Podium places for local cyclists
Port Alfred mountain bikers David Kamwana and Zibele Bhoyi pedalled five laps of a challenging course in 35°C heat to clinch second and third podium spots at the East Cape cross country event at Cintsa in East London on Saturday January 28.
The first in the East Cape XCO Series Cup Races was hosted by Eastern Wheelers Youth Cycling Club at Emerald Vale Brewery.
While the course was not particularly technical, along with the heat, it offered a different
challenge in the form of a tough 2km climb, followed by a long, tricky descent and over a floating bridge towards the start/finish based at Emerald Vale’s restaurant.
“It was very, very challenging,” said Bhoyi, whose race entry and travelling expenses were sponsored by his employer, Cycle Mania.
“The hill was very tough, but I think heat was tougher.”
Bhoyi and Kamwana race in the sub-veteran category and together with the highl competitive men’s Elite, U23 and Junior categories, started at 11am, finishing after midday’s peak heat.
“When we left Port Alfred on Saturday it looked overcast and I was happy because I love riding in the rain. But the sun came out and it was so hot,” Bhoyi said.
“It was so tempting to just stop, every time I came past the finish but I could not.”
The winner in the men’s subveteran category was Eddy Hoole, in 1:02:56. Kamwana was second in 1:10:48 and Bhoyi third in 1:11:32.
The fastest time for the five-lap race was G2C 2023 58km winner Storm Semple (1:02:54). Another
G2C star, Juane van Zyl (58km G2C winner in 2022), won the three-lap Junior women’s event in 55:44.
Ashleigh Schroeter completed the three-lap course in 47:11 to win the Youth (women) category.
Eben Hatslief won the men’s Elite category, finishing six laps in 1:14:18.
Organisers East Cape Mountain Biking said it was the first cross country mountain bike event held on the recently developed trails.
They plan to develop a worldclass course there over time.