Sanders misses top spot by a second
After a total of four rounds comprising seven stages, the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series reached a crucial point on Saturday with the eighth stage of the prestigious series, taking place at Van Gaalen near Hartbeespoort.
Candice Neethling (dormakaba) and Samantha Sanders (Valencia) duked it out in a sprint in the women’s race, with Neethling just edging ahead to take the win in a time of 03:29:14. Sanders was given the same time, with South African champion, Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) taking third place in 03:30:31. De Groot still holds onto the series lead.
“I checked out the finish before the start, and knew the first person into the last corner should win. So my positioning at the end was perfect for that sprint. It was a hot pace from the beginning in the women’s race today and I’m very happy to have won. It’s a really challenging route, which I love,” smiled Neethling.
Although South African marathon champion, Nico Bell (Team NAD Pro) placed fifth with a time of 03:02:00, he currently leads the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series men’s rankings. Bell’s Team NAD Pro teammate, Gawie Combrinck, is currently second, also from seven stages and 2016 champion, Max Knox (New Holland/This Way Out) is third from six stages.
Matthys Beukes won the men’s titles.
Beukes (Pyga Eurosteel) eventually triumphed in a race-long duel with round-four winner, Brendon Davids (Road Cover) to claim the win in a time of 02:55:34. Davids was just 0,1 seconds behind, with Gert Heyns (Ascendis Health) rounding out the podium places.
“Brendon is so strong on the flats and there’s quite a lot of flat sections here. I was bleeding to keep on his wheel. On the last climb I thought it was game over for me, so I just put in one last attack and it worked out. I got a gap and just tried to hold my small lead to the end, which I only just managed to do,” said a weary Beukes, who now takes the series lead going into round six.
This round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series takes place at Dullstroom, Mpumalanga on September 2 and 3.
Leading results
Marathon
Men
1. Matthys Beukes 02:55:34
2. Brendon Davids 02:55:35
3. Gert Heyns 02:59:00
4. Philip Buys 03:00:38
5. Nico Bell 03:02:00
Women
1. Candice Neethling 03:29:14
2. Samantha Sanders 03:29:15
3. Robyn de Groot 03:30:31
4. Theresa Ralph 03:42:41
5. Sarah Hill 03:45:34.
