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<\/a><\/p>\nEndurance, heat and dust were just some of the elements Sipho Khupiso and his RMB Change a Life MTB Academy teammates had to overcome during the recent Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill MTB ultra-marathon.<\/span><\/p>\n Sithembiso Masango was a shining light for the Valley of a Thousand Hills outfit as he romped home in a sublime seventh position, less than thirteen minutes behind Trek South Africa\u2019s Reid\u2019s winning time of 3:38.48 and in the company of the likes of TIB Insurance\u2019s Andrew Hill, Team Jeep\u2019s Matthew Beers, Cannondale Blend\u2019s Darren Lill, Quattro\u2019s Tyron Bird and Team Jeep’s Derrin Smith.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just so proud of not only Sithembiso but the whole squad! What the guys managed to achieve out there at Hill2Hill was incredible!\u201d said academy founder Martin Dreyer.<\/p>\n \u201cWe targeted this one as the one race this season that we really wanted to try and make an impact at because it\u2019s tough, long and super popular where so many things can go wrong. If you manage to get a top 20 it means a lot and you can be very proud of your achievement.<\/p>\n Sithembiso Masango flew the flag high for the RMB Change a Life MTB Academy at the recent Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill MTB ultra-marathon when he claimed a hard-fought seventh place.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ndumiso Dontso was part of a cluster of RMB Change a Life MTB Academy members to feature in the top 20 of the Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill MTB ultra-marathon.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cA lot comes into play in a 105km ultra-marathon like Hill2Hill, you really have to be able to pace yourself well and get your race nutrition spot on. The top guys have all been around the block which, together with the heat on the day, meant there was just no room for error!<\/p>\n \u201cSo to have six riders in the top twenty-six at KZN\u2019s toughest race is just amazing for us and to see the guys progressing so well really is motivating for the riders!\u201d he added.<\/p>\n After a string of good results recently, academy MTB team captain John Ntuli claimed yet another high profile race top 20 finish when he crossed the line in 16th position.<\/p>\n His young charges however appear to be relishing almost too well under his mentorship though as the likes of Mboneni Ngcobo (12th) and Ndumiso Dontso (15th) joined Masango in the post-race festivities ahead of Ntuli.<\/p>\n Bongumusa Zikhali rounded out a quintet of top 21 performances for the RMB Change a Life MTB Academy at the Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill MTB ultra-marathon.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn his defense, John (Ntuli) suffered a mechanical halfway through the race which saw him struggle on the descents, but \u2013 as the RMB Change a Life Zulus know \u2013 there isn\u2019t a comments column in the result sheets.<\/p>\n \u201cHe really gives the guys a good working over in training though, so if the others get a chance to get one over him they grab it with both hands. There\u2019s no holding back!\u201d chuckled Dreyer.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn is such a great competitor though and really leads by example both on and off the bike so the rest of the guys have a great role model to learn from and the effects of this are really starting to show!\u201d<\/p>\n Bongumusa Zikhali rounded out the academy\u2019s top 21 quintet while Mazwi Smimango and Sipho Khupiso also finished inside the top 40 in what is regarded by most as KZN\u2019s premier ultra-marathon.<\/p>\n \u201cOur pre-planning was more meticulous than usual. We scouted the first 10 kilometers of the route the day before, discussed pacing and hydration, the guys had all the water bottles filled, marked and ready the night before, we kept them well-nourished throughout the race and I think that was a telling factor in the results we achieved.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching my guys charging across the finish line at the front end of this tough 105km event was something quite special, even the race announcer was getting excited with regular comments of \u201cAnd here comes another RMB CAL Zulu to finish in the top 20!\u201d said a deservedly pleased Dreyer.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n