Local boys conquer 3 Mountains challenge

Tyronne White from Ballito and Joshua Nelson from Salt Rock took all the honours for the Dolphin Coast at the 3 Mountains Challenge multi-stage MTB cycling race from March 19 to 22.

The four-day stage race takes place around the beautiful town of Clocolan in the Free State with rides averaging 70 to 80 km a day.

White and his partner Andrew Hill from Kloof took the overall win in the main event, being the first team to cross the finish line.

White said the race was an excellent training ground for the ‘joBerg2c’ in April, a mammoth nine-day stage race that he won last year in the Solo category.

“It was an important part of our training as we learn each others strengths and weaknesses in preparation for the big race,” said White.

In the shorter event, Joshua Nelson (17) took the overall win being the first Solo across the finish line with his fellow team mate Reinhard Zelhuber taking second place.

“The race was fast and flat, and not so ‘mountainous’ as cycling at home in Ballito,” said Nelson.

Nelson’s main focus is on marathon racing and he hopes to go to the world championships later this year. The event catered for all levels of expertise by providing different routes and distances to select from, over four stages.

It included a night race/prologue of 25km plus three day stages of between 70 – 80km each in the main race and just over half that distance in the shorter race.