Cross-country mountain bikers were pushed to the limit on the challenging course at Klipspringer Lodge during the Mpumalanga XCO #2 on Saturday, April 12.

The course was not outrageously technical, as may be expected of a cross-country course, but the inclines were deceptively steep, and the track had enough dongas and sharp bends to make it tough on the participants.

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The youth male race was a thriller, with Zander Ferreira and Scholtz Boshoff going wheel to wheel over the four laps.

Neither gave an inch over the first three laps and crossed the line to start the final lap with only a one second advantage to Scholtz. Xander was the stronger over the final lap, but only by 14 seconds. He won in 00:47:31, with Scholtz clocking 00:47:44.

Leyla de Oliveira was untouchable in the subjunior female race. She dominated from the start and won in 00:43:07, the only competitor to complete the scheduled three laps.

While the nipper boys competed in a shorter race, but there was plenty of fire in their legs. Jordan Warburg and Wihan van Niekerk showed amazing skill and fitness pushing each other all the way to the finish line with Jordan taking first place in 00:18:20 and Wihan second in 00:18:31.

MP XCO #3 will take place in Ermelo on May 10.