It was a fierce battle of the Simons for the title of champion of the 2016 MTOsongo.info Champions Race with Simon Andreassen taking the glory in the end.
Andreassen and Simon Stiebjahn were the main characters in the fifth MTOsongo.info Champions Race held in Kayamandi to raise funds and awareness for thesongo.info charity.
Stiebjahn finished second after these two youngsters raced full gas for more than 45 minutes. Calle Friberg took the last spot on the winners’ podium.
“I had such a good race. It was so much fun. It was hard for sure, but the route was very exciting. Not to mention the intensity with which we raced. It was so different with all the kids all over the course!” said Andreassen.
Photo: Johan Badenhorst
“It was hard. We fought each other on a challenging route. It was a battle on every lap. When he attacked on the last climb I just could not follow, but I am happy with how I raced today. It was a great experience,” added Stiebjahn, who like Andreassen raced for the first time in the MTO songo.info Champions Race.
Kleinhans also had to fight hard for her victory. Triathlete Flora Duffy was second followed by Specialized’s Annika Langvad. Duffy showed some amazing skills to keep up with the full time mountain bikers.
Photo: Johan Badenhorst
“Once again it was really a cool race. It is a pity though that not more women came to race to make it more competitive, but in the same breath Flora was super strong today. Luckily I had Annika helping me and we used some road race team tactics! Still Flora raced like a champion,” said Kleinhans.
“The route had some more corners this year, but I wont say it was tougher than last year. It was challenging as always. It is like a criterium race on the dirt! It was great fun and a perfect last race before the Epic.”
Results
MEN: 1. Simon Andreassen; 2. Simon Stiebjahn; 3. Calle Friberg; 4. Tom Bohme; 5. Daniel Geismayr.
WOMEN: 1. Ariane Kleinhans; 2. Flora Duffy; 3. Annika Langvad; 4. Candice Neethling; 5. Vera Adrian.
Source: Outsider Communications
