![\"ccs-41808-0-26818100-1398151424.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-41808-0-26818100-1398151424.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Elite women’s XCO podium, from left: Cherie Vale (Paarl Media), Candice Neethling (Time Freight VELOlife), Mariske Strauss (Orange Monkey Pro Team), Ashleigh Moffatt (Time Freight VELOlife), Likeleli Masitise. \/\/ Image credit: Orange Monkey Pro Team<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The much-talked about altitude \u2013 Afriski is situated at over 3000m above sea level \u2013 made for some exciting racing and saw some new names atop the podiums in some of the categories. The reported sub-zero morning temperature was surely enough to get the pulse racing ahead of the competition.<\/p>\n James Reid (Trek South Africa) continued his good form in Lesotho from the previous weekend where he finished fourth in the under-23 race of the first round of the 2014 UCI World Cup series in Pietermaritzburg. Reid posted consistent lap times in the Pro-Elite class, 00:11:47, 00:12:45, 00:13:02, 00:12:51, 00:13:18, 00:13:16 and 00:13:16 in the 7-lap encounter to finish in 1 hour 30 minutes and 15 seconds.<\/p>\n Reid finished under 2 minutes ahead of British rider David Fletcher (Orange Monkey Pro Team) with Rourke Croeser (Kargo Pro MTB Team) claiming third place a further 28 seconds adrift. Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys, both of the Scott-Sports team, finished fourth and fifth, in 01:33:23 and 01:35:13 respectively.<\/p>\n Mariske Strauss (Orange Monkey Pro Team) continued her strong form when she won the Elite women\u2019s race in 1 hour 33 minutes 5 seconds for the 6-lap race. Strauss, who finished in 19th place in her first year as an elite competitor at the UCI MTB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg the week before, claimed the top position by eight minutes over Candice Neethling (Time Freight VELOlife). Neethling\u2019s teammate, Ashleigh Moffatt, finished in third place in a time of 01:44:42.<\/p>\n DHI winner Tiaan Odendaal (Green Team) during his practice session. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Current Downhill National Champion Tiaan Odendaal (Green Team) won the Downhill race, which was held on the Sunday. Odendaal descended the open course, which could be viewed from the finish area, in 2 minutes 4.857 seconds. Stefan Garlicki (Investec) finished in second place (02:06.523) with Jonty Neethling (sponsored by Fox South Africa) third (02:11.724). Michane Viljoen won the women\u2019s race in 3 minutes 23.239 seconds with Hayley-Ann Adamson finishing in second place, in 03:24.054.<\/p>\n Cycling South Africa extends a big thanks to the hosts, AfriSki Ski and Mountain Resort and their staff, for hosting the event. We also thank our sponsor, Stihl, and the Lesotho government and Lesotho Cycling.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n