Results and General Classification after Day 1 >>

Wet, wet, wet!

Weather, it constantly works as the vanguard of Nature's irrepressible challenge to human arrogance. And if we thought the inaugural Storms River Traverse was going to be the clichéd “walk in the park” that it looked like on paper, Nature had the last laugh.

Almost 200 riders set off from the idyllic Tsitsikamma Village Inn this morning after long, thoroughly soaking, overnight rain had turned the once scenic and relatively flat route into a perpetual frog's leap from one quagmire to the next – a procession of freezing hardship punctuated only by about a thousand new and temporary “river” crossings which barely shed the mud before it was back again, compromising anything that moved in terms of components.

And it carried on raining, non-stop – in fact getting harder and precipitating (if you'll pardon the expression) a sense of head-shaking trepidation of what tomorrow's longest day might have lying in wait for us.

The racing today was dominated by Greeff Moolman and Jozua de Kock of Thule who took the team honours in 1.57.54 although Carel Bezuidenhoud was the fastest Solo man in 1.57.12. Yolande de Villiers was the fastest Solo woman in 2.29.18. GT Mr Price (Heletje van Staden and Hannele Steyn) took team honours here in 2.32.24 but Sludge Mixed ( Leana de Jager and Pieter Venter) were quite a bit faster winning their group event in a staggering 2.08.06.

Today, less than 50 kilometres was, in terms of effort and discomfort, considerably more. The worst sections were in the forestry plantations which were being worked and carrying heavy truck traffic. There was no choice of “line”, because there was no line! But, for the most part (one insane climb through the indigenous forest, from the sea up to the plateau the only real exception) it was do-able and, in a somewhat perverse way, it was fun! Wet is wet and the child in most of us liked and still likes playing in the mud. But for the stage-race greenhorns, for whom this was to have been a gentle baptism, it is going to be interesting to see whether or not they have been scared out of their wits and into the fireside arm chairs provided by the inn. And for the rest of us it also a matter of whether or not (maybe weather or not) we find we have brake pads left when we finally get round to cleaning and servicing our bikes.

But in spite of all of all the intimidating challenges, this is still a Dryland event – cosy when it can be cosy and going like clockwork…slightly muddy clockwork. Everyone looks wet and happy, and hoping for the best.

Steve Shapiro - Ride Magazine

Official Race Photos - Day 1 >>

The Storms River Traverse got off to a cold and wet start this morning


There was a lot of enthusiastic support


Any form of warmth was welcome on Day 1


Marius and Jan finish a tough day in the saddle

Official Race Photos - Day 1 >>

Results and General Classification after Day 2 >>

Chain, chain, chain!

If rain and dominated yesterday's first stage of the Storms River Traverse, today's headline act was a big blue sky, iconic mountains and almost bottomless river gorges. There was also a vast ocean, indigenous forests… and a little bit of mud.

The best part for the survivors of yesterday's Maltabella Massacre was, apart from their own relative comfort, seeing the smiles of relief on the faces of the, always courteous and unfailingly efficient and clearly popular, Dryland Organisers and the owners (who also ride) and staff of the Tsitsikamma Forest Inn. Between them, they have seized an opportunity and made something special for South African mountain biking. This is a totally professional, all-encompassing event.

At the racing end there were no surprises, or changes in terms of GC, the Open Women's category taken again by Heletje van Staden and Hannele Steyn of GT Mr Price in 3.02.26 with Greeff Moolman and Jozua de Kock of Thule Stellenbosch (2.34.32) comfortably staying ahead in the Mens category, a situation copied in Mixed today by Leana de Jager and Pieter Venter in 2.46.55. Carel Bezuidenhoud and Yolande de Villiers, 2.34.40 and 2.52.07 were comfortably in control of the Solo categories.

The field was somewhat reduced for today's longest (67kms) stage, mainly because of the shortage of replacement brake pads but, in some instances, yesterday's unexpected – perhaps unseasonal-- hardships were too much for the climate-ravaged spirits. In the absence of brake pads I started on a borrowed bike with working brakes and suspension but sadly wanting in other vital areas. I had a great ride for about almost half the route but after the third time the chain broke I allowed myself to be swept up. However, what I saw and what I rode did not disappoint.

