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KNYSNA SPORT NEWS - Earlier this year, Knysna local Julian Bunge had picked up injuries in both his knees that sidelined him for four months and a long way from cycling again, but after intense rehabilitation and a roller-coaster season, his hard work finally paid off at Knysna Montessori School on 14 September.
The Spur Mountain Bike (MTB) Schools League's Southern Cape races kicked off in Knysna on 3 August at Oakhill School, before making its way to Greenwood Bay College in Plettenberg Bay on 17 August, and then to Outeniqua School in George for the penultimate race of the 2019 season on 24 August.
It would be three weeks before the Southern Cape's best upcoming cyclists would tackle the track again, with the final of the 2019 league to be held at Knysna Montessori on Saturday 14 September.
The day of cycling started early for some, with a few preschool races around the school fields getting under way at 08:30, before the first Spur race starting at 09:00 with the high school section. The Junior Ladies (17-19 years), Youth Ladies (15-16 years), and Sub-Junior Girls (13-14 years) categories all set off at 10:30, getting the day off to a fun-filled action-packed start.
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The Sub-Junior Boys' race would follow on from the girls' races, starting at 10:00. Thereafter was the start of the first of the Youth Men's race, the first of the two most highly anticipated races of the day. Alan Hatherly, world champion South African cyclist and ambassador for the Spur Schools MTB League, would take part in the race to give the other participants a reason to push a little bit.
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The Youth Men's race was the one in which Bunge took part, giving him the chance to have a go at Hatherly – who he sees as his hero – out on the track. Hatherly started from the back of the group, but slowly made his way to the front, eventually leading the race by the end of the third of five laps.
Bunge tried to keep up, but realised his efforts were in vain and instead turned his focus to maintaining his lead over the rest of the riders, having got there in the fourth lap. He held onto his lead, and because Hatherly took part as an exhibition of sorts, was crowned the victor of the day, earning his first win of the 2019 season, something he was immensely proud of. "I'm so stoked with first place, it's been a crazy season," Bunge said.
Likhaya Mamana cautiously takes a turn during his race.
The Junior Men's race followed on from the Youth Men's race, and featured some really stiff competition of its own.
Hatherly didn't take part in this race, and Outeniqua School rider Tristan Nortje came first after having dominated the race from start to finish.
The afternoon would see six more races take place at Knysna Montessori, as part of the primary schools section, with a wonderful day of cycling eventually coming to an end shortly after 16:00.
Read a previous article here: Cyclists with a taste for life conquer Spur league final
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