‘It was the best one yet’ – Glacier Cradle Traverse
The Glacier Cradle Traverse mountain bike challenge took place earlier in April and did not disappoint. A new addition and amazing sightseeing trails made it one of the best.
On 9 April, the ever-popular Glacier Cradle Traverse mountain bike challenge came to a close after a three-day stage race through the Cradle of Humankind.
The race village was at the Avianto Lifestyle Estate in Muldersdrift.
More than 200 riders from across the country, and some from Namibia, participated in the race which featured a route through the new Cradle Moon conservancy in the second stage. On this route, the riders were greeted by game such as giraffes, impalas and zebras.
There was a new addition to the race this year, namely a two-day fun ride for those who did not want to or could not do the three-day stage race.
Stage 1 consisted of a distance of 36km, Stage 2 covered 46km and Stage 3 was 40km long.
In the solo women’s category, Sara Hill came first overall with a time of six hours, nine minutes and 50 seconds. She was followed by Janneke Leask in second place and Bronwynne Swanepoel in third.
The overall men’s winner was Barend Burgers with a time of five hours, 54 minutes and 19 seconds, with second place taken by Grant Watson and Paul Fouché.
The teams also did very well, with the women’s team from Garmin/Altes Landhaus, and the men’s team Garmin Merida taking the first places in their respective categories.
With a time of six hours, 17 minutes and eight seconds, the women’s team of Yolandi du Toit and Yolande de Villiers took first place. They were followed by Ester Smith and Stephanie Faul in second place, and Magda Serfontein and Jana von Backstrom in third.
The leaders in the men’s teams, coming in after five hours, 53 minutes and 51 seconds were Melt Swanepoel and Jan Withaar. Second place went to Ethan Alford and Marc Rodrigues, and in third place were Saul-Marco Swart and Dehan Mahne.
Wouter Heunis and Karla Stumpf came first in the mixed teams category, with a time of seven hours, two minutes and five seconds. Keith Barclay and Yolandi Mostert came in second and Warren Rigelsford and Gobona Mantle were third.
The youngest entrant this year was the 15-year-old Kyle Robertson, who entered with his dad.
The organisers of the 2019 race regard it as the most successful Glacier Cradle Traverse to date and Johann de Wet, the head of business and investment solutions at Sanlam, said they are already looking forward to what next year has in store.
