The 2025 Mpumalanga Provincial XCO series came to an end with thrilling racing at the finals at Mankele on Saturday, May 31.

After the Middelburg, Klipspringer and Ligbron (Ermelo) legs, cross-country mountain bikers from all corners of the province converged on the famed Mankele for the final challenge.

It was a perfect winter’s day in the picturesque Houtbosloop valley as the temperature rose, albeit slowly, and the sun peeked over the Mankele Mountains.

The event was superbly organised and executed by 2D Adventures, with Danie Botha and his team once again setting up testing routes for the various age group categories.

The winners of two races were decided by a second or less.

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In the sub-junior girl’s category, Leyla de Oliveira and Lana de Vries went wheel to wheel over the three laps. It came down to a sprint for the finish line with Layla just edging out Lana. Both were credited with a time of 00:35:09.

Dristen Swart and Eben Binneman produced a thriller in the elite men’s race. Over a tough five laps they were never separated by much more than a bike length. Swart took first place in a time of 01:00:21, with Binneman crossing the finish line a second later.

Top three category places:
Nipper boys
First: Reyneke van Heerden – 00:19:13
Second: Jordan Warburg – 00:20:01
Third: Robert de Vries – 00:20:07
Nipper girls
First: Lily Hattingh – 00:24:08
Second: Ninke van Zyl – 00:24:39
Third: Klara Prinsloo – 00:24:40
Sprog boys
First: Christiaan Prinsloo – 00:32:14
Second: Ewan Terblanche – 00:33:25
Third: Reinhardt Strydom – 00:35:01
Sprog girls
First: Ennike du Plessis – 00:38:58
Second: Zianay Rademeyer – 00:39:56
Third: Willa Rae Warburg – 00:41:55
Subjunior boys
First: Kevin Filter – 00:41:18
Second: Brand Reinard du Plessis – 00:43:03
Third: Morné Oosthuizen – 00:45:13
Subjunior girls
First: Leyla de Oliveira – 00:35:09
Second: Lana de Vries – 00:35:09
Third: Rene Rautenbach – 00:55:22
Youth women
First: Maya de Vries – 00:44:10
Second: Miandi Pretorius – 00:51:52
Third: Jemma Barnard – 00:52:09
Master women
First: Shirley Emmerick – 00:45:54
Second: Megan Barnard – 00:57:24
Master men
First: Marc Fourie – 00:49:19
Second: Francois de Jager – 00:50:37
Third: Mark Filter – 00:52:19
Grandmaster women
First: Corné Ackermann – 00:50:13
Grandmaster men
First: Jacobus Swart – 00:14:35 (one lap)
Junior women
First: Lu-Mari du Plessis – 00:45:07
Second: Danel de Jager – 00:48:52
Third: Mia Putter – 00:48:53
Youth men
First: Zander Ferreira – 00:41:17
Second: Matthew Warburg – 00:42:09
Third: Scholtz Boshoff – 00:43:39
Junior men
First: Dalmyn Pretorius – 00:53:51
Second: Carl Maré – 00:54:30
Third: Janco van Staden – 00:56:12
Elite men
First: Dristen Swart – 01:00:21
Second: Eben Binneman – 01:00:22
Third: Christian Smit – 01:05:38
Subvet men
First: Gawie Combrinck – 00:51:14
Second: Neal Corbett – 01:00:13
Third: Julian Gerber – 00:01:56
Vet men
First: Brand du Plessis – 00:51:15
Second: Lawrence Scott – 01:01:02
Third: Steyn Prinsloo – 01:05:30.