Bell and Jung wrap up the Sabie Xperience
Many a budding cyclist competed for the mere fun and adventure of it.
It seems like it was only yesterday that the last Sabie Xperience took place. In reality it has been five months. Due to the bad summer weather in December, the date
was moved from May 1 to 4.
Many riders could count themselves lucky that it was not the rainy season as the diverse routes could be as treacherous as they were exhilarating, even when it’s not slippery with mud.
This year the annual Forest2Falls MTB challenge was also incorporated from its usual venue at Mac Mac Forest Retreat to allow the environment to recover from storm damage.
This moved the Xperience’s stage race to Saturday, and more than 600 riders participated that day. Shorter events were also on offer for the less experienced riders.
According to Brett Coates of Bells Cycling, combining two of the longest running mountain-bike events in the Lowveld resulted in a weekend festival of mountain biking. It kicked off with a 32-kilometre stage on Friday, followed by 51 kilometres the next day. But it was on the third day that the lighter weights were distinguished from the tougher riders.
Team Lite had to complete 43 kilometres, solo riders faced 59 kilometres while Team Tough riders had to complete 66 kilometres in the saddle. It was only the latter who lined up for the final 62 kilometres on the final day.
Team RECM/Bells Cycling Midas’s Nico Bell and JP Jung were victorious in a time of 09:34:52 over the four stages, after dominating from the beginning.
They were followed by Alan Gordon and Barend Burger of Demacon/Navworld in second place. Overall third and the top veteran male team were Pierre Griffioen and Igna de Villiers of LGE Midas/Bells Cycling in 10:52:27. They were followed by fellow veterans Green House team’s David Harding and Bruce Turvey in 11:17:09.
Carel Bosman and Yolande du Toit for Team Garmin/RFC were the first mixed tough team and overall fifth in 11:39:12.
In the 142-kilometre solo challenge Gordon Gilbert took first place in 06:33:35 followed by Nohan van Tonder in 06:39:53 and James Goosen in third with 07:04:42.
Martijn Mellaart was the first veteran and overall fourth in 07:14:04. Emily Clarke was the fastest individual woman in 08:20:43.
The Lite Open went to Team J&J Johan Steyn and Johan Pretorius in 06:52:44. Stander Bende’s Jan Hendrik and Jandré Stander were second with 07:00:33 and Shaun and Kirsten Gillespie for Team V were third in 07:06:52.
But despite the prizes and prestige the race was more about the experience of “a welcoming venue, excellent route marking and the best scenery and terrain in South Africa,” Coates explains.
“Race times were only of concern for the top few teams, but for the rest the excitement of simply riding the mountains was the motivating factor.”
- See more pictures here.
