GEORGE NEWS - The Contego Rock Pedal Classic mountain bike race, won by Ruan du Toit and Ariane Kleinhans (Contego/Giant), was a huge success with more than 250 riders and it is expected that this year’s race will draw many more participants.

The event was contested 100km and 45km from the Saasveld Campus.

Du Toit won the 100km in 3 hours 44 minutes and was followed by Jaco Venter and Nico Pfitzenmaier from Germany. Gert Heyns and Erik Kleinhans (ex-George rider) rounded up the top five.

Ariane's winning time was 4:18. She was joined on the winner's podium by Southern Cape and George rider Ischen Stopforth and Anne Harris.

All around it was, according to riders, a fun event even though some experienced the route tougher than expected.

"I would say that about 70% of the riders really enjoyed the long route. It was marked pretty good so no one got lost.

"We had some troubles with the shorter route because markings got removed, but we will make work of that for next year," said Erik Kleinhans who helped organised the event.


A group of riders pictured in the rural area. Photos: Jacques Marais


A horse rider takes one of the MTB riders on.