The Thomas River Mountain Bike Challenge takes place between Stutterheim and Cathcart and consists of three races: a very tough 65km with gravel roads, farm roads, jeep track and single tracking through some breath taking scenery.
The Thomas River Mountain Bike Challenge takes place between Stutterheim and Cathcart and consists of three races: a very tough 65km with gravel roads, farm roads, jeep track and single tracking through some breath taking scenery.
The 42km and 35km races followed more or less the same route along the district gravel roads except that the 42km took riders on a loop to the top of the Amatola mountains and back down the other side.
While no local cyclists took part in the 65km event, Graeme College pupil, Jason Meaton finished fourth overall in the 45km race in a time of 1 hour 59 minutes 18 seconds.
He was also placed as the second junior home. Overall 45km race winner was Michael van der Bank who finished in 1:51:44.
A number of locals took part in the 35km event, with Craig Hall leading the locals home in 1:52:32 and finishing as the second veteran. The 35km race winner was Andre Hendriks in 1:33:18.
45km results:
4. Jason Meaton 1:59:18 (2 nd junior men)
35km results:6. Craig Hall 1:52:32 (2 nd vet mens), 16. Kevin van der Merwe 2:02:34, 17. Greg McLean 2:02:36, 30. Luke Hall 2:14:49, 38. Len van der Merwe 2:24:15, 64. Darian Robertson 2:41:32.
