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South African National Cup Series #3 & National Championships - CN
George, South Africa, March 14-15, 2009
Race 1 - March 14: Cross country
Stander secures seventh national title while Speedy earns number two
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Burry Stander (Mr Price Specialized) lived up to his pre-race favourite status and won his seventh-successive national title when he dominated the elite men's race at the South African Cross-country mountain bike championships in George on Saturday. Yolande Speedy (IMC Racing Momentum) won the women's race, collecting her second-ever elite national title.
The current Under 23 World Cup Champion not only retained his national Under 23 national title, but beat the elite men convincingly, coming home more than seven minutes ahead of runner-up Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin adidas). According to Stander, who regularly records such large winning margins in South Africa, the difference between him and his African rivals isn't as much physical as it is mental.
"Physically, these guys are superb athletes, but I just have better conditioning and confidence from focusing my career on cross country racing and not racing so often," said Stander, when asked why he was so much quicker than his domestic rivals.
"Racing regularly abroad at a quicker pace, as I have done for the past two years, gets you onto a slightly higher physical level, but it's the mental jump that's biggest and most important," said Stander, agreeing that the continued fascination with marathon and stage racing in South Africa was largely to blame for the lack of depth in cross country racing, the only mountain bike racing discipline contested at Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
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Stander seldom races on a hardtail bike now that he is sponsored by his new team Specialized, and a full suspension was what he rode to victory on Saturday. "It's such a rough course here and although other guys also used dual-suspension bikes today, they're not as used to racing them as I've become, so in a way, that benefitted me too," said Stander, who's winning time for the eight-lap race was a snappy 2:03:40.
Bassingthwaighte, a Namibian, clocked 2:11:18 with Matthys Beukes (MTN Energade) claiming third place overall and the silver medal in the Under 23 category. Philip Buys (Garmin adidas), was fourth overall and third Under 23.
The first elite South African rider home was Erik Kleinhans in sixth overall (behind fifth-placed Mannie Heymans of Namibia) giving him the elite national title. The Namibian riders don't qualify for South Africa's titles and medals.
Rourke Croeser (DCM Chrome) retained his national junior title in the category with the most depth. Ruan du Toit claimed the silver medal and Adriaan Louw (DCM Chrome) secured the bronze.
Overcast, cool conditions greeted the participants, welcome relief after a week of searing heat. National titles were contested in a variety of age groups at the Saasveld Campus of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, one of the most scenic race venues in the country.
Speedy rides consistently for the women's win
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Yolande Speedy (IMC Racing Momentum) won the battle of the eras as well as the national elite women's title when she beat former multiple national champion Erica Green to the gold medal. Speedy, a Beijing Olympian, scored a commanding victory over Green, a former double Olympian (Atlanta and Sydney), who at 38, has made a return to competition, largely in preparation for next week's Cape Epic.
Speedy shot off the start line and reached the first piece of singletrack in front. She completed her first of six laps in 17:44, a minute clear of her rivals and was then a model of consistency, clocking subsequent lap times of 18:13, 18:14, 18:14, 18:19 and 18:02.
"It was a very smooth, steady race. Everything went well. There weren't really any climbs on the course but the rough terrain made for a challenge. I'm glad I chose to race a dual suspension," said Speedy.
It was Speedy's second elite cross-country title, having won it for the first time in 2006. Her final time was a fast 1:48:46. Green was the only other rider to break two hours, clocking 1:58.59. Heletjie van Staden (Schwinn) was third overall and first Under 23 in 2:01.23. Janneke Leask (Rocky Mountain) and Sara Muhl (Jeep) rounded out the top five respectively.
In the junior women's race over four laps, Mariske Strauss (MTN) proved the strongest, claiming the gold medal ahead of Candice Neethling (Jeep) and Caitlin de Wet (Mr Price Scott), who were second and third respectively.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Carl Scholtz / MIHPhotography
- Specialized rider Burry Stander pulled away from the field during the elite men cross country race.
- Burry Stander (Specialized) was the strongest in the elite men's race.
- Burry Stander wins the South African National Championships cross country.
- A very happy Burry Stander.
Images by MTN National Cup Series
- Burry Stander was in a class of his own in winning his seventh consecutive national title.
- Erik Kleinhans became the South Africa's elite men's champion.
- Under 23 bronze medalist Philip Buys finished a respectable fourth overall.
- Yolande Speedy was a model of consistency on her way to the South African elite women's title.
- Former multiple Olympian Erica Green made a strong return to racing, finishing second overall in the elite women's race.
- Heletjie van Staden grabs third place overall.
- Yolande Speedy was elated at her victory.
