Combrinck ‘Knox’ Max off the podium
The pro duo's legs stood up to the tough climbs, and was rewarded with a well deserved first and second place respectively in the 65km race.
www.hhphotoxpress.co.za
Pro riders Gawie Combrinck and Max Knox were among the 400 riders who tested their mettle at this year’s Sappi Mankele MTB Challenge this past Saturday.
Over the years the organising body has developed unique trails running through Sappi’s bush tunnels and endless single tracks, which enable riders to have the best possible mountain biking experience. In fact, Mankele trails are rated among the best mountain biking trails in South Africa by many professional riders.
The pro duo’s legs stood up to the tough climbs, and was rewarded with a well deserved first and second place respectively in the 65km race.
They led from the word go and pulled away from the rest of the chasing pack. Both maintained an average speed of 26,06km/h, and like birds of a feather, flocked together to the finish with only a second separating the two. Combrinck, however, took the overall spoils with a time of 02:29:39, followed by Knox’s 02:29:40.
A mammoth congratulations has to go to the youngster, Franco Pelser (21) who finished just seven minutes after the pros, by maintaining an average speed of 24,98km/h.
The 34km race was, as always. hotly contested. In the end the 17-year-old Rikus Booyens walked away with the win. He was as ready for racing in the rain as ever, and took advantage of the course to pull off the win. He finished in 01:32:01, two-and-a-half seconds ahead of the runner-up, Jean du Plessis. Zandri Strydom dominated the ladies’ category once again and finished her race with a smashing smile. Rightfully so, as she completed the race in a time of 1:45:06.
“Sappi has once again outdone themselves this year. It was a good day of racing,” said Mark Meyer, one of the organisers of the race. “We look forward to seeing all the riders at the third leg of the Malalane Toyota Marathon series on April 14 in Hectorspruit,” he concluded.
