More than 4 500 riders took on the gruelling challenge of crossing the Outeniqua Mountains in what has become one of South Africa’s largest point-to-point mountain-bike races. Not only was this a record number of participants for the popular Karoo to Coast Challenge since its establishment 16 years ago, but the 2014 event marked the first time organisers had to close entries before the race.
“When we reached the 4 500 mark a month ahead of the race, we decided to close entries in order to maintain the standard of the event and to look after the riders who had entered,” race organiser Zandile Meneses of Headstrong Productions said.
Favourable weather conditions and months of planning came together on Sunday with most of the field completing the 100km race from Uniondale to Knsyna via the tough Prince Alfred’s Pass.
While the event, which predominantly includes undulating gravel roads, was not designed for the faint-hearted, the magnificent views of the Karoo before moving to the world famous Knysna forests and a final climb towards the popular coastal town’s estuary did soothe the tired muscles somewhat.
First across the finish line at the Knysna High School Sport Field was South African pro-rider Erik Kleinhans who completed the course in a time of 03:08:31. Close on his heels was Waylon Woolcock who managed a time of 03:09:08, a mere second ahead of Plettenberg Bay's Kevin Evans who reached Knysna in a time of 03:09:09. This after Evans also participated in and won the third Pennypinchers Dr Evil Classic – a three-stage race around Wittedrift – on the previous day, September 20.
Only a few seconds separated the first two women over the finish line with SA mountain-bike marathon champion Robyn de Groot completing the race in 03:29:18 for victory and Swedish rider Jennie Stenerhag claiming the second spot on the podium with a time of 03:30:27. Cherise Stander finished in third with a time of 03:43:36.
The full results are available on www.karootocoast.com.
Race organiser Zandile Meneses said that the event ran smoothly and that feedback from riders had been positive.
“It was a fantastic race and the weather played along nicely,” Meneses said.
The race was also an official seeding event for next year’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour – a factor which lured some of the country’s top riders to the event.
The event, which is owned by the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale, also significantly ploughs back into the community as the proceeds go towards several worthy charities, including SightFirst and the South African Guide Dog Association.
Last year’s proceeds enabled the charities to pay for more than 2 000 cataract operations in the Southern Cape, four cornea replacements, two squint corrections, two operations on people born with defective vision and the provision of a prosthesis for a child with only one eye. A further 36 guide dogs were donated to the SA Guide Dog Association.
Grant Moore and Janine van Zyl finished together. Photo: Desmond Scholtz
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