Wildevy MTB - Race Report by Samantha Sanders

Burgersfort in Limpopo is a town better known for its Platinum mines & surrounding farm regions. Why then did the V team find themselves in the area on 26 July? Well, this past weekend was the annual Clemen Gold Wildevy MTB Race. A relatively new race with its first event being held in 2012. The race takes place in the Watervalsrivier pass between Lydenburg and Burgersfort on the northern edge of Mpumalanga. What makes the race quite unique is the terrain. It is part bushveld, part subtropical. At times you find yourself winding along bushveld single tracks in between Acacia trees and the next along a river with magnificent Wild Fig trees shading you from the Lowveld sun. 

The route, in a single word, is FUN. With very little climbing and a fair amount of lekker single track, the race is a social riders dream. From the trails, it is very evident that the organisers put particular effort and care into the race and the trails. The single track was smooth and very flowing. The event was well organised, well marked & the vibe was light-hearted. With our very own Driekie & Pieter Heyns involved with the organisation, one can tell that they have attended a number of events and taken notes! They have catered this event around the rider and what we love! Good organisation, fun course, decent prizes for our efforts as well as a free bike wash!!

Kusile Guest House (owned by Driekie & Pieter Heyns) was the luxurious host to all riders registering for the race and they also offered discounted rates to all cyclists participating in the event! On arrival I was met by many familiar faces. There were enough local Pros present to make the race a Provincial Championship. Even the adopted Lowvelders, Benmelt Swanepoel & Yolandi Du Toit had arrived for the event. After a swift registration we sat down to dinner at the Guest House which, needless to say, was delicious.

The race started at a very reasonable 8am. There were 3 distances: 70km, 35km and 20km. This was a maiden voyage for me on a 650B Scott Scale. Yolandi and I were all smiles and banter in the start chute, and I myself was looking forward to a little more of a chilled ride. However, from the start it was clear that it was full on racing as normal with Landi pushing the pace hard. In the end, she beat me to the finish line with her frenetic cadence on the long flats and no epic downhills for me to take advantage of. 

The 650B was a super awesome ride. The most obvious difference between it and the 29er is its agility and super responsiveness. For someone of my stature it is a lot more nimble than the larger 29er. It is plenty faster out of the corners with a smaller wheel to turn and climbing is definitely easier. The 29er does however out run it on the long flats & of course it rolls over anything! Although I had a fat jol riding the bike, I would not say I am converted. I think that both have their application and their advantages and disadvantages.

In the end, the race was won by RECM rider Nico Bell, Max Knox 2^nd & Benmelt Swanepoel rounded off the podium. In the Woman’s overall Yolandi Du Toit was queen bee, myself 2^nd and Santie Van der Westhuizen crossed the line for 3^rd.

The half Marathon was totally dominated by the Valencia Juniors.

Ryan Terry was a cool 7 minutes ahead of his closest completion in the sub junior boys. And we had a V team 1/2 in both the junior boys and girl’s category with Mandy Swart 1^st & Tyneale Terry 2^nd in the girls. Franco Pelser and Martin Oosthuizen took 1^st and 2^nd in junior men and Reyno Buekes just missing podium to come 4^th. Even our Coach, Bosseau Boshoff enjoyed a day out on his MTB and finished 4^th in his age category- not bad for a Roadie! Big Mike Terry cruised home into 6^th position.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day out with friends in support of local racing.

The V team would like to thank our sponsor, Valencia Cycles for their ongoing support in the activity we love most- Racing Bicycles! Also a massive thank you to Kusile Guest House, Driekie & Pieter for their hospitality. And personally to all my sponsors: Valencia, Adidas Eyewear, Powerbar & Continental - THANKS!

SA XCO Champs 2014 - Race Report by Samantha Sanders

Saturday 19 July was the date set for the SA XCO Champs showdown. Thaba Trails in Alberton JHB was the host for the event and the venue was a hive of activity all week with riders popping in to to practice the course. 

The event, and particularly the course, had been a hot topic preceding the race with the rumor-mill churning out stories about the difficulty of the course. 

I was fortunate enough to get to ride the course a few weeks back and also to practice it for a few days before the race. It was definitely a worthy SA Champs course with plenty of climbing and plenty of rocks, drops and more rocks to test the technical skills of each competitor.

I found it to be a very fun course but I am good on the brakes and so riding rocky & sandy trails doesn't phase me. The course did however prove too much for many riders with some spectacular falls and even tears.

My race lasted a whole of 2.5km. The start sprint was intense and I knew I wanted to be first into the single track because I wanted to have a clear line over the gap jump and through the rock garden. This much of the race went very smoothly for me. But a sidewall cut to my tire after the first climb ended it all very abruptly. I bombed it to no avail. By the time I had got back to the tech zone I had lost too much time. My Tech team put in a new wheel and I went back out and just enjoyed the fun course. The title was claimed by Mariske Strauss and in the men's race Rourke Croeser clinched the win convincingly.

Full results here: http://www.cyclingsa.com/App_Resources/Uploads/FILE00003842.pdf

Losing out on a chance to compete is not easy and I was bitterly disappointed. A lot of hard work and preparations go into these events, not only by the riders themselves but also the team behind the riders. The sponsors, the coaches, parents and crew all come out to support us at these events so it is never pleasant when you cannot give them the result that you all came out to achieve. But, it is the nature of the sport we love, so on a positive note, I am super Proud to say that the V team is definitely on the up and coming. With the help and guidance of Bosseau Boshoff from Infinita Academy and the support of Valencia Cycles, our little team has become a well oiled machine. 

We had a kitted out set-up with Turbo trainers & rollers available to warm up on. A fully equipped toolbox and a feeding station for the riders. All these small amenties are what it takes to produce top results and I would like to thank all those involved in generating a professional and positive atmosphere for the team to thrive on. Most importantly Bosseau who gives his time endlessly to his athletes and the riders of the province in their pursuit of gold. Valencia Cycles not only supports the growth and development of the sport but also supports the individuals of the sport.

With the National XCO season wrapped up, my focus will now shift to a short rest and then you can look out for the V team dominating your local race scene and especially The Isuzu 3 Towers!

Peace Out. 

Sam