The Glacier Storms River Traverse featured the best run of weather in the race\u2019s 14 year history for the 2024 edition. Stages 1 and 2, on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August, boasted sunshine and clear skies \u2013 before a cold drizzle brought the race to its conclusion on Sunday, 11 August. The showers did little to dampen spirits however, as the 180 analogue and e-bikers enjoyed the classically muddy Tsitsikamma trails.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday was my favourite stage, because of the mud!\u201d Megan Scribante, who won the women\u2019s team competition alongside Nicola Freitas, laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s been a great event \u2013 the riding, the food, and the whole vibe \u2013 I\u2019ve really loved it. It might be my first team stage race, but I had the best partner too. I\u2019d have to speak to my family, but I think we\u2019ll be back next year and I\u2019d like to ride the Glacier Storms River Traverse with my father-in-law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf my mom gets an e-bike I think we\u2019d be able to ride it together next year,\u201d Freitas added. \u201cThe routes aren\u2019t too technical so it\u2019s very ridable for most people and it would be great to do it with my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the women\u2019s winners are keen to return in 2025 with their families there were already many couples riding together in 2024. The Mixed Category, both in the e-bike and traditional bike divisions, were well populated by husbands and wives. This meant that the race village was also bustling with young riders on balance bikes, first pedals bikes with training wheels, and little mountain bikes. To keep them entertained the Storms River NPC hosted forest hikes and the Dryland Event Management team led outrides to the edge of the Storms River Village to enable the children to ride the final kilometre with their parents.<\/p>\n
Families crossing the line together is part of the event\u2019s charm. As is its all-inclusive spirit. Naledi Fodo and Precious Dimba took part in their first stage race as a team, with Dimba making her mountain bike event debut. The pair rode e-bikes, which was also a first for them, and grew in confidence through the three days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mechanics loosened my pedal clips a bit this morning, so I didn\u2019t fall over every time I stopped today,\u201d Fodo grinned. \u201cWe were so well looked after and were made to feel part of the family. It\u2019s so lovely to be welcomed like old friends, despite being newbies.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Glacier Storms River Traverse old hand is e-bike champion Anel Strampe. In 2023 Strampe crossed the finish line first on all three days, defeating all the solo men and men\u2019s teams in the process. This year she misjudged her Stage 1 efforts, running out of battery power on the 3 kilometre climb out of the Storms River Valley. Then on Stage 2 she suffered a mechanical, but was still able to win the stage. On the final day she crossed the line first, and took the general classification victory with the fastest time overall across the three days.<\/p>\n
Strampe topped the solo women\u2019s e-bike podium too. Paul Andries de Vos was the fastest of the solo men\u2019s e-bikers, while the MTB Goats, Paul Serrao and Eckhard Visser, won the men\u2019s team race. Cobus Potgieter and Midee Buizer, of Potties, were the best Mixed Team while Liezel van Niekerk and Herman Hattingh were the top solo woman and man, respectively. #Sheovita\u2019s Freitas and Scribante were crowned women\u2019s team champions to round out the 2024 Glacier Storms River Traverse.<\/p>\n
Mountain biking fans can recap on the action from the event by liking the Storms River Traverse Facebook page, or following @stormsrivertraverse on Instagram, more information can be found at www.stormsrivertraverse.co.za.<\/p>\n
Image: The Tsitsikamma Mountains provided a backdrop for much of the riding. Photo by Oakpics.com.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Teams General Classification | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
#Sheovita: Nicola Freitas & Megan Scribante (6:53:59)
\nSwans Agrofors: Yolande & Chantel de Villiers (7:26:01)
\nSkud Skud Daai Bene: Iliska Verwey & Tanja Schutte (8:21:00)<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s Teams General Classification | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
MTB Goats: Paul Serrao & Eckhard Visser (7:00:17)
\nNot Here To Find Spiders: Roelof Schutte & Janos Kaszas (7:32:43)
\nDouble Trouble: Jacques Steenkamp & Marais Pienaar (8:05:22)<\/p>\n
Mixed Teams General Classification | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
Potties: Cobus Potgieter & Midee Buizer (7:30:13)
\nChemchamp Africa: Biance Bekker & Daniel Tenner (7:53:56)
\nInvicta Mixed: Gerhard Luther Hattingh & Elizma Kock (7:58:31)<\/p>\n
Solo Women General Classification | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
Liezel van Niekerk (8:31:02)
\nBrigitte Aubery (10:34:46)
\nTanya Hill (11:23:50)<\/p>\n
Solo Men General Classification | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
Herman Hattingh (6:40:40)
\nHardus Jansen van Rensburg (6:40:57)
\nJN Smit (6:44:25)<\/p>\n
Solo Women\u2019s e-bike | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
Anel Strampe (5:38:28)
\nCiske Turner (6:46:37)
\nWendy Coetzer (9:22:55)<\/p>\n
Solo Men\u2019s e-bike | After Stage 3:<\/p>\n
Paul Andries de Vos (5:42:22)
\nDavid Schalk Pienaar (7:29:29)
\nRoy Hirsch (7:46:44)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"