Last Saturday the Wildevy MTB race was held in the small
town of Burgersfort for the second year running. Race organisers and owners of
Kusile guest house Pieter and Driekie Heyns’ hard work payed off as
participants raved about the quality of the riding and vibe of the race. “It is
very special and definitely worth your while to go there any weekend, get permission
and do them over and over and over… It is clear that the organisers went to a
lot of trouble to make it a special event with a big marquis tent to rest our
weary limbs. A face cloth to wipe the dust from my face at the finish line is
quite original. The food tent that had a stream of “boeries” and pancakes
coming the riders way, did a very good job. [Pieter and Driekie] ensured that
riders enjoyed great single track and with 300 entrants, it is growing in
popularity.” Jan Delport.
In the 35km half marathon, a quartet made up of Franco
Pelser, Moima Blessing, Martin Oosthuizen and Reyno Beukes finished within
seconds of each other, 8 minutes ahead of the closest contender. Pelser,
Oosthuizen and Beukes, all of Team Valencia worked well as a team to maintain
the gap on their rivals. In the ladies race, Mandie Swart showed great form by
taking the overall win. Tyneale Terry took 9th overall and 2nd
Junior behind Valencia teammate Mandie Swart.
In the 70km Marathon ladies race, Valencia’s Samantha Sanders
came 2nd to Yolandi Du Toit by a few minutes. Both ladies, who raced
in the Marathon World Champs held in Pietermaritzburg a month ago, showed their
class coming 9th and 11th in the field and beating their
nearest competition by just under an hour.
Sanders experimented with the “in between” wheel size,
riding her teammate Amy McDougall’s Scott Scale 650B “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!” Says Sanders
In the 20km race, Ryan Terry won the race overall in an
impressive time of 46:59, 6 minutes ahead of second place. Monique Swart took
gold in the Sub Junior category.
The men’s race finished in a sprint between Lowveld Locals:
Nico Bell and Max Knox with Ben-Melt Swannepoel of Heidelberg rounding up the
podium.
Drieke and Pieter Heyns will definitely be hosting the Wildevy
next year and expect an even bigger field of riders from across the country.
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