Ten-time World Champion and firm pre-race favourite, Nino Schurter, was nowhere to be seen, but his SCOTT SRAM Racing teammates, Filippo Colombo and Andri Frischknecht (pictured above) flew the team’s flag high in claiming the top two places in the men’s race at the Imbuko Big Five MTB Challenge in Wellington, South Africa.
Eager to test his early season form at what would have been his first race of the year, Schurter was forced to withdraw from the prestigious event after contracting a severe stomach bug on Friday. Another pre-race favourite, Alex Miller of Toyota Specialized, was also absent from the start line. According to his team, he felt he needed more recovery time after winning the Tankwa Trek stage race a few days before, so opted not to start.
But there was still a very strong men’s field and the pace was intense right from the start. The Hawequa climb that confronts riders out the gate is known for separating the boys from the men and year it was the riders of Imbuko Pro Cycling, SCOTT SRAM Racing, Insect Science MTB, Alan Hatherly (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Johan van Zyl (Toyota Specialized) that turned up the heat. Van Zyl and Herman Fourie (Insect Science MTB) were two young guns in the mix who were certainly adding to the intensity of the pace and displaying a hunger for a good result.
A breakaway group formed in the final punches of the first climb and on the ripping descent that followed down to the Hawequa Scouts Hall at 20km. Marco Joubert (Imbuko Pro Cycling) was leading the charge with Frischknecht, Colombo, Wessel Botha (Imbuko Pro Cycling), and Hatherly in tow. This group of five world-class riders would stay together until the monumental Obiekwa Ascent, marking halfway into the 80km race.
Joubert, Colombo, and Frischknecht looked to be the strongest of the bunch creating a gap as they neared the top of the third major climb that features the famed Cliffhanger trail. Botha and Hatherly trailed close behind the leading trio, not letting the gap stretch to more than a minute but seeming to be out of the race for the win.
The twisting singletrack ascent of the Cliffhanger to Geelbekskop, 1000 metres above sea level, saw Joubert besting the SCOTT SRAM riders for the King of the Mountain prize. He then led the trio with composure down the 10km descent that drops a whopping 800 vertical metres.
After 20 minutes of descending, it seemed the breakaway had been solidified when unexpectedly Hatherly and Botha bridged gap and rode onto the wheels of the lead riders in at the base of the descent before heading onto the fourth major climb up Groenberg.
These five would stay together almost to the line but on the steep gravel slopes of the Patatskloof, with 11km to the finish, Hatherly slipped off the back and then the final tussle began. The remaining four riders traded blows for several kilometres across rocky traverses, sharp descents, and the steady grinds on their way to the final water point.
Colombo looked to have made a successful break but a small slip-up crossing a wooden bridge allowed just enough of a delay for Joubert and Frischknecht to regain contact, with Botha having lost ground from those three. They began the long farm road descent down to the finish with nothing separating them. It was going to go down to the line.
Colombo, a four-time XCC World Cup winner, had the turn of speed in the final metres to take the victory ahead of Frischknecht and the local hero Joubert. Almost a replication of the 2023 podium but with the returning SCOTT SRAM duo swapping their top two podium steps and Joubert clinching third again, though this time with a much narrower margin.
Botha and Hatherly took 4th and 5th respectively with the young Herman Fourie, teammate Arno du Toit, and Johan van Zyl close behind and just ahead of the Team Bulls riders.
This is what the top riders had to say about the race:
Filippo Colombo – SCOTT SRAM Racing
Marco was super strong; he pushed a super high pace from the beginning. He led through all the trails so we could follow him well on the downhills. I maybe attacked a little bit too early! I almost exploded towards the finish, but it worked out in the end.
The last part was the toughest, when I attacked and got the gap and then I saw Marco closing it, that was by far the hardest moment because you don’t know exactly what’s coming up, if there is maybe some more climbing left or not, so yeah it was hard.
The switchbacks at the top of the Cliffhanger are super nice, you can really enjoy them. The downhills are amazing, it is one of the nicest marathon races that I’ve ever ridden.
Andri Frischknecht – SCOTT SRAM Racing
For sure it is the best riding I’ve done in marathon racing. Here it is a lot of fun racing these trails, they are really good and in really good shape. I enjoyed riding here, even though it was tough, the course is really nice to ride. It was easier for me to follow Marco because he knows the trails, so I saved a ton of energy this time. Last year I was more destroyed after the race!
Marco Joubert – Imbuko Pro Cycling
I had a super good day – the legs were good. After the first climb I felt good and I thought I’ll go for the KOM, so I sat in the front and rode a hard pace. Then the other boys came back after the Cliffhanger trail and Colombo sent it in the last 5km and it ended with me and the SCOTT boys, but I just didn’t have enough to take the sprint. I tried but I couldn’t get rid of them today!
I feel super good about the performance today. We went way quicker than last year on the Strava sections. It was a good day out and now I’m just frothing for Cape Epic; I think the legs are good. Wessel and I were up there today so it should be good!
Imbuko Big Five MTB Challenge 2024
Leading men’s results
Top 10 overall
1 Filippo Colombo (SUI) 3:52:03
2 Andri Frischknecht (SUI) 3:52:06
3 Marco Joubert (RSA) 3:52:10
4 Wessel Botha (RSA) 3:54:32
5 Alan Hatherly (RSA) 3:57:27
6 Herman Fourie (RSA) 3:57:41
7 Arno du Toit (RSA) 3:58:43
8 Johan van Zyl (RSA) 3:58:44
9 Simon Schneller (GER) 4:00:32
10 Axel Roudil-Cortinat (FRA) 4:00:32
Senior (19-29)
1 Filippo Colombo (SUI) 3:52:03
2 Marco Joubert (RSA) 3:52:10
3 Wessel Botha (RSA) 3:54:32
Sub-Veteran (30-39)
1 Andri Frischknecht (SUI) 3:52:06
2 Arno du Toit (RSA) 3:58:43
3 Urs Huber (SUI) 4:21:51
Veteran (40-49)
1 Frans Claes (BEL) 4:00:57
2 Jan Withaar (RSA) 4:12:25
3 Donovan Le Cok (RSA) 4:50:47
Master (50-59)
1 Fanie Venter (RSA) 4:59:01
2 Franso Steyn (RSA) 5:00:51
3 Piet Swiegers (RSA) 5:07:25
Grand Master (60-plus)
1 Frank Snyman (RSA) 5:41:08
2 Julian Conrad (RSA) 6:09:13
3 Erik Knoetze (RSA) 6:19:05
For full results, click here. https://imbukobigfivemtbchallenge.co.za
Source: Imbuko Big Five MTB Challenge
