![\"tulb1.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-03730600-1329719473.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBurry Stander leads Kevin Evans in the latter stages of the race.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Zoon Cronje <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Tulbagh was the only marathon Stander has on his schedule before the Olympic Games, which take place in August and he ensured it ended perfectly for him. <\/p>\n \u201cI woke up a head cold on Friday, so dosed up on Vitamin C. I think I overdid it though because I cramped towards the end of the race. But I\u2019m happy with my form. I\u2019ve been doing a lot of high intensity training for cross-country racing, so wasn\u2019t sure how I\u2019d do over the longer distance,\u201d said Stander.<\/p>\n Stander is the current South African marathon champion and the reigning ABSA Cape Epic champion. He is aiming to defend his Cape Epic title with Swiss teammate, Christoph Sauser next month and scheduled the Tulbagh race and the upcoming three-day stage race, Columbia Grape Escape, as preparation events.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first 30km were quite hard and then the course became less challenging for quite some time. I didn\u2019t really know the route well and attacked through a flat, rocky section with about 40km to go,\u201d recalled Stander. “But I think everyone was waiting for the real climbs to start another 10 kays later.”<\/p>\n Evans, David George and Rossouw were the only riders able to match Stander\u2019s acceleration, but when they hit the climbs with 30km remaining, Stander put in more accelerations and first George and then Rossouw dropped, leaving only Evans for company at the front.<\/p>\n Burry Stander outsprints Kevin Evans to claim the victory.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Photo credit: Zoon Cronje <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cKevin and I were very even on the day and while I didn\u2019t know most of the route too well, I was familiar with the last 10km. Being mostly downhill and flat I knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to get away from him, so I banked on taking it to the sprint. I\u2019ve beaten him a few times in sprints so was quite confident I could do it again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe weren\u2019t going flat out in the last 10 kays and that allowed Jacques to close the gap. I am not contesting the National Marathon Series this year, but Kevin is and it was in his interest to ensure Jacques didn\u2019t catch us, so he led the sprint out and I came around him at just the right moment,\u201d explained Stander.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n