Hot day makes Skyride a stiff challenge for MTB cyclists
Heja Lodge was the focal point of adventure cycling on Saturday when Drikus Coetzee charged home in a spectacular performance to win the Elite Men class in the MTB race of the Gravel & Dirt series. Michelle Vorster was the star female cyclist, notching an easy win over her closest contenders.
Named the 2017 Skyride MTB, this was the first time that the Skyride was part of the Gravel & Dirt series. The Skyride was the seventh leg of the eight leg series.
Saturday’s Skyride also featured 5 km and 10 km trail races for running athletes, another first for the event.
The performances of both cyclists and runners suffered from the unseasonally hot day making the notoriously difficult event even harder. All agreed it was the toughest Skyride to date.
Following Coetzee’s Skyride win, he is now in the overall lead in the 2017 Gravel & Dirt rankings. Vorster is ranked number three.
The next and final race in the Gravel & Dirt Series is the Gobabis MTB Challenge, to be held on Saturday 16 September 2017 at Goba Lodge. Entries open this week Wednesday, 16 August. By mid September temperatures in Omaheke should be hot, making this event another huge challenge for the endurance of MTB cyclists.
Registrations can be done online at http://www.raceday.events/.
The Gravel & Dirt Series is powered by Hollard Namibia. The Skyride was also supported by Namibia Breweries with Windhoek Light and Aqua Splash, Food Lovers Market, E-med, Squirt Lube and Zinmag.
“Including the Skyride in the Gravel & Dirt series was a true trailblazer for the cycling community in Namibia” said Henriette Crouse from Hollard.
Pictured are, from the left, Michelle Döman, Michelle Vorster, Henriette Crouse (Hollard), Irne Steyn and Drikus Coetzee.
Photographs by Sue Nieuwoudt from Disorganized Chaos.
