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KNYSNA NEWS – The seventh edition of the 7 Passes MTB Race took place last weekend, with more than 200 riders tackling the historic Seven Passes Route over two different distances on Saturday 8 January.
The race was originally scheduled to take place in late November 2021, but due to the extreme weather the region experienced at the time, the organising team elected to postpone rather than cancel the race.
This saw the event shifted a month-and-a-half later to early January.
As per usual, the event was divided in two races over different distances, 38km and 76km, with various categories. In the 38km race, riders (in separate men's and women's categories) are placed into the Lighty, Junior, Open, and Ebike (electric bikes) categories.
In the 76km, there was the Open and Ebike categories together with an added Bullet category as well as a new Gravel Bike category.
76km race
Racers in the 76km distance once again set off in staggered starts opposite the Wilderness Hotel with riders making their way up the steep Whites Road to the Seven Passes Road.
From the Seven Passes route they took the Phantom Pass Road before crossing Knysna's Red Bridge and onto the N2 to the finish at The Farm on Old Cape Road.
After little more than two hours of battling the tough route, it was David Porrill who crossed the line in first place on his Ebike in a time of 2:09:06.
Photo gallery: 7 Passes MTB Race on 8 January
He was followed by the winner of the men's Gravel Bike category, Oliver Munnik, who finished in 2:37:13. The winner of the Open Men's category finished fourth overall with a time of 2:37:54.
The first woman over the line was Mari Rabie, winner of the Open Women's category, in a time of 2:52:13 and ninth overall. Roelien Lourens was the winner of the women's Ebike category with a time of 3:02:27, while Ilse Viljoen won the women's Gravel Bike category in 3:47:37.
Regardt Ferreira leads a group of cyclists in the early stages of the 76km.
38 km race
Racers in the 38km distance largely followed the same route as the longer race, except they started in Karatara and made its way along the Karatara Road until riders joined the Seven Passes Road. Martin Viljoen was first, finishing in 1:15:33 on his Ebike. Debbie Fermor was the first woman to finish, with a time of 1:37:59, also on a Ebike.
Louis Fourie was first in the Junior Men category in a time of 1:20:43, while Damon Terblanche was top in the Open Men's category finishing in 1:22:22. There was no Junior Girls category but Liefie Day was first home in the Open Women's category, stopping the clock at 1:44:00.
Morgan Jones was top in the Lighty Boys category (1:29:45), with Linke Oosthuizen the first of the Lighty Girls (2:01:06).
One of just a few tandem pairings. Photos: Blake Linder
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