Traversing the Skyride 2018 MTB and Run
Mountain biking
There is a reason last weekend’s mountain bike race at Heja Lodge is called the Skyride, with some of the most challenging uphill climbs the Gravel & Dirt MTB Marathon Series, powered by Hollard, has to offer.
The challenging route however did not deter any of the riders, as a matter of fact this year’s Skyride/Run boasted a record number of entries, all dead set at conquering yet another proudly Namibian MTB race.
With the sun reflecting a golden hue on the picturesque waters in front of Heja lodge, 307 cyclists eagerly awaited the start of the race.
Many new riders filled the ranks along with the seasoned veterans of the cycling community. The air was buzzing with excitement as Patrick de Goede from Cycletec announced the one minute countdown.
Three, two, one and it was on, as rider after rider rode through the starting line, some facing the 68 km and 34 km distances, while others simply wishing for a morning of fresh air and sunshine rode the 12 km fun ride.
The trail runners were also treated to a 10 km and 5 km route through the beautiful scenery that Heja Lodge has to offer, ranging from sandy riverbeds to challenging rocky climbs.
As the morning sun rose a lone rider could be seen from across the dam, navigating the winding path with ease. It was last year’s defending champion, Drikus Coetzee, speeding towards the finish line with no other riders in sight. Drikus crossed the line with a time of 3:10:38 taking first place in the 68 km elite men.
The sub-veteran Ingram Cuff crossed the line in second place (3:14:14), with third-placed Xavier Papo (3:16:46) followed by the in-form veteran Clinton Hilfiker in 3:17:27.
Among the elite women, a formidable time of 3:24:33 set by Michelle Vorster saw her take the podium position a full fifty minutes ahead of her nearest rival Michelle Döman in second with a time of 4:18:37.
Setting a time sub 3:30 is a phenomenal achievement for any rider to do on this route, considering the level of difficulty. Also bearing in mind the 5 hour cut-off time for a 68 km race, which normally is traversed easily, pays homage to the challenge this year’s competitors faced and emphasises the level of professionalism of the country’s MTB riders.
Partners such as Hollard, Cycletec, NBL, E-Med Rescue 24 and Food Lovers Market helped to ensure that this year’s Skyride was once again a huge success. In doing so, the Gravel & Dirt MTB Marathon Series powered by Hollard, enables local riders to compete in a world-class event.
Behind the scenes, the official time-keeper Johan Pretorius from Raceday Events as well as Cycletec also made sure that the event management and organisation were on a whole different scale.
Next on the Gravel & Dirt MTB Marathon Series calendar is the MTB Dirt Attack which is happening on Saturday, 18 August just outside of Okahandja. Last year was the first time that this route formed part of the Gravel & Dirt schedule and it was a massive success.
The challenging route however did not deter any of the riders, as a matter of fact this year’s Skyride/Run boasted a record number of entries, all dead set at conquering yet another proudly Namibian MTB race.
With the sun reflecting a golden hue on the picturesque waters in front of Heja lodge, 307 cyclists eagerly awaited the start of the race.
Many new riders filled the ranks along with the seasoned veterans of the cycling community. The air was buzzing with excitement as Patrick de Goede from Cycletec announced the one minute countdown.
Three, two, one and it was on, as rider after rider rode through the starting line, some facing the 68 km and 34 km distances, while others simply wishing for a morning of fresh air and sunshine rode the 12 km fun ride.
The trail runners were also treated to a 10 km and 5 km route through the beautiful scenery that Heja Lodge has to offer, ranging from sandy riverbeds to challenging rocky climbs.
As the morning sun rose a lone rider could be seen from across the dam, navigating the winding path with ease. It was last year’s defending champion, Drikus Coetzee, speeding towards the finish line with no other riders in sight. Drikus crossed the line with a time of 3:10:38 taking first place in the 68 km elite men.
The sub-veteran Ingram Cuff crossed the line in second place (3:14:14), with third-placed Xavier Papo (3:16:46) followed by the in-form veteran Clinton Hilfiker in 3:17:27.
Among the elite women, a formidable time of 3:24:33 set by Michelle Vorster saw her take the podium position a full fifty minutes ahead of her nearest rival Michelle Döman in second with a time of 4:18:37.
Setting a time sub 3:30 is a phenomenal achievement for any rider to do on this route, considering the level of difficulty. Also bearing in mind the 5 hour cut-off time for a 68 km race, which normally is traversed easily, pays homage to the challenge this year’s competitors faced and emphasises the level of professionalism of the country’s MTB riders.
Partners such as Hollard, Cycletec, NBL, E-Med Rescue 24 and Food Lovers Market helped to ensure that this year’s Skyride was once again a huge success. In doing so, the Gravel & Dirt MTB Marathon Series powered by Hollard, enables local riders to compete in a world-class event.
Behind the scenes, the official time-keeper Johan Pretorius from Raceday Events as well as Cycletec also made sure that the event management and organisation were on a whole different scale.
Next on the Gravel & Dirt MTB Marathon Series calendar is the MTB Dirt Attack which is happening on Saturday, 18 August just outside of Okahandja. Last year was the first time that this route formed part of the Gravel & Dirt schedule and it was a massive success.
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