Capetonian Billy Stelling shrugged off difficult, muddy conditions in the TransCape mountain bike race today to take his third stage in a row, moving into the lead in the men’s solo category.
Overnight rain meant riders were faced with a gruelling challenge on the 103km fourth stage between Riversdal and Swellendam in the Western Cape.
Men’s solo leader Billy Stelling (front) expresses his feelings on a muddy fourth stage from Riversdal to Swellendam in the TransCape mountain bike race today. The seven-day, 690km journey from Knysna will end at the La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday. Photo: Jacques Marais
The peloton, who will arrive at La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday after seven days and a journey of 690km, faced the added challenge of almost 2 000m of ascent.
The 47-year-old defending champion from Sea Point, who is suffering from a broken rib, finished the stage in 4:41:35 for an overall time of 17:50:09.
Belgian Karl Dossche, who won the opening stage, was second in 4:52:25 (17:51:41) to drop one spot in the standings. He was followed by Alan Tilling in 4:56:56 (18:15:38), who remains in third overall.
Stelling said he rode the last 55km on his own after pulling away from a bunch on the climb at Grootvadersbosch Conservancy.
“After riding with the front team (Pieter Seyffert and Travis Walker) for a while, I stopped to clean my bike and waited for a group behind me.
“I rode with them until they fell off a bit on a big climb and I was on my own from there until the end.”
Because of the conditions, Stelling said he merely took the stage section by section.
“It is difficult in those conditions because the bike doesn’t function properly and you have to constantly clean your bike. So mentally and physically it was hard.”
He said he would continue to take it one day at a time as he assessed the remaining three stages of the race.
Riding for Ellsworth-ASG, the men’s pair of Seyffert and Walker won their fourth stage in a row, crossing the line in 4:35:06 to lead the team standings on 16:20:12.
The Ellsworth-ASG team of Pieter Seyffert (front) and Travis Walker continued to set the pace on a muddy fourth stage from Riversdal to Swellendam in the TransCape mountain bike race today. The seven-day, 690km journey from Knysna will end at the La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday. Photo: Jacques Marais
Belgians Eddy Feliers and Kristof de Neys, of Cicero Baik, finished second in 4:52:22 (17:32:12) to consolidate their runners-up spot in the overall standings. Third on the day, as well as overall, were Bromance’s William and David Wertheim Aymes, who crossed the line in 4:59:21 (17:47:08).
The 30-year-old Seyffert said it was more of a mental battle than anything else and that they “were on the pedals the whole day”.
“Even on the downhills it was difficult to freewheel.”
Seyffert said the bunch stayed in their slipstream at the start on a flat road into a headwind.
“But it was so muddy that we pulled away on a climb about 15km into the stage and that helped us to see where the best lines were.”
Despite a commanding lead, Seyffert was cautious about making any predictions.
“You never know what can happen in a stage race because a mechanical can change things very quickly. We will need to take it safely on the more technical sections.”
Competing in the mixed category, the Spar women’s team of Catherine Williamson and Hannele Steyn finished the stage in 5:08:25 to stay in top spot overall (17:41:02).
Riding in the mixed category, Catherine Williamson (left) and Hannele Steyn (Spar) led the overall standings after a muddy fourth stage from Riversdal to Swellendam in the TransCape mountain bike race today. The seven-day, 690km journey from Knysna will end at the La Couronne Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday. Photo: Jacques Marais
They were followed home by Ian and Jane Seggie in 6:02:52 (21:16:13), with Matthias and Denise Kubli in third after completing the day in 6:22:16 (22:09:42).
Solo women’s leader Alma Colyn won the stage in 4:57:48 (17:58:47) to stay well ahead of Mandy Langebrink, who came home in 6:02:52 (20:52:55).
In third place is Chandre Wertheim Aymes who finished in 6:43:29 (23:57:10).
Thursday’s stage will take riders over 112.5km and 1 542m of climbing between Swellendam and Greyton.
