Grit and guts triumph at Knysna Extreme

KNYSNA NEWS - This year's edition of the Knysna Extreme Triathlon was one for the committed, as true grit and devotion to the cause prevailed for a number of athletes that took part in the event last weekend.

The 2022 Knysna Extreme Triathlon was the fifth edition of what is considered to be Africa's toughest triathlon, and was also the fourth edition of the Extreme 0.5 - the shorter, but still tough, version of the race.

For the blissfully unaware, the Knysna Extreme Triathlon is a race that covers roughly 230km and nearly 3 000m of altitude gain, all in one go.

The swimming leg of the race covers 5km in the Knysna Estuary, followed by 174km of cycling from Knysna to Wilderness, through George and over the Outeniqua Pass into the Karoo where they transition to the run in Avontuur.

They then tackle a gruelling 50km through the mountains and forests between Avontuur and Knysna, finishing the race at the Diepwalle Forest Hut. In the Extreme 0.5, athletes swim 2,5km in the estuary, followed by a 100km cycle from Knysna to Wilderness and back, and finally a 30km run from Knysna to Diepwalle. They enjoy about 1 600m of altitude gain.

The full Extreme starts at 05:00, followed by the Extreme 0.5 only five minutes later. Either way it's a long, tough day out. After the extreme weather participants had in 2021, 2022 participants were undoubtedly overjoyed that they enjoyed the best weather conditions that any of the editions of the Knysna Extreme Triathlon has seen thus far.

Miles Hollins powers his way up the tough yet scenic Outeniqua Pass.

Extreme 0.5

Having set off five minutes after the full, the athletes in the half were soon in hot pursuit.

None were quicker in the water than Ross Barnard and Johandrie Leicester, who finished the swim in just under 32 minutes. Eventual winner Jacques Badenhorst was hot on their heels, finishing his swim in just under 35 minutes. Badenhorst made up the lost time quickly on the bike, ending with a six-minute lead over Marsel Roos at the transition to the run.

Barnard was only three minutes behind Roos. While the run saw a swap of second and third place, Badenhorst expanded his lead out front and managed to finish in a time of 5:50:38. Barnard was 10 minutes behind, finishing in 6:00:34, and Roos finished in a time of 6:21:35.

Pauline Tunstead made great time on the bike and the run, finishing sixth overall as the first lady across the line in a time of 7:13:51.

James Crawford opened up a healthy lead in the cycling leg of the race.

Full Extreme

Starting as the sun begins to breathe life into the skies over Knysna, the athletes enjoyed a favourable current in the Knysna Estuary courtesy of a slight swimming route change this year.

Francois Mienie was first out of the water in just over an hour, followed very closely by eventual winner James Crawford. While they were neck and neck in the swim, Crawford swiftly began developing a healthy lead while on the bike.

When it came time to transition from the bike to the run, Crawford already held a 32-minute lead, with Edrich Ferreira in second place, only a couple of minutes ahead of Mienie. Many would forgive Crawford for slowing a bit on the run, but he did not.

He powered on, finishing in a time of 11:57:49 - only five minutes off the record set in 2019 by Manfred Wiehahn. He finished almost an hour ahead of Mienie who had reclaimed second place, finishing in 12:48:33, with Ferreira in third in a time of 13:04:30.

Nicola Mattheus was the first lady across the line and fourth overall in a time of 13:31:06, battling cramps and sickness for the last 15km of the run.

Another example of grit and determination was Iulian Rotariu, who walked the last 17km to finish his first Knysna Extreme Triathlon (KET) and to complete the worldwide Extreme Triathlon Series that the KET forms a part of.

There was also Reyners Barnard who was in fifth place at one point, but then damaged his knee ligaments and walked the final 33km to make sure he finished what he started at 05:00 that morning.

Edrich Ferreira with first-placed lady Nicola Mattheus hot on his heels.