UKZN student Brent Yelland shocks the field

SPORTSAREENA.comSeptember 28, 2022

43 4 minutes read

The Tour Durban MTB began the Tour Durban weekend with a few shock winners as Brent Yelland and Rouxda Grobler crossed the line at Cornubia to assert the males’s and girls’s 35km titles respectively on Saturday morning.

For Yelland, it was arguably the largest win of his profession and he seemed a bit stunned after he eased away on the remaining climb to assert the win.

Tour Durban MTB kicks off weekend of biking

The UKZN student edged out Daniel van der Watt, and juniors Tayne Rudling and Omar Wilson after the 4 had performed a cat-and-mouse tactical race for many of the 35km course.

Rouxda Grobler (entrance) powered her strategy to victory in the 35km ladies’s race at the aQuellé Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab on Saturday morning.

Photo: Anthony Grote/
Gameplan Media

In the ladies’s race, Grobler confirmed a welcome return to kind and stepped straight again onto the prime step of the podium after taking a little bit of a break following a busy racing schedule earlier in the yr that noticed her win the Quattro ROAG Series and do nicely in the Cape Epic and Wines to Whales stage races as a blended group together with her husband Jacques.

On Saturday, Grobler began slowly, however powered away from runner up Hayley Smith on considered one of the lengthy climbs round midway of the occasion.

“This was my first serious race in KZN since the Epic earlier this year,” mentioned the shy Ballito resident. “Hayley was sturdy early on however about midway by means of the race I managed to go along with considered one of the stronger male riders and simply saved it constant up an extended climb.

“I thought Hayley was following but when I looked back I saw I had managed to get a gap and that gave me some confidence.”

Smith mentioned she chased however may simply by no means shut that hole and ended slightly below a minute behind with Sanchia Malan third, 12 minutes additional again.

Epic coaching does its bit

Grobler credit her background of coaching for the Epic, her coach and a loyal husband for her success.

ALSO READ: TOUR DURBAN street closures

“Since Epic I saved coaching however simply with much less depth, however I really feel fairly motivated to get again into issues once more. I positively felt the distance I did earlier than Epic was coming by means of as we speak.

“Tyronne (White) from DriveTrain Academy has actually helped me with a personalised coaching plan that’s actually paying dividends. We don’t do an excessive amount of in his coaching studio however do so much on the stationary trainers at residence. It is very nice having Jacques additionally coaching with me. He is wonderful.

“The bikes are loaded for me, he services the bikes and does everything for my riding, he is really good.”

In the males’s race there have been a number of lead change’s however the 4 principal protagonists had been at all times battling for the win, mentioned Yelland.

“From the gun, Daniel and Tayne went and I used to be simply pushing to stick with them. Then Daniel and I went away and labored collectively a bit, however missed a flip and that in all probability misplaced us a minute, and we needed to catch the second group which grew to become the leaders.

“Where we went unsuitable there was a few paths and we opted for the unsuitable approach for a short time and needed to flip and get again heading in the right direction. But we caught the leaders once more and ended one and two so it didn’t actually make any distinction in the finish.

“Then 4 of us rode collectively for the final 10 kilometres or so and simply chilled till the final climb a couple of kay from the finish.

“Tayne led it on the market after which Daniel went and received forward, after which I attacked and once I seemed behind there was no one on my wheel which was shocking really. And then I simply held it to the finish.

“Of course I am always happy to be on the podium, and especially with a win,” mentioned the University of KZN student. “I have not really had any big results before and I have not been riding that much lately so this is a bit of a surprise.”

In the 20km experience it was Rico van Rooyen who gained the total race whereas younger Natalie Kluza was the first girl throughout the line.

There had been simply over 500 entrants in the MTB race on Saturday with the street race beginning and ending at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday. The principal 106km race will set off in batches from 6am on Sunday with 90km and 45km rides additionally on the programme.