![\"ccs-62657-0-51067100-1422813007.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-51067100-1422813007.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nAustria’s Alban Lakata celebrates his victory at round 1 of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series at Meerendal Wines in the Western Cape, South Africa on Saturday. \/\/ Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n In the men\u2019s Ultra-marathon race over 105km, Lakata (Topeak Ergon) secured the win in a time of 04 hours 38 minutes 16 seconds, just over a minute-and-a-half ahead of South African Erik Kleinhans (Team RECM), with Kristian Hynek (Topeak Ergon) of the Czech Republic rounding out the top three places a further 20 seconds back.<\/p>\n Suss (Meerendal Wheeler) had to outsprint compatriot Ariane Kleinhans (Team RECM) to secure the women\u2019s title in the 70km Marathon distance race, clocking a time of 03:30:05. South African marathon champion, Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) claimed third place three minutes later.<\/p>\n Just over a thousand participants competed in the event in races of varying distance in weather conditions that started out cool and cloudy, but became sunny and warm.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s race, South African ace Philip Buys (SCOTT Factory Racing LCB) set a blistering pace on the first major climb, splintering the strong field with only Germany\u2019s Simon Stiebjahn (Team Bulls) able to match the London Olympian.<\/p>\n Eventual runner-up, Ariane Kleinhans, marked Swiss compatriot and eventual winner, Esther Suss, closely in the final kilometers of the first round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series at Meerendal Wines in the Western Cape, South Africa on Saturday. \/\/ Photo credit: Zoon Cronje\/Nikon.<\/span><\/p>\n After 50km the lead group grew when more South Africans, Darren Lill (Cannondale Blend) and Matthew Beers, Switzerland\u2019s Konny Looser (Meerendal Wheeler), Germany\u2019s Stefan Sahm (Team Bulls) and Kleinhans and Lakata reeled in the eager early leaders.<\/p>\n By 70km, the race complexion had changed again as Lakata pushed the pace, taking the lead, followed closely by Kleinhans with 2014 ABSA Cape Epic winner, Hynek, picking his way through after having been outside the top 10 for some time.<\/p>\n As the race reached the finale, Lakata began to increase the pressure just enough to open a gap on Kleinhans for the final climb. The Austrian managed to hold his lead to claim the coveted title with a small tumble seeing Kleinhans lose a little more time but still hold on to second place. Hynek, in third, was followed home by Looser, with Sahm, a three-time Cape Epic champion, completing the top five.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n