Stander and Speedy win marathon

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The world's third ranked cross country rider Burry Stander (Specialized / Mr. Price) confirmed his status on Saturday when he dominated the MTN National South African Championships round called the N3TC Dirty Harry Marathon Race over 120km.

As predicted, Stander was off the mark hard and fast from the moment the starter's gun was fired. With his relentless pace, he beat South Africa's best mountain bikers.

Stander's winning time was four hours and 17 minutes. Ben-Melt Swanepoel (Specialized) finished second in four hours and 24 minutes and Francois Theron (Garmin-adidas) was third in four hours and 30 minutes.

Stander only arrived back in South Africa on Wednesday, having competed in World Cup cross country events in Canada the previous weekend. He opted for soft tail bike when many of his fellow competitors were on hard tails.

Before the race, many expected a battle between Stander and Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade), but it never materialised.

The South African marathon champion of the past three years experienced a hell of a day, puncturing four times. He had to swap back wheels with Matthys Beukes, a teammate, and at one stage he had to run with his mountain bike for about one kilometre.

But Evans refused to give up and fought his way back to fourth (in four hours and 38 minutes). In doing so, Evans kept his chances for a fifth overall win in the MTN Marathon Series alive.

The other pre-race favourites also experienced bad luck. Max Knox (DCM Chrome) broke his frame about 40 kilometres from the finish, at a time when he was second overall. Brandon Stewart (DCM Chrome) cut his back wheel on a rock and, after his efforts to fix it were unsuccessful, he abandoned the race. Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin-adidas) was beaten by the flu bug that had been pestering him during the past two weeks.

After the race Evans and Knox conceded that, even without the problems they had experienced, they would probably not have been able to beat Stander. "Burry had an amazing ride and he deserved to win," Evans said afterwards.

"I cannot really complain about my misfortune, because in the preceding four years I did not experience any bad luck. I guess I had to expect that, at some stage, I would get my share of bad luck. But I will be back next year and endeavour to become the South African champion again."

Swanepoel's finish in second after three months off competition due to a broken elbow. "Having been out of racing for so long, I cannot afford any heroics now. I have to race within my own abilities. That is what I did and it worked, because as the race progressed my overall position gradually improved."

Theron was ecstatic about finishining third overall.

"Praise the Lord!" he said. "At last, after seven fourth place finishes in the Marathon Series and a lot of bad luck, I got my podium, and this at the South African Championship!"

Predictions that Yolande will win women's race prove true

The prediction that Yolande would win was made even before the race turned out to be spot on. However, during the first 60 kilometres, the Yolandi riding in front was not the Yolandé who everybody expected to be the winner.

Yolandi du Toit (Konica-Minolta) nearly caused one of this year's biggest upsets when she managed to drop Yolandé Speedy (IMC Reaction) on the second big climb of the day.

She then managed to build up a one minute lead, which she kept until about the 63 kilometre marker. But that last rough, bumpy downhill section took its toll on Du Toit's body.

It was a classic case of 'all shook up' and nowhere to escape.

"My whole body was starting to get sore because of the rocky terrain we had to ride. I could never settle down in an easy comfortable pace. During those last few kilometres it was all about survival for me. I knew Yolandé was catching up. I tried to make one last big effort to stay in front, but I had nothing left. It was frustrating, but I am not complaining, I am happy. Finishing second is a good result for me.

"I know now that I can race with the best in marathons and, with a little bit of luck, even win."

Speedy was full of praise afterwards for the way Du Toit raced. "She caught me by surprise on the climbs. I did not expect her to be so strong. What counted a bit against me, was that I did not have the perfect racing legs. When Yolandi took the lead, I told myself not to panic, but to just keep riding at a steady tempo.

"I must admit that I was getting slightly worried when it took me so long to catch up again."

It is the second year in a row that Speedy won the South African women's marathon title.

Ischen Stopforth (Marsilo projects) finished third and, in doing so, increased her lead in the overall standings of the MTN Marathon Series.

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