The Tour Durban MTB began the Tour Durban weekend with a few shock winners as Brent Yelland and Rouxda Grobler crossed the line at Cornubia to assert the males’s and ladies’s 35km titles respectively on Saturday morning.
For Yelland, it was arguably the largest win of his profession and he regarded a bit stunned after he eased away on the remaining climb to assert the win.
Tour Durban MTB kicks off weekend of biking
The UKZN student edged out Daniel van der Watt, and juniors Tayne Rudling and Omar Wilson after the 4 had performed a cat-and-mouse tactical race for many of the 35km course.
Photo: Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media
In the girls’s race, Grobler confirmed a welcome return to kind and stepped straight again onto the high step of the podium after taking a little bit of a break following a busy racing schedule earlier in the 12 months that noticed her win the Quattro ROAG Series and do nicely in the Cape Epic and Wines to Whales stage races as a blended staff along with her husband Jacques.
On Saturday, Grobler began slowly, however powered away from runner up Hayley Smith on considered one of the lengthy climbs round midway of the occasion.
“This was my first serious race in KZN since the Epic earlier this year,” stated the shy Ballito resident. “Hayley was robust early on however about midway by way of the race I managed to go along with considered one of the stronger male riders and simply saved it constant up a protracted climb.
“I thought Hayley was following but when I looked back I saw I had managed to get a gap and that gave me some confidence.”
Smith stated she chased however might simply by no means shut that hole and ended slightly below a minute behind with Sanchia Malan third, 12 minutes additional again.
Epic coaching does its bit
Grobler credit her background of coaching for the Epic, her coach and a faithful husband for her success.
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“Since Epic I saved coaching however simply with much less depth, however I really feel fairly motivated to get again into issues once more. I positively felt the distance I did earlier than Epic was coming by way of in the present day.
“Tyronne (White) from DriveTrain Academy has actually helped me with a personalised coaching plan that’s actually paying dividends. We don’t do an excessive amount of in his coaching studio however do loads on the stationary trainers at residence. It is very nice having Jacques additionally coaching with me. He is superb.
“The bikes are loaded for me, he services the bikes and does everything for my riding, he is really good.”
In the males’s race there have been a couple of lead change’s however the 4 predominant protagonists have been at all times battling for the win, stated Yelland.
“From the gun, Daniel and Tayne went and I used to be simply pushing to stick with them. Then Daniel and I went away and labored collectively a bit, however missed a flip and that in all probability misplaced us a minute, and we needed to catch the second group which turned the leaders.
“Where we went improper there was a few paths and we opted for the improper manner for a short time and needed to flip and get again heading in the right direction. But we caught the leaders once more and ended one and two so it didn’t actually make any distinction in the finish.
“Then 4 of us rode collectively for the final 10 kilometres or so and simply chilled till the final climb a couple of kay from the finish.
“Tayne led it on the market after which Daniel went and received forward, after which I attacked and once I regarded behind there was no person on my wheel which was shocking truly. And then I simply held it to the finish.
“Of course I am always happy to be on the podium, and especially with a win,” stated the University of KZN student. “I have not really had any big results before and I have not been riding that much lately so this is a bit of a surprise.”
In the 20km trip it was Rico van Rooyen who received the total race whereas younger Natalie Kluza was the first lady throughout the line.
There have been simply over 500 entrants in the MTB race on Saturday with the highway race beginning and ending at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. The predominant 106km race will set off in batches from 6am on Sunday with 90km and 45km rides additionally on the programme.
Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab – Results Summary
35km
Men
1 Brent Yelland 1:23:49
2 Daniel van der Watt 1:23:57
3 Tayne Rudling 1:24:00
4 Omar Wilson 1:24:09
5 Jedson Tooms 1:27:52
Women
1 Rouxda Grobler 1:30:20
2 Hayley Smith 1:31:16
3 Sanchia Malan 1:43:40
4 Niccy Rademan 1:49:25
5 Kerry Campbell 1:51:17
Junior Men
1 Tayne Rudling 1:24:00
2 Omar Wilson 1:24:09
3 Sean Yelland 1:29:08
Junior Women
1 Jodi McKinnon 1:45:01
20km
Men
1 Rico van Rooyen 1:04:23
2 Craig Hulscher 1:04:24
3 Karel du Toit 1:06:46
Women
1 Natalie Kluza 1:15:16
2 Amy-Jane Newcombe-Bond 1:22:50
3 Fanele Mchunu 1:24:32
U15 Boys
1 Chris Mason 1:10:03
2 Michael Doull 1:10:31
3 Bayanda Nene 1:13:26
U15 Girls
1 Natalie Kluza 1:15:16
2 Sophia Lombaard 1:38:09
3 Nikita Wilson 1:48:44
More info could be discovered at www.tourdurban.co.za