Early on there was a lovely middle ring climb (but not with out “pushers” !) up a pass through indigenous forest and attended by raucous Knysna louries and vestiges of yesterday's rain, but the latter just spits and spots which were quite unimpressive in recent historical context. Long, hard-pack forestry roads were more than acceptably agreeable because of the consolidating sunshine and the mountain and ravine views – the last manifesting in a dramatic climax where the Storms River itself, rushed, wild and earthy brown into the vast blue ocean. The rocks, far below Water Point 1 were being hammered from both sides – it was nothing less than spectacular.

Soon after this the trail turned very muddy again, a bit of a de ja vu, and it was here that my chain capitulated. My second prize, after three breakages in close succession, was to see the rest of the route from the sweep bakkie – although that also deepened my disappointment and frustration. Hopefully the brake pads will arrive later and I will be able to finish this epochal event on my own bike tomorrow.

As I wrote this today the back-markers were still coming in, more than five-and-a-half hours after starting: they all looked very pleased with themselves, and with the Storms River Traverse.

Steve Shapiro - Ride Magazine

Sun, sun, sun!

And glory shone all round! The first Storms River Traverse has come and been and went and gone - and it was wonderful. The last stage today, a little under 50kms, was perfect, all round, old-fashioned mountain biking and even if there was a bit of sludge and lots of little rivers and impromptu ponds to remind us of Day 1’s survival challenge, everything on this, the last stage, only produced smiles to match the sunshine.

It was cold at the start, “sharp” rather than “bitter” and we were soon getting our feet wet to what might have been the cacophonous amusement of the choruses of birds (and at least one vervet monkey) crowding the gorges of indigenous forest which we descended and then climbed out of, interspaced quite regularly about a challenging but never too intimidating route, in and around the river itself and the intimately cosy Tsitsikamma Forest Inn, here in Storms River Village. The setting is nothing less than Shangrila-esque and the proprietors of the inn, partners in this endeavour with the impeccable Dryland team from Oudtshoorn, resuscitated that old, pre-greedy, relationship between hospitality and inn-keeping, and provided a package that will persist (and be booked out!) for years to come. Initially there were just under 200 entrants (the organisers have promised not let it get much bigger) and while the unseasonal climatic excesses of the first day took their toll, the majority were survivors and most of them even “stuck around” for the prize giving, in spite of the prospect of long journeys home. It is my experience that whenever Dryland gets involved in a mountain biking project, the exercise exceeds success and this was no exception.

Talking about “prize-giving” it was a race and although the middle and back of the field seemed more drawn to sight-seeing options and the delicacies (including hot-chocolate!), at the sharp end some of the country’s best men and women cyclists included riding hard and fast with the other, perhaps more pedestrian, pleasures on offer. Hell, even some us habitual back-markers “put some serious foot” today and provided performances which, although only memorable to themselves (and maybe their families) were a great source of personal satisfaction.

In spite of a bit of scare around one of the front-runners testing positive for tequila at the start of today’s stage, the “usual suspects” dominated and went away with more than a little petrol money.

Pieter Carstens and Grant Clack (Tulbagh Koggelramme) took today’s stage in 2.04.02 and were second on GC. Greeff Moolman and Jozua de Kock (Thule Stellenbosch) were second today but overall, GC winners with the ageless phenomenon which is Lieb Loots and his partner Charl du Plessis (Fairview 2) holding third, across the board. Unchallenged for the top women’s team spot were Heletje van Staden and Hannele Steyn (2.10.16) of GT Mr Price. Shannon Kirkhoff and Jenni Opperman (Shane ‘n James) were second today and 3^rd GC, with today’s thirds First Ascent Ladies, Elzan Visser and Theresa Horn were second on GC.

Solo winners, today (1.57.52 and 2.09.09) and on GC were Karel Bezuidenhout and Yolande de Villiers who were also comfortable GC winners from Ferdie Potgieter and Rob Cragg (men) and Anneline Trevella and Christine Harrison (women).

The Mixed catergory was dominated, yet again, by Leana de Jager and her brother Pieter Venter (Sludge Mixed) - 2.03.26 today and they were way ahead on GC from Kevin Taljaard and Heidi Koen.

But I don’t think that anyone would argue with the assertion that racing was not “what it was all about”. Try rather fun, adventure and exposure to astonishing natural beauty. It worked at every level but special mention must be made of the calm attention to organisational detail and to the dedication of everyone involved from the “bosses” with their constant logistical challenges to the marshals, water point wizards, and bike-washers, to say nothing of all the back-up experts, behind the scenes, tying it all together. It’s a winner.

Steve Shapiro - Ride Magazine