Some 3200 riders braved the winter cold and took to the trails for the second instalment of the 2014 Nissan TrailSeeker Series. The sold out event took place at Hakahana trails in the hills surrounding Hartebeespoortdam. Current series leaders Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota) and Nico Bell (Team RECM) made it two from two taking top honours once again.
Tipped as a bit more technical but more enjoyable than the year before the favourites wasted no time to turn up the tempo. According to Gawie Combrinck (EAI Cycling) it was Bell who accelerated on the very first climb and after taking the Dunlop hot spot at the top they just kept the tempo going. Better known for his Duathlon prowess Brand du Plessis joined Combrinck and Bell together with Hanco Kachelhoffer (Altech Autopage).
“I was really feeling good and I was perhaps a bit too relaxed and in a moment I lost concentration and my tyre got slashed by a rock ruining my chances of a podium” a despondent Kachelhoffer commented after his untimely elimination halfway through the race. Bell and Combrinck managed to open a slight gap on du Plessis after a tumble on one of the many technical downhills.
Photo: ZoonCronje.com
Once the race settled after the furious start Bell settled into riding his own tempo and eventually shook off Combrinck to cross the line on his own taking his second consecutive win in the 2014 Nissan TrailSeeker Series. Combrinck followed in second place saying “I just didn’t have the legs to match Nico and I’m looking forward to some rest before I start building for the rest of the season”. Brand du Plessis rounded the podium in third place.
Robyn de Groot (Biogen Toyota) was in a class of her own soloing to her second consecutive win from start to finish. According to de Groot it was a cold start and she said her time was a bit slower than the year before, “It might be because the course was a bit more technical or it might just show I’m a bit tired after a hectic season so far” she added. She also said: “It is really great to see so many riders support an event in the middle of winter, it is just testament to the event’s popularity.”
Photo: ZoonCronje.com
Nissan TrailSeeker Hakahana official results
Marathon Overall Male
1st Nico Bell 02:53:29
2nd Gawie Combrinck 02:56:12
3rd Brand Du Plessis 02:59:05
4th Stephan Reyneke 03:07:37
5th Gordon Alan 03:07:38
Marathon Overall Female
1st Robyn De Groot 03:21:06
2nd Liesl Lourens 03:48:13
3rd Adrienne Moolman 03:59:53
4th Nicolette Griffioen 04:02:57
5th Nicolene Van Der Sandt 04:15:25
Half Marathon Overall (Male)
1st Luke Evans 01:30:47
2nd Evan Lume 01:30:55
3rd Ruan Van Zyl 01:3145
Half Marathon Overall (Female)
1st Lynette Benson 01:53:37
2nd Kirsten Louw 01:53:38
3rd Eleanore Hoare 01:55:33
Half Marathon (Junior 17-18)
1st Luke Evans 01:30:47
2nd Evan Lume 01:30:55
3rd Johan Hartzenberg 01:34:49
Half Marathon Junior (17-18) Female
1st Janice Venter 01:56:43
2nd Christine Popich 02:01:35
3rd Chante Fourie 02:04:37
Source: ZCMC Media
