The Saasveld campus with all its facilities and ample safe parking always makes for a great venue and the 6.4km track included some old favourites like the Grave Yard and Damn Climb from the 2008 National Championship’s course and although not very technical, still proved to be a test for the riders with 136m of climb per lap.
Although a light wind was blowing, it was hot inside the forest by the time racing started (and the baboons cleared the track) with riders emerging covered in dust. Everybody enjoyed the well ridden in course with some tree roots and a few rocks to supply some technical riding while the two drops always add some excitement. The down hills had some fast flowing single track with some leg burning climbs to follow and a few short sections of open jeep track to give the riders a chance to have a drink.
With a number of local riders away to attend races in other parts of the country, the podium positions were wide open for contenders and this delivered some serious riding.
The youngsters raced on a slightly shorter and less technical course with 8 year old Carlo Coetzee showing some of the older riders how it is done. In the Juniors Waldo van Niekerk (RE-CM) had a good day and was flowing through the single track finishing more than two minutes ahead of Donovan Walters with Andre de Goede in third place while Tayla Odendaal (Contego) finished almost seven minutes ahead of second placed Mikayla Olivier. But it was the Under 23 Class rider Jason Meaton (Coaches Corner Cycling) who moved to the front of the pack at the start where he stayed throughout the race to finish in total 1h29min54sec over five laps while also setting the best lap time, ahead of Elite riders Rob Dormehl and Ico Schutte. Hilana Marais was the fastest women to win in 1h29min33sec over four laps in the Elite Women while also setting the fastest lap time for women.
“It was a really nice track, but the climbs made you work hard, especially the one at the dam” said Claire Crowther after she finished her race with some very respectable lap times.
With the next race at Witfontein on 21 April 2012 the competition is sure to intensify with leaders having to defend their positions.
Full race results and more pictures are available on www.mytracx.com
Elite Men
- Rob Dormehl (1:43:20)
- Ico Schutte (1 :46:01)
- Billy Flattery (1:49:46)
