Willie van Eck and Zandri Strydom secured the overall men and women’s titles against a strong field at Round 1 of the 2022 Mpumalanga Enduro Series at Tranquilitas Adventure Farm at the weekend.
The event took place in warm, dry conditions on five runs that ranged in duration from two minutes to five minutes. There were rocky sections on two of the race runs, but the ground conditions were fairly loose and dry, making traction and line choice essential. Unfortunately, the timing system for Stage 3, the longest stage, was faulty, so the stage was removed from the overall results, leaving the four shorter stages to determine the final positions.
Riders from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, North West and Limpopo made the journey to the event, which took place on the Tranquilitas Adventure Farm trails network, which is very established and which includes some superb gradient and flow.
Racing his first Enduro for his new team, The Organic Athlete, Van Eck was always going to be one of the favourites as the first two stages required some power pedalling and his XCO racing background sees him relish this kind of stage. But he also confirmed his allround skill, winning Stages 1, 4 and 5 and placing second on Stage 2.
Van Eck’s overall winning time was 11 minutes 17.524 seconds. Runner-up overall and first Junior was Limpopo’s Tyrone Anders who clocked 11:31.585, while third overall and first Sub-Veteran was Bryce Munro from Gauteng in a time of 11:37.296.
“I had smooth runs on all five stages with no problems or mistakes. But I can improve my cornering skills though!” said Van Eck, who raced the entire 2021 Enduro season on borrowed bikes.
“It’s a big difference racing on my own bike. I have had this Pyga Slackline for a month now. The bigger frame size and 29-inch wheels as well as the stability of the geometry and suspension have definitely helped me race faster. I do think the stages played in my favour as they were a bit flat and pedally in places and not super technical. Everyone has strong and weak points and this course suited my strengths,” added Van Eck.
Former South African Enduro champion, Keira Duncan from KwaZulu-Natal finished with the fourth fastest overall time of 11:39.037 and reigning South African Junior Enduro champion, Rory Kirk, was fifth best in 11:52.686.
The women’s overall battle saw Strydom winning two of the four stages to secure the overall and Under-23 titles in 12:58.129. Just two seconds back in 13:00.185 was 14-year-old local racer, Arielle Behr, who won the other two stages, with Monique Swart in third place in a total time of 15:03.447.
“I wouldn’t say I had super smooth or clean runs. I made some minor mistakes here and there but it’s part of the fun. I raced all the stages blind and I really enjoyed them. I do prefer steeper more technical trails, but I had a blast racing the Tranquilitas trails, which are so much fun,” said Strydom.
After racing XCO for the majority of her racing career, Strydom is now a member of the Commencal South Africa gravity team.
“I love the gravity riding and racing! I’m still getting used to the heavier, longer-travel bikes, but I do love it. My new team is a good group of experienced gravity racers and I’m looking forward to learning a lot from them,” added Strydom.
Wendy Odendaal (Veteran) was fourth fastest overall in 15:03.998 with Alexa Ogilvie (Sub-Veteran) rounding out the top five females in a time of 15:58.702.
“I’m very pleased with how the first round went. Besides the issue with the timing on Stage 3, everything went really well. We had great support from a number of brands that want to help grow Enduro, a really good turnout of riders from different provinces, dedicated marshals and race officials and a fantastic venue in Tranquilitas Adventure Farm. We are looking forward to an even better Round 2 and hope to see everyone there in May,” said Schalk Potas of Trail Awareness Crew, the company that organises the Mpumalanga Enduro Series.
2022 Mpumalanga Enduro Series
Round 1, Tranquilitas Adventure Farm
Leading results:
Overall men:
1 Willie van Eck 11:17.524
2 Tyrone Anders 11:31.585
3 Bryce Munro 11:37.296
4 Keira Duncan 11:39.037
5 Rory Kirk 11:52.686
6 Jamie Watt 12:05.712
7 Christan Kirsten 12:06.112
8 Joe Bester 12:24.283
9 Adin Greyling 12:31.686
10 Barry Crouse 12:36.467
Elite men
1 Willie van Eck 11:17.524
2 Keira Duncan 11:39.037
3 Rory Kirk 11:52.686
Junior men
1 Tyrone Anders 11:31.585
2 Adin Greyling 12:31.686
3 Ross Kew 12:45.522
Youth men
1 Cade Badenhorst 12:47.232
2 Gabriel Burns 12:57.791
3 Lance Murray 13:56.527
Sub-Junior boys
1 Adriaan Reyneke 16:33.439
Sub-veteran men
1 Bryce Munro 11:37.296
2 Jacques Siebert 12:56.841
3 Jason Geldenhuys 13:04.017
Veteran men
1 Jamie Watt 12:05.712
2 Richard Crouse 13:11.659
3 Denzil Lawrie 13:21.009
Master men
1 Barry Crouse 12:36.467
2 Sean O’Flynn Madden 13:01.446
3 Ronnie Purnell 13:16.781
Grand-master men
1 Matthew Stubbs 13:19.488
2 Mike Behr 14:07.308
Overall women
1 Zandri Strydom 12:58.129
2 Arielle Behr 13:00.185
3 Monique Swart 15:03.447
4 Wendy Odendaal 15:03.948
5 Alexa Ogilvie 15:58.702
6 Ruth Behr 16:39.784
7 Layla Greyling 17:37.063
8 Corne Ackermann 18:23.344
9 Mikyla Herbst 18:31.747
10 Sabine Ruhl 19:20.209
Under-23 women
1 Zandri Strydom 12:58.129
2 Monique Swart 15:03.447
3 Talia Behr 29:28.742
Youth women
1 Arielle Behr 13:00.185
2 Layla Greyling 17:37.063
3 Mikyla Herbst 18:31.747
Sub-veteran women
1 Alexa Ogilvie 15:58.702
Veteran women
1 Wendy Odendaal 15:03.948
Master women
1 Ruth Behr 16:39.784
2 Corne Ackermann 18:23.344
3 Sabine Ruhl 19:20.209
Grand-master women
1 Kerry Rice 19:31.636
eBike overall
1 Sean Badenhorst 12:41.503
2 Kim Badenhorst 13:13.874
3 Lee Badenhorst 14:37.022
Lite overall (3 stages) male
1 Cary Owtram 12:03.718
2 Jaco Kofman 13:16.865
3 Morne van Niekerk 14:03.497
Lite overall (3 stages) female
1 Tessa Morris 13:15.878
2 Bronwen Klaas 14:14.662
3 Cally Bishop 15:44.218
Thanks to the following companies and organisations for their support:
Oasis Water https://oasiswater.co.za/
Pyga Bikes https://www.pygamountainbikes.com
TrailTech Cycles https://trailtechcycles.co.za
Valencia Cycles https://www.vbike.co.za
Squirt https://www.squirtcyclingproducts.com
Leatt https://leatt.com/za
The Organic Athlete https://www.theorganicathlete.co.za
OPI http://onpointindustries.co.za
Culture Collective Photography http://culturecollective.co.za
Cycling South Africa https://www.cyclingsa.com
Pronto Computers https://prontocs.co.za
OMFG Food Truck https://www.ohmyfoodgasm.com
Sabie Brewery https://www.sabiebrewery.com
Send It Time Timing https://www.instagram.com/send_it_time/
Tranquilitas Adventure Farm https://tranquilitas.com
Round 2 of the 2022 Mpumalanga Enduro Series will be at a new racing venue, Gustav Klingbiel in Lydenberg.
GALLERY
