Danielle Strydom claimed the women’s SA MTB Marathon Championship title on a cloudless, late autumn day with the mercury hovering in the mid- to late twenties, at the 85km Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday, 26 May, 2024.
Strydom’s SA MTB Marathon Champs title is the culmination of an unreal couple of weeks, as she added a second title to the SA Gravel Champs she won at the Race to the Sun just two weeks ago.
While admitting she was a little low on confidence as she waited on the start line, Strydom stuck to her guns to claim overall honours ahead of teammate Samantha Sanders (4:59:59) with young, up-and-coming KZN rider Tyler Jacobs (5:08:23) third.
“Despite planning ahead, these events seldom pan out how you would like and it becomes a case of thinking in the saddle and making decisions based on what’s happening at the front of the race,” said the 25-year-old Potchefstroom cyclist, riding for the Efficient Infiniti team.
Strydom acknowledged a tough, technical and testing route, saying it felt longer than 85km. “It demanded respect and I did struggle at times, but I know I have enjoyed a proper day out,” she said.
“I made my break early, after the first major uphill, and maintained my pace, dropping the other women contenders and managing to hold on for the title.”
2024 SA MTB Marathon Champion, Danielle Strydom
While it may have sounded easy for Strydom, there were moments when she had to dig deep. “I started cramping near the end from the effort I had to put in to stay ahead. The other women leaders never gave up that easily and were always there and thereabouts, not far off my shoulder, calling for sustained effort and focus from me. I was relieved to finish,” she said.
The SA Champs crowned champions in all age groups from youth up to grand masters with Jodi Mackinnon claiming the junior title, beataing regular rivals Errin Mackridge and Robyn Chapman for a KZN 1-2-3 in the 40km event.
Elite Results at the 85km Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday, 26 May, 2024
Elite Women – 85km
1. Danielle Strydom 4:57:17
2. Samantha Sanders 4:59:59
3. Tyler Jacobs 5:08:23
4. Sarah Hill 5:17:01
5. Bianca Haw 5:24:26
6. Shauna Esmeyer 5:33:09
7. Caitlin Mee 5:42:40
8. Lane du Plessis 5:49:50
9. Hanli Cilliers 5:49:51
10. Karlise Scheepers 5:50:18
Sub-Vet Women – 60km
1. Kristian Slabbert 3:48:50
2. Laiken Smith 3:50:43
3. Mikaela Hagemann 4:03:46
Vet Women – 60km
1. Marisa van der Linde 3:50:34
2. Mari du Toit 3:52:41
3. Chantelle Bosch 4:02:28
Youth Women – 40km
1. Nika Nortje 2:11:07
2. Nadia van Wyk 2:11:21
3. Madison Bateson 2:11:25
Junior Women – 40km
1. Jodi Mackinnon 2:10:12
2. Errin Mackridge 2:11:08
3. Robyn Chapman 2:11:12
Master Women – 40km
1. Carli Cooke 2:20:01
2. Kirsten Searle 2:24:15
3. Kerry Campbell 2:30:41
G-Master Women – 40km
1. Anet Schoeman 2:41:06
2. Yvonne Conway 3:25:11
3. Charmaine Eleftheriou 3:30:19
Main Photo Caption: Danielle Strydom celebrates her second South African title in two weeks. The recently-crowned SA Gravel Champion added the SA MTB Marathon crown by winning the 85km race at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday, 26 May, 2024. Photo: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: Samantha Sanders, who eventually ended second, leads her teammate and new SA MTB Marathon Champion Danielle Strydom during the 85km race at the Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on Sunday, 26 May, 2024. Photo: Gavin Ryan / Gameplan Media
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