The Drakensberg turns into the main target of KZN biking this weekend, with the third annual Underberg Gran Fondo gravel race happening on Saturday.
The 140km race has swiftly gained a fame as a well-organised, all-around gravel using check, with a few of the province’s best riders realising they face a stiff two-pronged assault from their opponents in addition to a course that “has a bit of everything”.
Tough trip on the gravel at Underberg Gran Fondo
Josh Rheeders, a earlier aQuellé Tour Durban champion, is anticipating a tough trip within the Drakensberg mountains.
“I’m actually a little nervous because I haven’t raced in a while,” mentioned the Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team rider. “I’ve done it the last two years and I’ve got some decent results so I’m quite keen.”
Rheeders completed fifth within the inaugural occasion in 2022 after which was simply outdoors the highest 5 final yr, however is wanting ahead to the problem.
“The occasion is all the time good. It has a little bit of the whole lot so it’s really a very enjoyable race … nevertheless it form of assessments you a large number as nicely.
“The first half is really rolling through the river valleys, and then you get the big climb at about 60 kays. Then the second half of the loop is a lot faster, so you have bit of everything and that makes for some good racing.”
Rheeders talked about the riders he was most anxious about are David Shelley – “he had a good KZN Champs recently”, Kevin Benkenstein – “who is really good over the long distances” and Tyronne White. Other riders who’re more likely to be outstanding because the main group types within the early kilometres embrace Michael Rowland and Sean Yelland.
Hayley Smith is the standout favorite in ladies’s race
On paper, the ladies’s race appears to be like like being a comparatively simple cruise for Hayley Smith as she prepares for the Swiss Epic later this yr.
“I really enjoyed the Underberg Gran Fondo last year and I’ve entered for the Swiss Epic (mountain bike race) in August, so I thought this would just be a nice block towards that before we leave,” mentioned the Bell Equipment rider who completed as runner-up to Joanne van der Winkel within the 2023 Underberg occasion.
Like Rheeders, Smith has a whole lot of respect for the route and is getting ready herself for an extended day within the saddle.
“It is quite a tough route – it is 140 kilometres and that is always going to be difficult. Last year once we hit 100 kilometres I was like: “I still have 40 kays to go!”
While Smith clearly has the very best racing pedigree among the many pre-entries, late entries can be found at registration on Friday and Saturday morning and Underberg native Bianca Haw is rumoured to be getting into which can present Smith with a severe native problem.
The 140km occasion is the principle race, however opponents even have the choice of a 90km race and a shorter 41km.
More data may be discovered at https://underberggranfondo.co.za/
Have you skilled the Underberg Gran Fondo?
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