Uys holds on to his title
No one would have blamed Johannesburg mountain biker Henry Uys, and Alan Gordon - who only bought his first mountain bike in 2012 - for having a déjà vu experience after convincingly re-establishing their dominance at the Barberton XCM.
Uys outsprinted Gordon, to claim the ultramarathon title for the second consecutive year. Gordon hoped to dethrone Uys from his title, after having to settle for silver in 2016.
Uys was the stronger rider in the dash and crossed the line first in four hours 49 minutes and 48 seconds. Gordon rolled home a minute later in 04:50:13 to secure the runner-up spot with Declan Sidey finishing in third over seven minutes later in 04:57:54. Building up to the event, Uys admitted that it would be difficult to hold on to his title with such a strong field of riders, and to improve on his time of 04:21:34 from last year’s race.
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“It was a solid route and ‘not as delicate as a daisy’. It was tough, but I am happy to have taken the win,” said Uys.
2016 UCI Road World Championships’ contender, Samantha Sanders secured a dominant win in the 110-kilometre race through the misty Barberton mountains.
Sanders clocked in a time of 05:37:01 to slice more than 25 minutes off Emile Clarke’s time of 06:03:06 who finished in second place. Anli Smith rounded off the podium places in a time of 06:25:50.
“It was a great day winning the Barberton 110 kilometre. I managed to hang onto the bunch for the finish,” said Sanders.
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Franco Pelser, who finished the 2016 edition of the Cape Pioneer Trek in second, sealed an overall victory in the 77-kilometre race in 03:20:46. Pierre Smith (09:30:47) and Armand du Randt (03:35:37) managed to salvage a podium place. Hoërskool Nelspruit’s Armand Lombard, clearly the strongest rider in the 48 kilometre clocked a winning time of 02:15:56. He was followed home more than two minutes later by Erick Heyns (02:18:35), who outdashed Emle Fourie for the runner-up position.
The 2016 UCI SA XCO Mountain Bike series title holder, Zandri Strydom and Frances Janse van Rensburg, made for an exciting contest, but it was Strydom who recorded a win in 03:00:30 and Frances crossing the finish line eight minutes later in 03:08:40.
The Barberton Rotary Club organised the first Barberton Challenge 21 years ago.
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“The Rotary Club of Barberton would like to thank all our athletes and sponsors for their support and contribution towards this race. Without you this race would not be possible. All the proceeds will go back into our community, which is guaranteed to put a smile on many faces. We hope to see all the riders back in Barberton on January 27, 2018,” said George Pearse, president of the Rotary Club of Barberton.
