With fine weather and a good attendance, the Madibaz MTB XCO Series started on a high note when Whip Snake leg was held on the Nelson Mandela University campus in George at the weekend.
Having started in 2016, the event, which is aimed at promoting mountain-biking in the region, has gained in popularity and looks set for another bumper year over the four legs.
Riding in the elite men’s category, Kyle Symons took the early honours, completing the five-lap course in 1:24:29.
Petri Stander tackles a single-track section in the opening leg of the Madibaz MTB XCO Series at the Nelson Mandela University campus in George at the weekend. Photo: Chris Brooke
In the women’s section, Rose Bailey finished the women’s four-lap course in 1:18:07 to come home first ahead of Anuschke Smith.
Showing their riding skills at the event were Ascendis Health pair Robyn de Groot and Sabine Spitz, who were the runners-up in last month’s Cape Epic.
“They asked to be promotional riders rather than take up podium positions,” said Venter. “They were there to show their support to the series but did not want to mess up the log-points for the local riders.”
He added that the development riders continued to show their talent, improving with each outing.
“A competitor such as Ian Jantjies from the Knysna Sport Academy is certainly a rider to watch.”
The XCO Series will continue on May 6 when the second leg, dubbed Boomslang, will take place at the same venue in George.
The category winners were:
Nipper boys: Roy Fraser-McKenzie 25:24; girls: Anje van Niekerk 21:57
Sprog boys: Matthew Brink 31:16; girls: Mienke Boshoff 28:21
Sub-junior boys: Christian Hattingh 51:21; girls: Linel Engelbrecht 42:56
Youth men: Julian Bunge 1:02:53; women: Sorina Venter 1:22:33
Junior men: Tristan Nortje 1:00:08; women: Kirsten Roelofse 1:04:39
U23 men: Leendert Cronje 1:24:37; women: Jean-Marie Roelofse 1:28:12
Elite men: Kyle Symons 1:24:29; women: Rose Bailey 1:18:07
Sub-vet men: Nico Kruger 1:25:41; women: Zane Coetzee 1:25:14
Veteran men: Deon Barnard 1:28:39; women: Marike Vreken 1:24:20
Master men: Richard Muller 1:11:36; women: Etresia Heyns 1:20:51
Grandmaster men: Abbey de Groot 1:19:04
