Stellenbosch mountain biker Gert Heyns and Candice Lill from Cape Town successfully defended their titles at the 2022 Fedhealth MTB Challenge at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate on Sunday (11 September).
The Fedhealth MTB Challenge marathon (about 60 km) featured a total climb of 1 200 m, while the terrain included smooth open road climbs and lots of single track that were technical, but with smooth descents. Iconic farms traversed included Blaauwklippen, Mont Marie, Ernie Els and Stellenrust to mention a few.
“It was really muddy out there,” admitted Heyns, who claimed victory in a time of two hours and 42 seconds.
“It was super slippery, but I know the Mont Marie trails quite well, so I led down there. I also enjoy riding in the muddy conditions, so I managed to extend my lead all the way to the finish.
He further pointed out that it is difficult to navigate through the wet conditions. “It’s always beautiful around here, and a bit different when it’s wet. You must concentrate the whole time, so there wasn’t much time to look around, but it was super fun,” said Heyns.
“It’s nice to win it again this year. The Fedhealth MTB Challenge is a great opportunity to experience some of the best trails in the country and there’s always a nice vibe at the event. If it fits into the calendar, I’ll definitely try to be back next year.”
Arno du Toit came in second, while Michael Foster finished third in the men’s marathon.
Lill claimed victory in the women’s race in two hours, 38 minutes and 51 seconds. She shared the podium with Kate Slegrova in second and Michelle Lombardi in third.
The Fedhealth MTB Challenge half-marathon (30 km) saw Somerset West local Vincent Buter successfully defend his title in a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes and 37 seconds, while Jean-Pierre du Plessis came second and Cobus Marais finished third.
Karin Burger was the first rider to cross the finish line in the women’s half-marathon with a finishing time of 2 hours 38 minutes and 23 seconds, with Jessi Nixon placing second and Marike Steyn third.
