A broken rib did not stop defending men’s solo champion Billy Stelling from winning his second stage in a row on the third day of the TransCape mountain bike race between Van Wyksdorp and Riversdal in the Western Cape today.
Following the 135km queen stage yesterday, today’s examination was slightly shorter as the riders continued their seven-day, 690km journey from Knysna to Franschhoek.
Billy Stelling leads the Spar team of Catherine Williamson (centre) and Hannele Steyn during the 81km third stage of the TransCape mountain bike race that took riders from Van Wyksdorp to Riversdal. The seven-day, 690km event between Knysna and Franschhoek finishes on Saturday. Photo: Jacques Marais
The 47-year-old Stelling, who is from Sea Point in Cape Town, completed the 81km in 3:09:12 to move into second overall on an aggregate time of 13:08:34.
Belgian Karl Dossche, who won the opening stage, held on to his overall lead after finishing second on the day in 3:19:38 (12:59:16).
Third went to Willem Tollig in 3:19:53, but Alan Tilling’s ride of 3:26:02 (13:18:42) keeps him in third overall.
Stelling injured his rib last Monday in an incident while moving house and has been taking pain-killers to cope with the situation.
He said he did not want to put any pressure on himself and would just take it one day at a time and enjoy the ride.
“Yesterday, because of the longer stage, I got into a faster group and even though I have not set myself a goal, today I wanted to race a bit harder as well.”
Stelling, who said the pain had eased somewhat since the opening day, described the TransCape as a “brilliant journey”.
“It is one of the top three races in my book. The atmosphere is great, the accommodation is fantastic and the food is brilliant.”
Overnight leaders in the men’s team category, Pieter Seyffert and Travis Walker, raced to their third consecutive stage victory in 2:54:56 (11:45:06) to maintain their overall position at the top.
They are followed by Belgians Eddy Feliers and Kristof de Neys, who represent Cicero Baik, after a ride of 3:16:25 (12:39:50).
Third on the day went to Bromance’s David and William Wertheim Aymes in 3:19:52 (12:47:47), the same position they occupy in the overall situation.
Ellsworth-ASG’s Seyffert said the race was giving them a good idea of their respective strengths, having recently formed a new partnership with the 25-year-old Walker from Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal.
“We have different styles, but now he has seen what I do and I have seen what he can do,” said the 30-year-old from Helderkruin on the West Rand.
“They say you race like you train, so this is a very good opportunity to see how we gel and it is the best way to get to know each other.”
Women’s pair Catherine Williamson and Hannele Steyn, who are competing in the mixed category, won the stage in 3:09:13 ahead of Ian and Jane Seggie in 3:48:21 and Matthias and Denise Kubli in 4:07:13.
Williamson and Steyn, who race for Spar, are the general classification leaders on 12:32:37, followed by the Seggies on 15:13:21 and the Kublis on 15:47:26.
In the women’s solo category, Alma Colyn stayed well ahead after crossing the line first in 3:19:55 (13:00:59).
Second and third went to Mandy Langebrink in 3:44:23 (14:50:03) and Chandre Wertheim Aymes in 4:02:00 (17:13:41) respectively.
View the TransCape MTB stage three results and general classification.
