Frans Claes and Esther Suss won the first 60km stage of the Simonsberg Contour MTB Stage Race in Stellenbosch today.
Belgium’s Claes completed the race in 2:15:58, beating Switzerland’s Konny Looser by exactly three minutes. Sebastian Stark got home in third.
A far-out shot of riders moving through a wine land on the first day of the Simonsberg Contour MTB Stage Race. Photo: Chris Hitchcock
Switzerland’s Suss won the women’s race in 2:33:46, beating compatriot Ariane Luthi by less than a minute. Sweden’s Jennie Stenerhag rounded out the podium.
Alconray Botha (2:00:14) and Karin van Niekerk (2:10:22) were the respective winners in the first 40km race.
The race will conclude tomorrow, again with a 60km and 40km race.
View more results below.
60km
Men
1. Frans Claes 2:15:58
2. Konny Looser 2:18:58
3. Sebastian Stark 2:21:51
4. CP van Wyk 2:23:54
5. Jaco Pelser 2:25:12
6. Ken van den Bulke 2:25:42
7. David George 2:26:49
8. Zachary Swart 2:26:56
9. Craig Gerber 2:27:48
10. Trevor Baptiste 2:29:03
Women
1. Esther Suss 2:33:46
2. Ariane Luthi 2:34:32
3. Jennie Stenerhag 2:37:04
4. Katie Lennard 2:39:04
5. Louise Ferreira 2:58:34
6. Alisha Myers 3:02:32
7. Tanya Rabie 3:05:10
8. Katja Cauwenbergh 3:08:58
9. Martha Jacoba Koekemoer 3:11:32
10. Anastasia Mallabone 3:12:26
40km
Men
1. Alconray Botha 2:00:14
2. Mike Scott 2:06:41
3. Marc Barnather 2:07:32
4. Martin Esterhuyzen 2:08:40
5. Musa Okuhle Mtiki 2:08:46
Women
1. Karin van Niekerk 2:10:22
2. Cecile Coetzee 2:30:39
3. Jackie Ridge 2:33:52
4. Danielle Smart 2:35:51
5. Solane Stephens 2:41:18
