Stuart Marais defended his title when he won the men’s race at the Eston MTB Challenge in KwaZulu-Natal today.
Stuart Marais defended his title when he won the men’s race at the Eston MTB Challenge in Eston, KwaZulu-Natal, today. Photo: Anthony Grote
Marais finished in 2:22:01, ahead of Tyronne White and Warren Price in the 60km marathon.
The race started with Marias and Andrew Hill breaking away from the rest of the field to build up a lead.
Around the half-way mark, TIB Insurance’s Hill encountered some bad luck with a mechanical problem that left his saddle seat-post shattered.
While Hill carried out repairs, Marais (Expedient Africa/Moving Parts Tractor Spares) paced himself over the final 30km of the race with six riders chasing him.
“It was just a case of limiting losses from there to the finish,” said Marais.
“There was one section where we climbed out of a valley and I could see Tyronne but otherwise I was on my own.”
Hill managed to finish fourth after his technical set-back, while David Low came in fifth.
Hill said if you did not try, you did not achieve.
“It is a good lesson in not giving up. Things like this happen in racing and in life and you just have to keep on pushing.”
The women’s title went to Jeannie Dreyer (2:52:56), with Christie-Leigh Hearder (2:59:25) second and Andrea de Boer (3:07:24) third.
View the results below.
Marathon (60km)
Men
1. Stuart Marais 2:22:01
2. Tyronne White 2:28:24
3. Warren Price 2:28:25
4. Andrew Hill 2:29:47
5. David Low 2:30:29
6. Derrin Smith 2:30:29
7. Bradley Potgieter 2:31:20
8. Julian Jessop 2:31:20
9. Jordan Wisdom 2:33:31
10. Brennan Anderson 2:34:09
Women
1. Jeannie Dreyer 2:52:56
2. Christie-Leigh Hearder 2:59:25
3. Andrea de Boer 3:07:24
4. Debrah Thomas 3:13:28
5. Tamika Haw 3:15:54
Half marathon (40km)
Men
1. Kusaselihle Ngidi 1:35:35
2. Sam Moore 1:35:36
3. Thomas Cheatle 1:40:23
Women
1. Tiffany Keep 1:41:08
