![\"ccs-62657-0-68531200-1439138176.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-68531200-1439138176-1.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Kargo Pro MTB Team’s Brendon Davids charges to victory in the 45km Sappi Scottburgh Classic, the feature race of the 2015 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race. Finish Line Photos\/ Gameplan Media.<\/span><\/p>\nWith things having not gone his way on the cross country circuit this season, Davids recently turned his attention to the marathon and stage racing scene for the remainder of the year and victory in hilly but fast and furious 45km Scottburgh hit-out will give him good momentum ahead of his upcoming assignments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to race with Alan; it\u2019s always fun to race together and I\u2019m really happy to finally get a win!\u201d said Davids.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a very long dry spell for me; I haven\u2019t had a season filled with luck, so hopefully this is the turning point for the last quarter of my season!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was also my first time here at the Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race and hats off to the organisers; it\u2019s a really cool race and I\u2019m looking forward to being back in the future!\u201d added the Kargo Pro MTB rider.<\/p>\n
Davids and Hatherly charged out the blocks, reducing the race for the title to a two horse affair from as early as the first climb with Davids leading the charge on the flats and Hatherly setting the pace on the descents.<\/p>\n
A cat and mouse final few kilometers saw the pair pop out onto the J&D Scaffolding Bridge neck and neck before Davids edged in front over the brief portage that linked the two halves of the Chep SA walkway across Scottburgh\u2019s Main Beach and charged for the finish line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was based in the States for a couple of years I raced quite a bit of cyclo-cross so when we dropped off the first stretch of the walkway I cyclo-cross dismounted and just ran as fast as I could!<\/p>\n
\u201cAlan tried to weasel his way through by trying to ride through the sand but fortunately I managed to get back on ahead of him and take the win,\u201d laughed Davids.<\/p>\n
For Hatherly, the day was a positive outing ahead of the final leg of the UCI MTB World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy in two weeks\u2019 time and the all-important 2015 UCI MTB World Championships in Vallnord, Andorra in early September.<\/p>\n
\u201cI couldn\u2019t have asked for a better final bit of preparation for Italy than I got here today!\u201d said Hatherly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pace was really hard throughout, which I\u2019m sure will be great for the international racing that I\u2019ve got coming up!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCongrats to Brendon; he was super strong, rode a really good race and deserves the win!\u201d added the runner-up who claimed the Thule King of the Mountain hotspot prize in consolation.<\/p>\n
Duane Stander, brother of the late South African mountain biking legend Burry, narrowly edged out Andre Grebe and Henry Mayer for the final step of the podium.<\/p>\n
Joining the nation in celebrating Women\u2019s Day, the field was led out through the neutral zone from Scottburgh Main Beach to the start at Renishaw sugarcane farm before the 45km event\u2019s female competitors enjoyed the privilege of occupying the front row on the start line.<\/p>\n
Pre-race favourite Parker-Dennison wasted little time in charging to the front of the women\u2019s tussle and soon enjoyed a comfortable buffer over her nearest chasers, an advantage she refused to reliquish all the way to the finish.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a Scottburgh local I knew exactly where to go, where the hills were and when to push it which was a big help,\u201d explained Parker-Dennison.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to stay upfront as much as I could, I just did my best and it was a lot of fun!\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Parker-Dennison\u2019s victory extends the race\u2019s remarkable trend of a South Coast related competitor clinching the women\u2019s title on home turf to six consecutive years after Brenda Potts (2010), Bianca Haw (2011), Cherise Stander (2012) and Hayley Smith (2013 and 2014) claimed the women\u2019s race spoils previously.<\/p>\n The 28km Dash & Splash contest saw Philip Lombard claim the men\u2019s honours while Chloe Batesman outsprinted James Stamatis to claim second place overall and the top step of the women\u2019s podium.<\/p>\n The 10km Fun Ride afforded tomorrow\u2019s stars the opportunity to enjoy their slice of the action and the Halfway Toyota Kids Zone ensured that those not yet ready for some time in the saddle were safe and sound throughout while lucky draw prizes from Blue Marlin and Cutty Sark hotels, Thule, Bobby\u2019s Cycles, Cadence Cycling Durban North and Funky Pants were well received by all.<\/p>\n<\/a>Candice Parker-Dennison’s victory in the women’s race of the 45km Sappi Scottburgh Classic extended the Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race’s remarkable trend of a South Coast related woman winning the event to six consecutive years. Finish Line Photos\/ Gameplan Media.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Women’s race winner Candice Parker-Dennison (center) is joined by Vivian Michell (right) and Debrah Thomas (left) on the women’s podium of the 45km Sappi Scottburgh Classic, the feature race of the 2015 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race. Finish Line Photos\/ Gameplan Media.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n