Neck and neck and tyre to tyre were Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom’s elite junior men cyclists, Brandon van der Berg and Pieter du Toit, as they battled for first place in the North West Spur School MTB Series Tour de Mielie.

These two training partners played a cat and mouse game for the entire race, each taking the lead various times during the five-lap contest. In the end, Van der Berg had the last burst of power in the final straight to outsprint Du Toit and cut the deficit between the two riders with one race to go in the series.

Volkies’ Kristen “Nooi” Louw also staked her claim for North West  honours with an important win against Nicolene Marais of Hoërskool Rustenburg in the Junior Women’s section in Louw’s home town. Marais still holds the overall leader’s jersey, though, as the former leader, Danielle Strydom, did not compete in the race.

In the youth girls category, Andrea de Waal of Potchefstroom Girls’ High had the better of Hartebeespoort’s Kaylin Prinsloo to not only win the  race but also claim the leader’s jersey with one race to go.

Ryan Conradie continued his scintillating form to ease to a victory in the youth boys’ category ahead of Brendan van Eeden, who battled valiantly to take second place.

Van Eeden’s sister, Joné, is doing one better and leading the sub-junior girls’ section after another impressive second place, behind Jade Slabbert of Midstream College while John-William Lang of Hoërskool Rustenburg leads the sub-junior boys category after another cracking display on two wheels.

The next race in this hotly contested series will take place at Hoërskool Wagpos in Brits on Saturday, 27 August.

Results:

Sub-junior girls

1) Jade Slabbert (Midstream  College) – 26:44

2) Joné van Eeden (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 27:06

3) Natasha Roets (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 28:49

Sub-junior boys

1) John-William Lang (RHS) – 39:31

2) Theo van Zijl (RHS) – 40:59

3) Wesley Herreveld (Glen Afric) – 42:12

Youth girls

1) Andrea de Waal (Potchefstroom Girls’ High) – 42:10

2) Kaylin Prinsloo (Hoërskool Hartebeespoort) – 43:44

3) Hanje Nel (Hoërskool Lichtenburg) – 46:15

Youth boys

1) Ryan Conradie (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 46:21

2) Brendan van Eeden (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 47:10

3) Stehan Wolmarans (Hoërskool Hartebeespoort) – 48:30

Junior women

1) Kristen Louw (Volkskool Potchefstroom) – 53:35

2) Nicolene Marais (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 54:15

3) Marlize le Roux (Potchefstroom Gimnasium) – 56:41

Junior men

1) Brandon van der Berg (Volkskool Potchefstroom) – 00:59.57

2) Pieter du Toit (Volkskool Potchefstroom) – 01:00.00

3) Juan-Pierre van der Merwe (Hoërskool Brits) – 01:00.43

See the photos here: https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/20310/photos-potch-riders-make-merry-in-spur-schools-series-event/