Bike race hotly contested
Despite cloudy weather on Saturday morning, enthusiasts came out in their numbers for the Big 5 MTB Mountain Bike Race this past weekend.
There were 149 entries for the various distances: 54 in the 10km, 53 in the 25km and 42 in the 45km.
Each race commenced with the blowing of a shofar. As the course was fast and flat the cyclists clocked excellent times despite the windy conditions. Before the start of the race, marshals on the 45km-route sent word that lions had been spotted along the Kruger National Park fence.
Kokkie de Beer and her team ensured that all the cyclists and visitors were well fed,
offering a variety of delicious food like pregos, pancakes and curry and rice.
Oasis Water, Lebombo Jams and Valencia Cycles also exhibited their products.
The race was organised in the space of three months, but with the enthusiastic team of Nico Nell, André de Necker, Louis Slabbert, Bruce Harman, Russell Clark, Kerry-Ann Clark, Colin Pretorius and Avril Pretorius, the plans all came together.
The youngest participant, Briaan le Grange, was just four years old and Eric Franz proved that at 73 years young, anyone can enjoy cycling! Libiyile Farming Services supported the event by presenting a race within a race with the Rosemaryn, Voorspoed, Bein Donne and Elmboog farms entering a development team of
20 cyclists who competed for their own prizes as part of a team-building event held by these farms.
Farm workers acted as marshals and also served at their own water points. The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all. These novice cyclists really proved their mettle by beating many participants on their single-speed bikes.
The winner of this race was Rafael Mazive. He was also in the overall sixth place in the official race and won a cycling bike. They are challenging other farms to do the same next year.
The 45km senior male category was fiercely contested with a sprint finish and
milliseconds separating the first four positions.
The race committee would like to thank the local business community that, at short notice, willingly sponsored many of the prizes as well as Valencia Cycles that sponsored all the gift vouchers for the category winners and goodie bags for the finishers.
The organisers would also like to extend a big thank you to Nico Nell and his farm
managers who granted them permission to cycle on this unique and picturesque
route and assisted with marshalling.
Without each and everyone’s contribution the race would not have been such a great success.
