Mankele Mountain Biking hosted the fourth round of the SA National Cross-Country series on Saturday.

Zandri Strydom shines in Windhoek

Zandri Strydom started the season off with some bad luck, as she failed to finish the first leg of the series in Bellville due to a broken rim. She convincingly won the next cup, also held in Belville, followed by another win in Bloemfontein. She took another win on Saturday, during which was arguably the race of the day.

She dominated her race from the start and showed her true strength by increasing her lead lap after lap and taking advantage of the recent rain, which made the course extra fast and flowing.

She was among riders from all over South Africa who travelled here to take part in the event. The day was filled with excitement, as a number of pro riders came to the event, and riders like the u/23 world champion, Alan Hatherly did not disappoint. Hatherly’s amazing technical skills and endless power left the rest in the chasing pack on the first lap. He took the win, followed by Arno du Toit and Gert Heyns.

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Megan Botha was the first local rider to be on the podium. Botha was still in the race for first position when she punctured her wheel in the Malalane Toyota rock garden and had to settle for third place. Reinhart Viljoen managed to pull off a seventh place in the junior men, while Mark Meyer came second in the sub-vet category.
The next race at Mankele, known as the one that reminds cyclists why they ride, the Mankele Avalanche, takes place on June 1 and 2.

Slimkoppe maak al die regte skuiwe by skaak interhoër

A mountain bike race like no other in the Lowveld, the Avalanche is a three-stage, downhill, single-track course. With no uphills, this race will get your heart rate up and your adrenalin flowing. Each rider gets two attempts at every stage with the best time counting. Visit www.mankele.co.za for more information.