Favourites Speedy, Stander show why

JOHANNESBURG - Nothing was going to stop the pre-race favourites for the first MTN Cross Country mountain bike race event of the year, and last Saturday outside Alberton, Burry Stander (Specialized/MR Price) and Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade) dominated the event, just as they did a year before.

Not even the fact Stander suffered from a loss of concentration during the last lap, which caused him to twice crash into trees, or that the pedal of Speedy’s bike came loose on the second lap, which caused her to lose nearly four minutes, could prevent them from winning their respective races by more than five minutes.

Stander’s winning time for the six-lap (6,28 km) race was 1:57.59. Philip Buys (Garmin Adidas) finished second overall and won the U-23 category in a time of 2:03.17.

Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin adidas) finished third in 2:03.45, and placing second in the elite category.

Stander was full of praise for the course.

“Even though there were no big climbs or downhills, it was still one of the most challenging courses I have ever ridden.

“The route was so challenging you had to stay focused all the time. If you read one line incorrectly you paid the price.

“That was what happened to me during the last lap. On the last climb there was a choice of three lines. I don’t know what induced me to make the decision, but I chose what I thought would be the easiest line.

“It was a mistake. Not knowing what to expect, I twice lost control of my bike and crashed into trees.

“Apparently this was the wake-up call that I needed because thereafter I was focused again.”

Usually the rider who can read the course best and makes the fewest mistakes wins.

Looking at Stander’s lap times, he was ‘Mr Consistency.’ He finished his first lap in 19:12 and from then on he managed to finish the next four laps all in under twenty minutes.

During the last lap his time was 20:04 which means the time difference between his first and last laps was only 52 seconds.

“I am not surprised by my consistent lap times. I have been focusing on doing stamina work until now, therefore I have adequate endurance but no real speed.

“However, this will change during the next few weeks.”

Bassingthwaighte was also consistent as far as his lap times were concerned.

He finished his first lap in 20:23 and his last lap in 20:38. His slowest lap time was 20:44.

Buys surprised everybody when he decided to take the initiative from the moment the starter’s gun went. He rode in front, setting the pace, with Stander right on his wheel.

This meant he shared the record for the fastest lap time with Stander.

Speedy was quite satisfied with the way her race went.

Her winning time for the four-lap race was 1:36.56.

Hungary’s Eszter Erdelyi (Jeep), who became a South African citizen after falling in love with race promoter, Max Cluer, finished second in 1:41.12.

Mariska Strauss (MTN-Energade) was third in the pro-elite category as well as the winner of the U23 race in a time of 1:42.06.

– Sapa.