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Mr Price Karkloof Classic

24 May 2010

The 2010 Mr Price Karkloof Classic Mountain Bike Festival ended on Sunday with the signature event, the Mr Price Karkloof Classic, dishing out enthralling racing between South Africa's current top two marathon riders, Burry Stander (Mr Price/Specialized) and raining national marathon champion, Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade).
It was a reply of the 2009 event as the two riders pushed each other to their limits over the tough but enjoyable course, as they let the field of 600 odd riders through the stunning and picture perfect setting of the Karkloof Valley.
The lead changed hands between the two no fewer than six times during the 75km race and ironically, Stander made his move in exactly the same manner as the 2009 race, except earlier in the race this time, while on the climb through the SAPPI plantations up to B24.  Evans had no reply as the U23 World Cup champion powered his way to his second successive marathon title at Karkloof, and second event win of the weekend following his superb display of power the day before (Saturday) during the RED Sprint event.
"Karkloof is a special event for me, and to win two years in a row is a great feeling.  Kevin and I have shared some superb racing during this event, and it was no different today.  Kevin pushed me hard today," explained Stander.
An openly tired Evans conceded that Stander was the better rider on the day.  "I saved myself over the weekend with the aim of taking the title here today, but Burry was just too strong.  I gave it everything, and in the end everything turned out to be two minutes too short."
Completing the podium was the talented, young Pretoria based rider Philip Buys (Garmin/Adidas) with local professional cyclist Brandon Stewart (DCM-Chrome) claiming fourth.
Aside from the frenetic racing that took place during the Marathon, the event attracted some 4000 mountain bikers who shared in a near perfect Mothers Day setting in the KZN Midlands that included the aQuelle 40km and 19km events, as well as the 10km kids fun ride.
RESULTS:
75km Elite Male:
1.   Burry Stander (Mr Price/Specialized)                      -              02h56min53sec
2.   Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade)                                    -              02h59min01sec
3.   Philip Buys (Garmin/Adidas)                                       -              03h10min22sec
4.   Brandon Stewart (DCM-Chrome)                             -              03h10min23sec
5.   Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin/Adidas)              -              03h12min42sec

The 2010 Mr Price Karkloof Classic Mountain Bike Festival ended on Sunday with the signature event, the Mr Price Karkloof Classic, dishing out enthralling racing between South Africa's current top two marathon riders, Burry Stander (Mr Price/Specialized) and raining national marathon champion, Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade).

It was a reply of the 2009 event as the two riders pushed each other to their limits over the tough but enjoyable course, as they let the field of 600 odd riders through the stunning and picture perfect setting of the Karkloof Valley.

The lead changed hands between the two no fewer than six times during the 75km race and ironically, Stander made his move in exactly the same manner as the 2009 race, except earlier in the race this time, while on the climb through the SAPPI plantations up to B24.  Evans had no reply as the U23 World Cup champion powered his way to his second successive marathon title at Karkloof, and second event win of the weekend following his superb display of power the day before (Saturday) during the RED Sprint event.

"Karkloof is a special event for me, and to win two years in a row is a great feeling.  Kevin and I have shared some superb racing during this event, and it was no different today.  Kevin pushed me hard today," explained Stander.

Karkloof2010

An openly tired Evans conceded that Stander was the better rider on the day.  "I saved myself over the weekend with the aim of taking the title here today, but Burry was just too strong.  I gave it everything, and in the end everything turned out to be two minutes too short."

Completing the podium was the talented, young Pretoria based rider Philip Buys (Garmin/Adidas) with local professional cyclist Brandon Stewart (DCM-Chrome) claiming fourth.

Aside from the frenetic racing that took place during the Marathon, the event attracted some 4000 mountain bikers who shared in a near perfect Mothers Day setting in the KZN Midlands that included the aQuelle 40km and 19km events, as well as the 10km kids fun ride.

RESULTS:

75km Elite Male:

1.   Burry Stander (Mr Price/Specialized) - 02h56min53sec

2.   Kevin Evans (MTN/Energade) - 02h59min01sec

3.   Philip Buys (Garmin/Adidas) - 03h10min22sec

4.   Brandon Stewart (DCM-Chrome) - 03h10min23sec

5.   Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin/Adidas) - 03h12min42sec



6 comment(s)

Tracey White
24 May 2010 @ 08:02 AM
Hi,

Our whole family; Tracey (Mom), Greg(Dad), Nic (9 years old) and Kirsten (12 years old); did the Karlkloof Classic 19km. It was our second ride ever (Juicy Lucy 10km was our 1st). We had a fantastic time and it was so nice to have a longer beginners race, making it a little bit more challenging than the 10km. I would just like to mention that the only disappointment was that the kids did not receive a medal at the end. To make it even more disappointing their friends that did the 10km race got a medal.

Gareth
24 May 2010 @ 06:28 PM
One of the best races I have done, the trail builders have done a outstanding job.

Was a little upset with all the disorganisation at registration, I arrived there with plenty of time to spare and still nearly missed my start time. Hopefully a back up plan will be put in place soon "UPS/Generator".

My only complaint with the race was there was absolutely no energade/powerade at any of the water tables the fees of these races went up substantially for all the race and the least these guys can do is provide some sort of energy drink not all of us want to carry a camel back with enough juice for the whole race.

Peter
25 May 2010 @ 07:34 AM
The 20 km route was great, BUT, having the water table about 4km from the end makes no sense, and last year there were shirts and medals, and nothing this year!!

Mel
25 May 2010 @ 03:09 PM
My hubby and i did the 19km ride at Karkloof, to tell you the truth we didnt enjoy it one bit. as rides we're not quite ready to do the longer rides but enjoy single track. we had heard how awesome the karkloof single track was but when we did the race found it to be mostly dirt roads. we also found the we were bogged down with very beginer riders and kids. plus the water point was so close to the end that they might as well have not had one. i would sujest a 25k ride that offers single track and is for slightly above beginers (but not yet ready for the bigger rides)as well as the current 19k for those just starting and kiddies. plus a water point half way.

Nicole Talbot
25 May 2010 @ 04:31 PM
Hi Everyone

Thank you very much for your constructive feedback - it is great for the event organisers. Gareth, in terms of registration, the problem was not the electricity (we had both a UPS and a generator). The problem was that a network swith lying inbetween registration and the start/finish line went down and it took the timing company approximately 15min to rectify it. The distance between the start/finish line and registration was abnormally long (due to many circumstances)which is why there needed to be a switch in the middle connecting registration to the start/finish line, which is not normally the case. We will all make sure that this problem does not happen again next year.

Nick Louw
11 April 2011 @ 11:37 AM
Well done Impi Boys - Great event, well organised. Was my first, had a great time !!
Thanks - see you in 2012 again, for sure!!