Results
Open men (elite & U23 men) 1 Burry Stander 2.03.40 2 Marc Bassingthwaighte 7.38 3 Matthys Beukes 7.47 4 Philip Buys 8.17 5 Mannie Heymans 8.26 6 Erik Kleinhans 9.04 7 Roan Exelby 11.04 8 Brandon Stewart 12.03 9 Craig Paul 12.10 10 Geddan Ruddock 14.06 11 Arno Viljoen 15.23 12 Francois Theron 15.55 13 Dominic Calitz 17.31 Behind one lap 14 Renay Groustra 15 Petrus Malherbe 16 Johannes Scannell 17 Stephan Strauss 18 Hannes Neethling 19 Jan Schutte 20 Bryce Munro 21 Andre Van Der Merwe 22 Marthinus Esmeyer Behind two laps 23 Jason Peach 24 Kyle Symons DNF Dion Froneman DNF Frans Stander DNF Krisjan Slabbert DNF Timothy Hammond DNF Bunnie Loubser DNF Bernard Venter DNF Ross Blount DNF Johnny Kritzinger Open women (elite & U23) 1 Yolande Speedy 1.48.46 2 Erica Green 10.13 3 Heletje Van Staden 12.37 4 Janneke Leask 13.36 5 Sara Muhl 16.34 6 Shawna Thunder 19.25 7 Hilana Marais 22.53 8 Cherise Taylor 25.07 9 Bianca Grotepass 33.52 Behind one lap 10 Carmen Bassingthwaighte 11 Carla Freysen 12 Alexis Zorab 13 Karien Van Jaarsveld 14 Claudia Von Tutschek DNF Tania Raats DNS Melanie Palframan DNS Jade Roberts Elite men 1 Marc Bassingthwaighte 2.11.18 2 Mannie Heymans 0.48 3 Erik Kleinhans 1.26 4 Roan Exelby 3.26 5 Brandon Stewart 4.25 6 Craig Paul 4.32 7 Geddan Ruddock 6.28 8 Arno Viljoen 7.45 Behind one lap 9 Renay Groustra 10 Petrus Malherbe 11 Johannes Scannell 12 Hannes Neethling 13 Jan Schutte 14 Andre Van Der Merwe 15 Marthinus Esmeyer DNF Dion Froneman DNF Frans Stander DNF Bunnie Loubser DNF Johnny Kritzinger Elite women 1 Yolande Speedy 1.48.46 2 Erica Green 10.13 3 Sara Muhl 16.34 4 Shawna Thunder 19.25 5 Hilana Marais 22.53 Behind one lap 6 Carmen Bassingthwaighte 7 Carla Freysen 8 Karien Van Jaarsveld 9 Claudia Von Tutschek DNF Tania Raats Under 23 men 1 Burry Stander 2.03.40 2 Matthys Beukes 7.47 3 Philip Buys 8.17 4 Francois Theron 15.55 5 Dominic Calitz 17.31 Behind one lap 6 Stephan Strauss 7 Bryce Munro Behind two laps 8 Jason Peach 9 Kyle Symons DNF Krisjan Slabbert DNF Timothy Hammond DNF Bernard Venter DNF Ross Blount Under 23 women 1 Heletje Van Staden 2.01.23 2 Janneke Leask 0.59 3 Cherise Taylor 12.30 4 Bianca Grotepass 21.15 Behind one lap 5 Alexis Zorab DNS Melanie Palframan DNS Jade Roberts Junior men 1 Rourke Croeser 1.42.29 2 Ruan Du Tiot 1.12 3 Adriaan Louw 5.12 4 Ryan Ellis 6.10 5 James Reid 7.02 6 Travis Walker 9.37 7 Shaun-Nick Bester 11.25 8 Hendrik Kruger 11.26 9 Jeandre Fourie 12.50 10 Shaun Silver 13.59 11 Colin Brent 14.21 12 Adam Reyneke 13 Derek Taylor 15.26 14 Warwick Waldeck 17.33 15 Sboniso Ntombela 21.15 Behind one lap 16 James Gerber 17 Mike Casey 18 Justin Pictor 19 Slahde Seale 20 Patrick Reimers 21 Carl Lippert 22 Simon Adler 23 Ruan Van Staden 24 Herman Bester Behind two laps 25 Graham Chrystal 26 Daniel Giles DNF Ruan Pretorius DNF Armand Swanepoel DNF Jonathan Van Gesselleen DNF Aaron Adler DNF Ruan Van Heerden Junior women 1 Mariske