CYCLING NEWS - The young George-based rider, Tristan Nortje, threw his hat into the ring against some of the most decorated cyclists in the world at the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn.
After a tough seven days of racing, with 800km covered through the Karoo in every possible type of extreme weather, he narrowly missed out on an overall podium place.
Nortje’s rivals included double Olympic champions and some of the biggest names in international cycling, but he didn’t disappoint, taking the fight to the stellar field at every opportunity.
When the curtain came down on the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn on Saturday 1 November, it was a South African who stood atop the overall podium.
Matt Beers managed to outlast his challengers with a powerful and precise performance, walking away with a new title under his belt and $18 000 (about R312 000) in prize money.
Stage 7, the final stage of the race, started in cool, calm conditions at the Gwanishi Burn Camp and took the riders 112km to the final finish line of the event at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
At the start of the day, the pro men’s race hung in the balance, with Swiss rider Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) only 33 seconds behind Beers in the general classification.
Beers had said overnight that he anticipated Pellaud would go all out in this stage, but Beers proved to be the stronger rider on the home stretch. Pellaud, competitive all week at the sharp end of the racing, said he just didn’t have the legs to chase down the South African favourite.
The Nedbank Gravel Burn started in Knysna on Sunday 26 October and came to a splendid finish at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
"I was just completely dead. Today was my worst day on the bike all week. Overall, though, it’s been a great experience. We started in the rain, then it was freezing, then hot and windy, then the hail came - but today was a beautiful day to end a great race.”
Stage 7 turned out to be an exceptional day for South African cyclists. Travis Stedman (Team Toyota Specialized) won the stage, with Beers coming second after a discussion between the two riders in the final kilometres.
Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp) completed the all-South African top three after puncturing early in the stage, with his eyes set on winning the final dash to Shamwari.
Despite the cruel luck, Nortje ended the week with fourth place overall - a remarkable result.
Matt Beers crosses the finish line. Photo: Jeff Ayliffe
Women’s champion Axelle Dubau-Prévôt crosses the finish line in Graaff-Reinet. Photo: Jeff Ayliffe‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
