Alan Hatherly took top honours in the penultimate elite men’s race at the third round of the SA National MTB Cup Series XCO in Bloemfontein yesterday.
Alan Hatherly (right) claimed the elite men’s win at the third round of the SA National MTB Series XCO in Bloemfontein. Photo: Reblex Photography
The Team Spur rider crossed the line after six laps of racing in 1:34:50. Jan Withaar and Stuart Marais took second and third in 1:38:42 and 1:39:16 respectively.
For Withaar, the first two laps were a struggle to find a constant rhythm.
“It was more of a matter of finding the concentration than it was physical.
“I hadn’t cleated in properly either at the beginning which also isn’t too helpful,” he said.
OMX Pro Team’s Mariske Strauss took the elite women’s title after crossing the finish line first in the five-lap race in 1:38:55.
Second place went to Team Spur’s Ariane Luthi in 1:42:20 and third place to Michelle Vorster in 1:45:55.
“Today went really well for me,” said Strauss.
“It was dry and dusty out there but it was a great race – there were lots of obstacles to keep us alert and on our toes.”
All the top riders were present to solidify their standings on the series log, with one remaining event to be held in Pietermaritzburg mid June.