Strauss 1.17.08 2 Candice Neethling 0.53 3 Caitlin De Wet 2.43 4 Klara Rossouw 18.31 DNF Danny Dalton DNF Chelsey Pretorius Sport women 1 Cheryl Jenks 54.51 2 Etresia Heyns 2.15 Sport men 1 Alex Naude 37.31 2 Anton De Freitas 5.58 3 Bryce Conl;On 7.12 4 Thys Van Rensburg 9.16 5 Conrad Johannes 13.52 6 Piet Strydom 16.02 7 Nathan Hodgson 18.14 DNS Gerhard Kruger Nipper boys 1 Matthew Dinham 24.13 2 Cameron Wright 0.15 3 David Botha 0.42 4 Joshua De Freitas 2.09 Sprog boys 1 Matthew Lombardi 44.38 2 Joshua Kuhn 0.48 3 Dieter Blom 1.58 4 Julian Jessop 3.05 5 Morne Hollander 4.53 6 Cameron Macnair 7.54 7 Juka Gerstner 12.31 DNF Dustin Osborne Sub junior girls 1 Heidi Dalton 1.16.23 2 Carli Anderson 10.16 DNF Kathryn De Freitas Sub junior boys 1 Frans Grotepass 1.15.27 2 Alexander Frogley 8.15 3 Jannes Buijs 9.25 4 Ivan Venter 9.26 5 Jaco Pelser 15.51 6 Louw Kriel 16.32 7 Waldo Van Niekerk 20.01 8 Liam Doult 23.01 9 Kyle Walker 56.18 DNF Devin Kruger DNF Alan Hatherly Youth women 1 Hayley Smith 1.05.03 2 Vera Adrian 2.12 3 Tayla-Anne Odendaal 9.58 4 Courtenay Riggien 12.03 5 Siobhan Walker 25.04 DNF Maryna Van Antwerp Sub veteran women 1 Mylene Loumeau 1.29.32 2 Catherine Roberts 2.57 3 Dorette Crous 6.44 Veteran women 1 Michelle Lombardi 1.21.41 2 Catherine Gibbings 12.08 3 Bridget O'Meara 19.36 4 Debbie Hughes 22.13 5 Lauralyn Purchase 24.34 DNS Woudie Saaiman DNS Tessa Conte Youth men 1 Arno Du Toit 1.25.41 2 Brendan Davids 1.44 3 Gert Heyns 2.44 4 Luke Roberts 4.36 5 Ruan Erasmus 9.27 6 Richardt Ferreira 9.29 7 Jac-Johann Steyn 8 Harry Maarsingh 13.01 9 Michael Hughes 14.24 10 Ryan Gibbons 14.38 11 Cameron Taylor 15.13 12 Johannes Scribante 18.38 13 Werner Van Heerden 21.38 14 Bert Pauw 22.50 Behind one lap 15 Albert Anderson DNS Johannes Hamilton Sub veteran men 1 Paul Cordes 1.40.16 2 Shane Jansen Van Vuuren 6.56 3 Hennie Kriek 10.45 4 Brandon Moore 13.14 5 Daniel Paul 14.52 6 Piers Morgan 7 Jason Whyte 19.58 8 Jacques Van Staden 14.39 9 Stuart Holder 23.57 Behind one lap 10 Jacques Brink 11 Hennie Boshoff DNS Kobus Barnard Veteran men 1 Chris Nel 1.33.07 2 Tony Conlon 2.34 3 Rudi De Wet 6.31 4 Nick Bester 7.12 5 Juan Mason 8.28 6 Louw Gerber 9.07 7 Sean Quinn 13.01 8 Gary Neethling 13.12 9 Stephen Wells 14.46 Behind one lap 10 Malcolm Taylor 11 Mark Frogley DNF Johann Wykerd DNF Gary Marescia DNS Allen Dinham DNS Arnold Barnardo DNS Michael Winterbottom DNS Frans Du Preez Master men 1 Bryan Strauss 1.15.42 2 Chris Brand 0.30 3 Neville Ackermann 3.30 4 Noel Ernstzen 4.10 5 Dewet Marais 5.56 6 Tony Stark 6.29 7 Cobus Slabbert 6.55 8 Colin Gibbings 9 Charles Stander 10 Nico Smith 12.07 11 Clive Gaven 13.39 12 Arrie Rossouw 15.29 13 Nic Claassen 16.46 14 Pieter Rossouw 24.13 DNS Linus Van Onselen DNS Neil Fourie Grand master men 1 Fred Van Zyl 1.09.15 2 Manuel Fernandes 4.33 3 Cobus Du Plessis 8.11 4 Gerhard Degener 9.36 5 Louis Rossouw 14.10 6 Mike Smith 25.19 7 Leonard Stanford 35.26
