Ballito power couples tackle Sani2c challenge

Nearly 4000 riders braved the 2019 edition of the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race, the KAP Sani2c, which ended at its new race finish at the Scottburgh Golf Club last week.

The event saw three races – the Trail, Adventure and the Race with Ballito husband and wife team Jo-Anne and Tyronne White winning the Adventure mixed team section.

“This was our second Sani2c together. Last year we did the Trail and it was Jo’s first stage race. The race was an amazing experience.

“It is really special getting to do an event like this with my wife and it was so cool getting a good result as well,” said Tyronne whose team name is DriveTrain.

While they were lucky with the clear, windless Autumn weather making for perfect conditions, they did feel the chill after sunset.

“For us the most challenging part was trying not to freeze in the tents in Underberg the night before the start.

“It was crazy cold for us Ballito locals! Other than that there was nothing overly challenging.

“We had no mechanical problems and we thoroughly enjoyed our race and the pristine trails.

“We trained hard for this year and it definitely helped to make it so much more enjoyable. It was also great having so many friends up at the event as so much of the allure of Sani is the vibe and post stage chatting.”

Fellow Ballito team Jacques and Rouxda Grobler took on the main event and came fifth overall in the mixed team category.

Jacques said they thoroughly enjoyed the event which was their sixth Sani2C race.

“Day one is always the toughest and day two is the longest, but we have learnt how to push through the tough times thanks to the Drive Train training which we have been doing at Holla Trails with Ty,” said Jacques.

The Race was won by the 2017 champions Matthys Beukes and Phil Buys of the PYGA Euro Steel team, with Sam Sanders and Robyn de Groot winning a very close race for the women’s title for dormakaba from Galileo Risk’s Theresa Ralph and Sarah Hill.

The 87km first stage took the riders from Glencairn Farm outside Himeville to the Mackenzie Club close to Donnybrook, while the Queens stage the next day took riders through the Umkomaas Valley to the Jolivet macadamia farm, close on 100km away.

The final stage of 86km ended at the Golf Club in the South Coast town of Scottburgh. Besides giving the cyclists a fantastic experience, the race also employs 2850 people every year and ploughs millions back into community organisations, schools and crèches in the process.

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