Defending champions James Reid (Trek South Africa) and Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota) took the Elite men and Elite women’s national titles respectively in epic encounters at today’s staging of the 2014 SA National MTB Marathon Championships in Pietermaritzburg.
Eventual race winner, defending champion James Reid (Trek South Africa) during the 2014 SA National MTB Marathon Championships, presented by Stihl, at Pietermaritzburg on Sunday. Photo: Mylene Paynter
The Elite men departed from Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg and began their climbing in the 95km ultra marathon course, which incorporated some monster climbs, and a cross-country style track in the final 25km.
They passed through a number of small landowners’ private land along the way as they headed into the Mount Verde and Hilton College estates.
The gruelling route passed through various private farms and was no walk in the park for the deserved winners in each category.
Defending champion James Reid snapped his chain within the first 7km, and chased the front group of riders up to the first feed zone at 14km.
“Then it was a race of attrition, the guys came and went, and it wasn’t super hard but the guys were all trying to save for the end,” said Reid.
“I’ve come from eight weeks in Europe, and the last marathon race that I did against the South African guys was at the end of March. The national title is always special, you can’t get a chance to win it at every race and it is the one that counts.” – Cycling SA
