Injured riders will Trek to PE

Despite suffering broken bones in two separate incidents, Springbok legend Joel Stransky (above) and former professional cyclist Andrew McLean are still set to take part in the Great Zuurberg Trek mountain bike race outside Port Elizabeth in May.

McLean has a broken collarbone after a nasty fall that forced him to withdraw from this year’s Cape Epic, while Stransky was hospitalised with a broken rib and punctured lung after crashing on the prologue of the Epic on Sunday.

“I’m still planning on participating in the Great Zuurberg Trek,” McLean confirmed.

“It is one of my favourite races and I should be back on my bike in a week or two.”

He said he had not even considered the fact that Stransky might not be able to partner him in the Eastern Cape event in which they placed third last year.

“Joel would kill me if he thought I was considering trading him in for a younger model,” joked McLean, but added that he was “very confident” the two of them would be fighting fit for the tough three-day race in the Sundays River Valley and Addo Elephant National Park.

He said that while he planned on returning to training as soon as possible, his injury was taking longer than usual to heal.”

The Great Zuurberg Trek, which is based at the Zuurberg Mountain Village outside Port Elizabeth, takes place from May 26 to 28. – Own Correspondent