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<\/a><\/p>\nThe first mixed team across the finish line, Team Token Cycling (5:07:46), finished fifth overall. Second in the mixed category was Clover Prestigio Mixed (5:32:21), with Team Enervit (5:38:34) third.<\/p>\n
Race day dawned cold and crisp with a start line temperature of just under 10 degrees. \u201cThe wind on the latter part of the course was a challenge,\u201d said Team Road Cover\u2019s Bradley Potgieter. \u201cThere are a few ways to ride this race, and we decided to go all-out from the start. It was maybe a bit intense for some, but we had a good working order and kept a high speed,\u201d Potgieter added. \u201cWe could have been faster, but we are happy with our result. We\u2019ll definitely be back next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team Road Cover, who had combined riders from the Road Cover Cycling Team with the RCCC Hollard u\/23 team, pulled into the Supporter Zone at Kestell (104 km) just 30 seconds off Team Bluff Meat Supply who had started 2 minutes ahead of them. Road Cover spent less than a minute to refuel at the Supporter Zone and sped off with seven riders, having dropped five of their team members by now. The two leading teams rode within sight of each other in the approach to the hilly Golden Gate section. With cramps threatening, neither team pushed the pace up the hills, with Bradley Potgieter and Kent Main putting their heads down to pull Team Road Cover into first place, overtaking Team Bluff Meat Supply close to Clarens.<\/p>\n
Potgieter, incidentally, won the 2016 Aquelle Tour Durban, while the team\u2019s Clink Hendricks took the coveted title of the 2016 Cape Town Cycle Tour.<\/p>\n \u201cCyclists participated in teams of up to 12 riders,\u201d explained PPA Chairman Steve Hayward. \u201cWhile some teams did line up with fewer than 6 riders, you needed a minimum of 6 riders to be counted as an official team. Teams had to stay together as long as possible, as the time of the sixth rider across the finish line counted as the team\u2019s official time.\u201d<\/p>\n While most teams started 1 minute apart, the top teams started 2 minutes apart at the back of the field. To qualify as a mixed team, the team needed three members of the opposite gender in the top 6 across the finish line.<\/p>\n The first team challenge was first held 23 years ago when the Pedal Power Association organised the first \u2018Double Century\u2019 in the Western Cape. \u201cOver the years, the event has only ever been held in the Cape. However, when the Association opened an office in Bloemfontein in 2015, we decided this was the ideal time to take the team challenge concept to the Free State,\u201d Hayward said.<\/p>\n A number of route and venue options were investigated, with the final route taking participants from Clarens to Bethlehem and out towards Warden before pedalling through Kestell and the Golden Gate Reserve.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce teams entered the scenic Golden Gate Reserve, they had only 40 km to go \u2013 but this section included most of the hills on the course,\u201d explained Hayward. \u201cAt the 150 km mark, we introduced the Enervit Hot Spot, a 2.6 km climbing section which included the notorious \u2018Mineshaft\u2019 with gradients spilling over at 16%.\u201d<\/p>\n The winner of the Enervit King of Maluti (KOM) was Jaco van Dyk of Team Almec Carpet Worx, who blitzed off the climb in 05:29. Desray Sebregts of Team Token Cycling was crowned as the Enervit Queen of Maluti (QOM), having completed the steep climb in 07:37.<\/p>\n At the finish, several cyclists said that they had underestimated the 180 km route, or overestimated their own fitness, with the wind on the day adding to the challenge.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was just terrible!\u201d puffed one cyclist as he crossed the finish line. \u201cWhere do I sign up for next year?\u201d<\/p>\n Is it as tough as the Coronation Double Century? The field was a bit divided on this. \u201cThe route may be 20 km shorter, but the altitude plays a big role. And the hills are definitely tougher. But without the wind, it could be very similar,\u201d seemed to be the general consensus.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom an organisational point of view, we are thrilled with the inaugural PPA Maluti Double90 and how the event unfolded on the day,\u201d said Race Director Karin Pohl. \u201cEverything ran like clockwork and we have received rave reviews from participants. It was challenging. It was scenic. And the last 40 km through the Golden Gate reserve was a killer. It\u2019s the perfect combination.\u201d<\/p>\n Entries for the 2017 PPA Maluti Double90 will open in October 2016. Entries will be limited to 100 teams.<\/p>\n Open:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Team Road Cover Cycling (04:50:48) Racing Mixed:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Team Token Cycling (05:07:46) Enervit King of Maluti (KOM)<\/strong><\/p>\n Jaco van Dyk (Team Almec Carpet Worx) 05:29<\/p>\n Enervit Queen of Maluti (QOM)<\/strong><\/p>\n Desray Sebregts (Team TOKEN Cycling) 07:37<\/p>\n Full event results are available on http:\/\/results.pedalpower.org.za\/results.aspx?R=1&SID=190&<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Team Road Cover.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Team Token.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>QOM winner Desray Sebregts.<\/span><\/p>\nTop results are as follows:<\/h2>\n
2. Team Bluff Meat Supply (04:53:08)
3. Team Van Heerden Pharmacy\/Apteek (05:01:59)
4. Team #gountilyouthrow (05:06:22)
5. Team Arch Centric (05:11:58)
6. Team Bestmed ASG VETS (05:18:54)
7. Team DarthVaders (05:20:23)
8. Team Cycle Lab (05:22:17)
9. Team CEFRATEC (05:26:18)
10. Team Paper Peddlers (05:27:13)<\/p>\n
2. Team Clover Prestigio Mixed (05:32:21)
3. Team Enervit (05:38:34)
4. Team Mellow Velo (06:02:06)
5. Team Edenglen (06:22:32)<\/p>\n