Beers best at Bull

Gallery Update

KNYSNA CYCLING NEWS - The 2020 Knysna Bull concluded on Saturday 22 February with defending champion and hometown favourite Matt Beers emerging victorious once again.

Beers, Anne Terpstra, Tristan Nortje and Danielle Strydom all wrapped up their respective category titles with victories in Stage 3, though Terpstra's final stage victory was shared with teammate Barbara Benko.

Having taken in four days of racing, through the heart of the Garden Route from 19 to 22 February, there could be no arguments that the champions were worthy winners.

Terpstra and Beers each rode away with a cheque for R100 000, while Nortje and Strydom meanwhile earned R10 000 each for their efforts, with the rest of the top five riders in the Young Bull men's and women's categories all earning prize money too.

Photo gallery: Beers victorius in Knysna Bull

In the men's race, Beers was once again in a class of his own. Beers, who grew up in Knysna, spent much of the stage on his own, time-trialling through the 52km stage. Having won all three previous stages, he completed a clean sweep of the three Knysna Bull stages. Beers crossed the line in 01:56:48; almost 11 minutes ahead of Rogan Smart.

Smart's Stage 3 exploits saw him leapfrog David George to secure third place overall. The young rider from Plettenberg Bay is in his first year in the elite category, after stepping up from the Young Bull competition last year.

Terpstra secured the women's title by rolling across the final finish line alongside Benko. The Ghost Factory Racing pair crossed the line, arm in arm. "The competition was tough at the Knysna Bull," the champion said. "It was great to have four strong women racing together. We tried to push each other, but also enjoy the trails. I was fortunate to have established a little bit of a lead on the opening two days." Terpstra's general classification margin of victory was 4 minutes and 34 seconds over her teammate.

In the Young Bull men's category, Hoërskool Outeniqua learner Tristan secured a perfect three-stage win. His final margin of victory was 15 minutes and 25 seconds over second-placed Henry Liebenberg.

The Young Bull women's race winner Strydom was elated by her victory. "Coming into the race I knew I was going to be racing against tough ladies. We might be young but we're mighty," she said. "I was preparing myself for a hard race and that's what it turned out to be. I was also expecting it to be really fun. The gees here is amazing." Strydom's final margin of victory was 11 minutes and 3 seconds over Frances Janse van Rensburg.

Tristan Nortje received a finish-line high five as he wrapped up the Young Bull title.