On Saturday nearly 800 mountain bikers lined up at the York Sports Ground in Sabie to test their mettle over one of the most challenging courses in South Africa.
Being part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Marathon Series, it attracted some of SA’s top names, along with a handful of international riders, but in the end it was the SA riders who showed their strength.

Action arena sluit sy deure in Mbombela
The racing started in a low mist that soon burned away to leave the riders in the blazing Lowveld sun, which caught quite a few hardened participants off guard. In the end the Pyga Euro Steel duo of Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys dominated, with Beukes taking the top spot a few minutes ahead of Buys.
Local professional Nico Bell of the NAD Team rounded out the podium in third spot. In the ladies’ race, Yolandi du Toit had little competition, taking an easy win some way ahead of Mauritian, Aurial Hallbachs.

Showdown in the Pondarosa corral
In the non-UCI 80 kilometres Tlou Tshepo of Exxaro was ahead of local Christo Carelse, with the ladies’ race dominated by Valencia rider Kisten Gillespie.
In the 42-kilometre race the juniors had their chance to shine with Gauteng participants Hennie Van Wyk and Konrad Spanig taking the top two, with local boy Reinhard Viljoen in third. In the ladies’ race evergreen sub-veteran Dalene van der Leek crossed the line first.
“The race was an amazing success and with a considerable growth since last year, it looks set to be re-established as the premier mountain-bike marathon on the SA racing calendar,” said Brett Coates, director of Mountain Biking South Africa.