Strauss Streaks to African XCO Champs Title

Plenty of action amidst wet and muddy conditions saw the crowning of various age-group champions at the 2013 African Continental Championships for cross-country (XCO) and downhill (DHI) mountain biking, which took place in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend.

The fastest women’s cross-country time of the weekend came from the under-23 age category, with Mariske Strauss (Contego 28E) taking the top honours.

Strauss claimed her lead by picking up her pace in the third and fourth laps of the 5-lap race, to take hold of the tussle with Olympian Candice Neethling (BMC SA). Strauss crossed the finish line in 01:48:54 with Neethling claiming second (01:52:18) and Namibian Vera Adrian third (02:03:09).

Yolande Speedy (a[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][s]g MTB Academy) won the elite women’s race in 01:59:20. Mauritian Aurelie Halbwachs who claimed second place (02:00:30) with South African Samantha Sanders third (02:04:14).

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