The 15th Edition of the Eqstra Spring Classic presented by First Ascent welcomed 850 riders into what seemed more like summer than spring, with temperatures reaching close to 30 degrees on the day.
The challenging 45km route tested the best of the best, with Renier Bellingham taking overall honours from defending champion Jock Green, in a time of 1:49:30, a scorching time for this rather challenging ‘Joburg’ route. The ladies race was hotly contested by known favourites Sandra Prinsloo, Joke Hoffman and Kirst Burrows, with Prinsloo taking the win rather convincingly in the end in 2:22:31, just over 7 minutes ahead of Hoffman.
Even though Joburg is extremely dry and dusty pre-summer-rain, a good few muddy crossings threw a some curve balls at the field, causing many to cross the finish line looking as though they’d lost the fight with the technical areas. Helderfontein Estate hosting a mountain bike event for the first time was a treat to local mountain bikers, taking in some of the most beautiful surrounds left in Joburg, including some jackal and a resident fish eagle. Hosting the Eqstra Spring Classic at Helderfontein Estate allowed the event a spectacular start and finish, having linked up all the privately owned open spaces in the Kyalami and Beaulieu areas.
“A good day seemed to be had by all, welcoming in summer, with mostly mechanical problems rather than medical issues on the day” reports Race Director Jenni Green. “Spring Classic would like to thank Eqstra for the support in the 15th running of the event, and we trust the welcome into the sport of mountain biking was a successful and fruitful one for the industrial equipment supplier. With sponsors such as these, the sport of mountain biking is able to up it’s game, and grow from strength to strength, allowing organizers to host quality events for participants”.
For full results and participant photographs, click to www.springclassic.co.za
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