PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - For the first time in two years - after the event was cancelled twice due to Covid-19 restrictions - the Glacier Storms River Traverse was back on last week, challenging mountain bike riders of all fitness levels.
The three-day stage mountain biking event once again took place in the Storms River area from 7 to 9 August.
"The Glacier Storms River Traverse is our first event in over two years without any Covid restrictions," said Henco Rademeyer of Dryland Event Management.
"We didn't want to host it with restrictions in place, as it is all about the interactions on and off the bike. Being able to get back to that social level again has been amazing. I hope every rider and family member who joined us at the Tsitsikamma Village Inn appreciated the return as much as we did."
The Glacier Storms River Traverse is not a traditional stage race as it encourages enjoying the time out on the trails with friends and family, rather than gunning for the podium. However, the event also caters for those a little more serious about mountain biking.
The riding is designed to mix challenges with more sedate sections. This allows the top teams and solo riders to post fast times, but keeps the course manageable for less experienced riders.
"The mud makes it challenging," said a regular Traverser, Gavin Salt. "You're dodging puddles a lot, so while the route itself isn't technical, the fact that it's wet keeps it interesting."
Tsitsikamma's wet winters are part of the event's appeal, but for the 2022 Glacier Storms River Traverse participants, the rain held off during the stages. There was however some standing water in the forests as a result of a cloudburst over the weekend, making Sunday the muddiest of all the stages.
This year, the fastest men's teams through the stages included: Team Holl represented by Pieter Nortjé and Ivan Holl (7:12:33); Team Salty Saddle with Matt Bind and Steed Richardson (7:45:22) and Die Boere with Martin Esterhuyzen and Lourie Nel (7:52:05).
The women's teams who came out on top were Team Echo with Kylie Hanekom and Tarryn Povey (7:59:52); Team HC with Olivia Moolman and Daniel de Klerk (11:10:24) and Zensisters with Ilse Wessels and Merlin Norman (13:38:49).
Mixed teams making the podium were MadMacs Coopetto with Johann de Wet and Yolande de Villiers (7:28:18); Beauty & The Beast with Gouws and Noel Thwaite (8:57:58) and Team Janic with Jannie Steyn and Nicola Laubscher (8:59:53).
Solo men podium finishers were Willem Reyneke (7:20:27), Jacques Coetzee (7:52:30) and David Wright (8:02:24) while the top female cyclists were Nikki Biesheuvel (7:50:50); Catherine Pellow-Jarman (8:22:36) and Lindie Kessell (8:55:35).
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