International cyclists set the pace in the opening 78km stage of the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter from George to Oudtshoorn today, dominating the team and solo categories.
Australian mountain-bikers Damien Ingram and Stuart Cathcart were first home in the team event, while champion Udo Mueller, of Germany, led the solo division.
Australian Stuart Cathcart (left) leads a group of riders on the 78km opening stage of the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter from George to Oudtshoorn today. The others are (from left) Dirk Haentzschel, Damien Ingram (Cathcart’s partner) and solo category leader Udo Mueller. The seven-stage mountain-bike race ends in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands on Saturday. Picture: Deidre Kachelhoffer
Polish pair Zbigniew Wizner and Pawel Gaca came in four minutes behind the Aussies, followed by Italians Marco Finazzi and Guilio Lodovico.
Ingram, from Cairns, and Cathcart, from Canberra, are enjoying their first trip to South Africa and broke away from the main bunch with 12km to go to cross the line in 3:35:20.
The first leg of the 591km journey through the Western Cape took competitors from George over the Montagu Pass to finish at the Chandelier Game Reserve near Oudtshoorn.
Driven by Volvo, the seven-stage race will come to a conclusion at the Holden Manz Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday.
On what he described as a spectacular route, Ingram said he and Cathcart spent most of the day “riding at tempo with the bunch” before getting away near the end.
“The end result was a bit surprising for us because we came to South Africa to enjoy the ride through the Western Cape,” he said.
“In the end it turned out be a bit more competitive than that and we had a bit more in our legs near the end, so we managed to create a gap with 12 kilometres left.”
The TransCape prides itself on the experience it offers off the bike as well and Ingram said they had not been disappointed.
“We are very happy to be here and enjoying so much the race and everything it provides,” he said.
Mueller is among a group of six riders from Germany who have travelled to South Africa to take advantage of the summer climate.
“It is extremely cold in Germany at the moment so this is a chance to do some great trails in good weather,” said the defending solo champion.
He finished the stage in 3:24:50 and was followed across the line by South African Jan Scannell, more popularly known as Jan Braai, and fellow German Stefan Hackl.
Tomorrow’s stage will be over 100km from Oudtshoorn to Rooiberg Lodge in Vanwyksdorp.
