The overseas leg of Erik Kleinhans’ season concluded with the challenge of his third Grand Raid mountain bike race, which finished in Grimentz, Switzerland, earlier this month.
The 35-year-old Topeak-Ergon rider said after he had failed to achieve his goal of finishing in the top 10 of the demanding race, he was determined to return for a fourth shot.
“It seems I will have to go back again to try beat my previous best of 12th,” said the South African, who finished the 125km race in a credible 16th.
He explained he had taken the race at his own steady pace as he went about his business of ticking off the climbs one by one.
Topeak-Ergon’s Erik Kleinhans returns to South Africa this week after a tough but successful season in Europe. Photo: Chris Hitchcock
The final, frightful climb up the 1 700m Pas de Lona was the highlight for the Stellenbosch resident as he said the support was always something special.
“The highlight of the race was the hike up Pas de Lona,” he explained.
“Strange yes, but there are hundreds of people at the top with Swiss cowbells cheering you on for the full 20-minute hike. You always have someone motivating you.”
He said he even got “a friendly laugh” from multiple Cape Epic champion Karl Platt as he started the climb, warning him it was where “the real race starts”.
Kleinhans said he was a fan of the longer, tougher, endurance events and relished the challenge that the race provided.
He said the A to B route, which featured more than 5 000m of climbing as it crossed the Valais mountains, also allowed for an opportunity to experience spectacular Swiss scenery.
The race, which is one of his favourite European events, came a month after the Transalp.
The seven-stage race over 544km was a major focus for the team and Kleinhans, who partnered with Alban Lakata, finished 6th overall.
The Lion King explained his role was usually to ride in support of Lakata and Kristian Hynek, but, as the former was injured, they partnered to support teammates Hynek and Jeremiah Bishop, who eventually placed third.
“My personal highlight for this season was the Transalp, where I was able to climb those mountains and keep up with the top riders,” he said, adding it was always a highlight to do stage races with the team.
With roughly 18 000m of climbing, the race through the Austrian and Italian Alps is gruelling.
Despite having completed events such as the Cape Epic back home, Kleinhans said little could prepare one for its severity.
“The South African races help make you tough, but, if you spend a lot of time racing in the Alps, our terrain does not offer the same chance for preparation because the climbs are much longer and steeper.”
Kleinhans, who returned to South Africa last night, said the Ride2Nowhere, Berg and Bush and Cape Pioneer Trek were next on his radar.
Before that though, he said ice cream and a big braai were in order.
