In the enormous Western Cape mountains of Wellington, just less than 300 ambitious riders saddled up to take on the Imbuko Big 5 MTB Challenge on Saturday.
Conditions were cool in the morning with minimal wind, a welcome contrast to the previous year’s gale force conditions, looking to heat-up into the mid-20s celsius later on in the day.
Set shortly before the ABSA Cape Epic in the calendar to give riders a litmus test for how they will size up to its infamously arduous stages, the Imbuko Big 5 means business when it comes to the physicality and technicality of the course. Riders ascend and descend 3 020 m over the 75 km course and often on unforgiving terrain. Traction and smooth lines are hard-earned on the climbs, and there is no time to rest on the brilliantly crafted but relentlessly technical single track descents! All aspects of a well-rounded mountain biker were put to the test.
Women’s Top 5
1 – Mariske Strauss (04:33:33)
2 – Yolande De Villiers (+1:53)
3 – Danielle Strydom (+14:28)
4 – Cathy Colyn (+23:16)
5 – Marie Rabie (+24:29)
Men’s Top 5
1 – Marco Joubert (03:38:49)
2 – Wessel Botha (+0:24)
3 – Sascha Weber (+05:18)
4 – Pieter Do Toit (+08:38)
5 – Matthey Keyser (+16:34)
