Muddy conditions challenge riders at MTB Hectorspruit
Many riders were splattered with mud from head to toe when they finally crossed the finish line of the MTB Hectorspruit on Saturday morning.
The second-last race in the Mpumalanga Marathon Series, the MTB Hectorspruit, has been hosted annually by Lien se Kleuternes since 2013 and drew even more riders on Saturday, with a total of 330 competitors.
They set off at the Buffalo Hotel and followed the various routes through bush, sugar cane fields, orange orchards and a stretch along the Crocodile River, before looping back to Hectorspruit.
Families and casual riders usually take on the shorter routes, while the longer ones are more technical and test even the toughest veteran’s mettle.
PHOTOS: MTB Hectorspruit a muddy challenge for more than 300 riders
The youngest riders, which included learners of Lien se Kleuternes, completed a two- kilometre fun route and were rewarded with medals.
Following last year’s feedback that the single track, designed by former South African downhill champion Dirk Lourens, proved very tough, the 35-kilometre route was adjusted and longer stretches along the Kruger National Park fence were added.
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Due to the rainfall the previous night, the track was made even more challenging due to water puddles and mud, so riders had to take extra caution. Luckily no serious injuries were reported, but several people suffered a few scrapes and bruises after falling.
Results:
55 kilometres
First: Reinhart Viljoen with 2:18:30
Second: Heine Engelbrecht with 2:18:32
Third: Christo Carelson with 2:18:34
The top two ladies were Hijke Coetzee with a time of 2:57:16 and Suzanne Mare with 3:07:59.
34 kilometres
First: Gert Peens with 1:32:46
Second: Heinrich Prinsloo with 1:32:48
Third: Jacques Nel with 1:34:48
Among the ladies, Delrie Ferreira came first with a time of 1:49:38, followed by Juanita Kammeyer with 1:49:58 and Dalene van der Leek with 1:50:12.
19 kilometres
First: Leroux van der Leek with 56:32
Second: Trinity Lubisi with 57:25
Third: Carl Maré with 58:23
The first women to cross the finish line were Adri Kruger with 1:01:18, Megan Botha with 1:03:34 and Lara Pretorius with 1:12:36.
The overall winners of the 10-kilometre race were Deon Janse van Rensburg with 35:11, Marizaan de Bruin with 35:14 and Regardt Duggon with 36:09.
At the finish line, riders could enjoy pancakes, Milky Lane ice cream and other snacks, and have their bikes washed by a group from Die Voortrekkers in Komatipoort.
Despite the rain, organiser Eiwet Roos said they were delighted with the number of participants and received a lot of good feedback. She attributed the race’s success to the unique routes it features.
The Mpumalanga Marathon Series, which started with the Sabie Classic on February 23, will conclude with the Nkomazi MTB Challenge at Laerskool Malalane on August 24.
READ: Nkomazi MTB is a thrilling conclusion to 2018 Mpumalanga Marathon Series
