for that added intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s feature event ended in a relatively comfortable win for Nadine Visagie of Cyclezone, who completed the 40km in 1:59:27.<\/p>\n
Petruschika Constancon was runner-up in 2:07:51 with Tanya Hartley completing the podium in 2:10:50.<\/p>\n