Team NAD sprints to win at 3 Towers
Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck, from the NAD Professional MTB team, took first place in a time of seven hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds over 193 kilometres in the Isuzu 3 Towers stage race that was held at Mankele Mountain Bike Park this past weekend.
“There is no greater feeling than winning your favourite race on home turf. A massive thank you to all our sponsors and partners for standing alongside us and making our athletes’ dreams a reality,” team NAD said.
Former riders of South Africa’s number-one mountain-bike team, RECM Bell and Erik Kleinhans, won the title in 2015. Kleinhans and partner Matt Beers of team Topeak Ergon Red-E, were second overall in 07:28:53.
Also read: Bell wins Mpumalanga road title
The ladies’ category was won by Ascendis Health’s former Olympian mountain biker, Candice Neethling and current and three-time SA XCM champion, Robyn de Groot in 08:47:45. Pieter du Toit and Christiaan Burger of Kargo Pro-team, easily claimed the challenge title, finishing in 06:15:45, more than five minutes in front of Jan Louis de Sousa and Ruben Pearson.
Team Valencia’s Emily Clarke and Kirsten Gillespie beat their opponents by almost two hours, finishing the 142 kilometres in 07:43:35.
Also read: Lowvelder sets pace in Mpumalanga Cycle Tour
Local family team, Joshua and Roger Clarke, managed to claim second place in the mncane category, completing the 102 kilometres in 05:32:02.
“This year was the best event we ever had. It was a good weekend for riding, with over 250 teams. Thanks to Isuzu, who has been sponsoring the event for the last eight years. Next year will be even bigger and better,” said race organiser, Mark Meyer of Mankele Mountain Biking.
