Marco Joubert and Anriette Schoeman took the top honours in the 70km event of the Bestmed-Makro mountain-bike race near Port Elizabeth today.
The pair overcame a degree of confusion over the route markings to cross the finish line first, Joubert retaining the title he won last year and Schoeman claiming her fourth victory in the last five years.
The 21-year-old Joubert, riding for Imbuko-Momsen, defeated Jason Meaton in a charge for the line at the Hopewell Conservation Estate, St Albans, winning in 2:51:47.
Marco Joubert beats Jason Meaton to the line to win the men’s 70km Bestmed-Makro mountain-bike race at the Hopewell Conservation Estate just outside Port Elizabeth today. Photo: Full Stop Communications
Meaton was just a second behind, with Grant Daly third in 3:04:29
Putting the pressure on from the start, Joubert managed to create a lead before some confusion over the route meant he had to change his strategy.
“I didn’t want to get lost so I waited for Jason and Grant, who were second and third,” he said.
“We rode together for a while until I managed to get away again. But then the same thing happened so I had to wait and Jason and I worked together from then.
“We waited it out for the sprint and I managed to edge him in the final surge for the line.”
In the women’s race, Schoeman also experienced a route glitch and had to turn around at one stage.
“However, I managed to get away again and was able to pace it nicely back to the finish line to take the win.”
She crossed the line in 3:30:19 and was followed home by Michele Scowby (3:58:16) and Gene Keet (4:06:51).
Although the weather was better than last week’s conditions when rain and wind battered the riders in the 106km road race, Schoeman said the mountain-bike event had been hard.
“With all the recent rain the routes were quite muddy so that made it a testing ride,” said the Africa Silks-Bestmed rider. “But then that is all part of mountain-biking.”
