Locals tackle MTB Festival

Four local mountain bike riders held the Dolphin Coast name high at the recent second annual, three-day Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival at Cascades MTB Park.

Joshua Nelson tackled the OPEN – MEN 60km race and fought all the way to the end, finishing 10 seconds behind Matthew Wilkinson at 02:44:54.

Devon Baird took on the Youth Men 3.8km x 3 laps race and made third place in 00:42:37.

On the ladies front, young MTB star, Chloe Bateson had a great ride and despite an unfortunate crash, she crossed the finish line of the Overall Women 20km race in a tight second place with a time of 01:24:08, just shy of Sarah Ryan’s 01:23:09.

“I am a little bruised from the crash, but you live and learn and I enjoyed the ride,” said Bateson.

She got back on her bike the next day for the KZN Schools’ Challenge and won the Sub Junior Girls’ 3.8km x 3 laps with a killer time of 00:36:53.

In the maturer age groups, MTB legend, Natalie Bergstrom came in close behind Theresa Ralph, claiming second place with a time of 03:26:41 in the SA MTB Masters Marathon Championships Women 60km age category 40-44.

“I always enjoy the PMB mud fest and I was quite happy about being second to Theresa, who is a pro racer. The conditions were brilliant and the weather was spot on. It was quite slippery at times, but overall it was great,” said Bergstrom.

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