David Maree stepped onto the top step of the podium yesterday at this year’s Knysna Oyster Festival Cycle Classic.
A fresh two degrees celsius greeted the riders as the race took on a new challenging route over 100km.
Team Abantu had a depleted squad with four of its members part of the National Track Team preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games including Knysna Oyster Festival defending Champion Nolan Hoffman who is overseas racing on the track.
With some of the countries top MTB riders from the Western Cape present and full motivated Team Westvaal – BMC outfit, the racing was on from the word go.
As the race rolled out of Knysna across the lagoon the flag had dropped and the attacks started. Up the first climb of the day out of Knysna the race winning break would go clear containing 10 riders.
This included four riders from Westval-BMC, two from Cannondale-Blend, one Giant, one ASG and Maree (Abantu).
With Westvaal having the numerical advantage the attacks continued in the break with the lead formation changing numerous times.
“I played it cool and forced JC (Nel) to chase a lot of the attacks from the two Cannondale-Blend riders. Before the final corner Waylon (Woolcock) attacked which forced JC follow then me. This effort gapped Darren (Lill) and as soon as we went around last corner I knew it was 270m to line with a strong tailwind.” explained Maree
