Brake on through to the other side

Gallery Update

GARDEN ROUTE CYCLING NEWS - On a day when the heavens opened over the Prince Alfred's Pass, Sebastian Stark and Nicky Giliomee prevailed against the elements to win the 2019 Buco Lions Karoo to Coast on Sunday 22 September.

The 96km-long ultramarathon mountain bike race started in Uniondale as a few drops of rain began to fall, but by the time the riders reached Knysna the downpour had become torrential. Sunday 22 September will thus live long in the memories of each one of the 2 826 riders who completed the journey from the Karoo to the Coast.

Click here for a photo gallery.

"Sometimes it was good, but sometimes it was really hard to see anything," puffed the muddy men's race winner Sebastian Stark upon crossing the finish line on the Knysna High School sports fields. His time of 03:19:53 seconds was 8 min 51 sec faster than that of the second-place finisher Waylon Woolcock.

"Conditions were really, really tough. But Sebastian [Stark] was really strong. I have to give it to him – he rode me off pretty early," Woolcock conceded graciously.

Sebastian Stark manages a smile after winning this year's Karoo to Coast.

Despite the weather conditions, Stark's incredible strength and determination meant his finishing time was nearly three minutes faster than the time recorded by the winner last year, when weather conditions were perfect for cycling. The women's race this year was won by the pre-race favourite Nicky Giliomee, a Knysna native and former learner at Oakhill School.

Making her victory even more popular was the fact that she was riding in support of the SA Guide-Dogs Association. Last year, the Karoo to Coast's founders, the Lions clubs of Knysna and Uniondale, donated R100 000 to the association.

Unfortunately, the cold and wet weather meant the custom-designed guide-dog inspired Cioviata cycling jersey Giliomee wore for the race did not get much opportunity to be seen.

"It was really rough," a drenched Giliomee exclaimed on the finish line. "It was so cold out there. I'm really happy I made it to the finish in one piece. I rode for a charity close to my heart today, which makes me even more stoked to have won representing them."

Giliomee's winning time of 04:10:01 was nearly 20 minutes slower than her 2018 time, a testament to just how challenging the 2019 conditions were. She was followed across the line by Odette Guy and Annerie van Velden.

Further down the field the real heroes of the race were the riders who soldiered on, through the torrent and block headwinds, to complete their Karoo to Coast adventures. Among the 21 editions of the famous race, this will surely rank as one of the most memorable.

Nicky Giliomee won the women's section of this year's Karoo to Coast race.