Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning proved that mountain bikes are faster, even in near ideal conditions, than gravel bikes by smashing the Trans Baviaans course record and holding off the drop-bar charge of Rossouw Bekker and Matthys Beukes. The Insect Science team set a new record time of 7 hours, 29 minutes, and 5 seconds on Saturday, 10 August. The top three men\u2019s teams all dipped below the 2018 previous best time. In the women\u2019s race, Jessica Wilkinson and Rebecca van Huyssteen claimed the title, ahead of the PEAK Chicks.<\/p>\n
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Smooth roads leading to and out of the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve as well as tail winds made for the ideal conditions to achieve fast times. This played into the hands of the gravel bikers, initially. \u201cValley [Electrical Titan Racing] made it quite hard with some roadie attacks in the first 100 kilometres,\u201d Bontekoning revealed. \u201cEventually they got away and we had to just manage the gap as best we could. But as soon as they got into the kloof they started to struggle with the rougher terrain and we managed to ride them in quite easily.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cAfter Check Point 3 the mountain bikes were definitely faster, and we were able to ride our own pace,\u201d the Insect Science man continued. \u201cIt seemed like Matthys [Beukes] started to struggle on the Fangs and MAC. We could see them behind us on the Mother of All Climbs and saw that we were extending our advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cFrom Bergplaas we just kept the pedals turning but obviously didn\u2019t know what our advantage was until we reached Check Point 5, at the 180 kilometre mark,\u201d Bontekoning added. \u201cThere we heard that the gap was 8 minutes, so then it was all about maintaining our momentum to the finish. I took some shots in the final 50 kilometres, but Arno [du Toit] was a machine!\u201d<\/p>\n
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Bontekoning and Du Toit\u2019s winning margin was 7 minutes and 32 seconds over the Valley Electrical Titan Racing squad. \u201cIt was a hard race, but I enjoyed it,\u201d Bekker stated. \u201cIn the end I think we just got outclimbed by a more evenly matched Insect Science duo. We lost about 5 minutes on MAC and making that back up was a tall order for anyone. Overall though I feel the gravel bike, with 2.1 inch mountain bike tyres and a 30mm travel fork, was the faster and more efficient bike. I managed to get through the whole kloof without having to walk anything except while crossing the Langwater, which I think most people had to walk anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ll definitely be back, hopefully in the not to distant future, and will give it another shot on gravel bikes,\u201d Bekker concluded. The Valley Electrical Titan Racing and Insect Science teams were joined on the podium by the 24\/7 Security Fuel X combination of former winner, Erick Heyns, and Jan Withaar.<\/p>\n
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In the women\u2019s race the SHEOVITA team rode to a commanding victory over three teams who all finished within 21 minutes of each other. Wilkinson and Van Huyssteen\u2019s time was 10 hours, 38 minutes and 57 seconds, which was 30 minutes and 42 ahead of Jodi Zulberg and Parys Edwards in second. The PEAK Chicks were 6 minutes and 23 seconds quicker than Julia Marx and Karla Stumpf.<\/p>\n
The Pirtek Cube Maties Cycling women held off Tracey Campbell and Jolene Rossouw by 14 minutes and 10 seconds to claim the final podium place.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTrans Baviaans was incredible, we were blessed great weather,\u201d Wilkinson said. \u201cThe route is exceptionally special and I\u2019d recommend doing the race to absolutely everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cBecks [Rebecca van Huyssteen] and I rode really well together and I\u2019m very proud of our teamwork,\u201d the CIOVITA athlete manager added. \u201cWe kept it consistent after a fast start, but once we found our pace we managed to ride at a good rhythm for the rest of the race. We both had a few issues with our drivetrains, with the AXS batteries, so we had to take extra caution through the many deep river crossings.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt was extremely hot too, which is strange for Trans Baviaans,\u201d she added. \u201cSo, it was quite a challenge with what to wear at some points, because we were expecting it to get cold, but it never did. We even had to stop on the Neverender to take our jackets off and despite finishing at 20:30 we were able to finish in just our CIOVITA Speed Suits, which is a first for me, during this cold and wet winter, since March.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trans Baviaans Repeat riders can expect similarly warm temperatures when they take on the kloof on Saturday, 17 August. The temperature is predicted to rise as high as 25 degrees in the Baviaanskloof with a low of 10 degrees predicted for the morning in Willowmore. More importantly, perhaps, is the anticipated west and north westerly breezes. Another event with tail winds will help the make the Repeat a speedy edition too, though without the firepower of Insect Science et al, it is highly unlikely that the newly set record will be challenged.<\/p>\n
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To share in the action, as it unfolds for the second time across the 227 kilometre route, follow @transbaviaans on Instagram or like the Trans Baviaans 24HR MTB Race Facebook page. For more information, to download route files, and to read the 2024 Race or Supporter Guides visit www.transbaviaans.co.za.<\/p>\n
Image: The 63 water crossings on the 227 kilometre long route varied in depth from barely covering the road to over knee deep. Photo by Llewellyn Lloyd \/ Reblex Photography.<\/strong><\/p>\n Men\u2019s Teams:<\/strong><\/p>\n Insect Science: Arno du Toit & Keagan Bontekoning (7:29:05) Women\u2019s Teams:<\/strong><\/p>\n SHEOVITA: Rebecca van Huyssteen & Jessica Wilkinson (10:38:57) Mixed Teams:<\/strong><\/p>\n e-FORT: Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius & Alexander Lawrance (9:37:28)2024 Trans Baviaans Race Results<\/h3>\n
\nValley Electrical Titan Racing: Rossouw Bekker & Matthys Beukes (7:36:37)
\n24\/7 Security \/ Fuel X: Erick Heyns & Jan Withaar (7:48:49)
\nCoimbra Masters: Vickus Boshoff & Iniel Hattingh (8:32:32 | 1st Masters Team)
\nKnysna Toyota: Rogan Smart & Matthew Leppan (8:34:51)<\/p>\n
\nPEAK Chicks: Jodi Zulberg & Parys Edwards (11:09:38)
\nPirtek Cube Maties Cycling: Julia Marx & Karla Stumpf (11:16:01)
\nPocket Rockets: Tracey Campbell & Jolene Rossouw (11:30:11)
\nPedal Pursuit: Elana Swart & Nickey Botes (11:44:39)<\/p>\n
\nTEG\/ACTOP 2: Francois Kemp & Beverley Wingfield (9:52:05)
\nNortje & De Villiers Racing: Maureen Jordaan & David-John van der Merwe (10:07:21)
\nNUK – Dummy Run: Juanita Mackenzie & Neill Clark (10:13:14)
\nCoral Clean Mix: Renaldo Wessels & John Hayes (11:32:35)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"