The elite men’s race at the Mpumalanga Cycling Union and 2D Adventures XCO2 at Klipspringer Lodge on Saturday was decided by a sprint finish.

The cross-country mountain bike event received 143 entries.

Gawie Combrink, competing in the subveteran men’s category, was the overall male winner of the day. He annihilated the five laps in 00:47:53.

Willie van Eck and Gert Peens fought it out for first place in the elite men’s race.

Van Eck had the better of the first three laps, but Peens pushed hard on lap four and five, and going into the sixth and final lap, it was anyone’s race.

The two came up the final incline and rounded the last bend neck and neck, and it was Peens who won the sprint to the line by one second.

The winning time was 01:04:29.

Dristen Swart was third in 01:0:16.

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The exceptionally talented Monique Swart was the only entrant in the elite women’s race and finished the five laps in 01:00:41.

Klipspringer is a brilliant mountain biking venue and the competitors were full of praise for the excellent organisation and facilities, especially the swimming pool.

The XCO3 will be held in Ermelo on April 1.

The top three in the other race categories were:
Nipper boys
1. Tiaan Wolvaardt
2. Reynhard Strydom
3. Reyneke van Heerden.
Nipper girls
1. Emke Moolman
2. Zianay Rademeyer
3. Anja Krugell.
Sprog boys
1. Brand du Plessis
2. Kevein Filter
3. Steffan Moolman.
Sprog girls
1. Robin Jones
2. Leyla de Oliveira
3. Lana de Vries.
Sub-junior boys
1. Zander Ferreira
2. Henro Fourie
3. Jean-Pierre Gertenbach.
Sub-junior girls
1. Maya de Vries
2. Gabriella de Oliveira
3. Jemma Barbard.
Youth women
1. Danel de Jager
2. Abigail Barnard
3. Elandri Hietbrink.
Veteran women
1. Megan Barnard.
Master women
1. Corné Ackermann.
Master men
1. André Smith
2. Ben Coetzee
3. Francois de Jygen.
Grandmaster men
1. Cobus Fourie
2. Marcel de Villiers.
Youth men
1. Samuel McIntosh
2. Dalmyn Pretorius
3. Milan Snyman.
Junior men
1. Francois de Jager
2. Lumardt Pienaar
3. Luan Snyman.
Subveteran men
1. Gawie Combrink
2. Roger Mortlock
3. Lawrence Scott.
Veteran men
1. Anton van Tonder
2. Carel Moolman
3. Craig Randell.