Kremetart 2014 full of action

Date: 13 June 2014 By: Isabel Venter

The Soutpansberg was once again abuzz, with cyclists from all over South Africa converging on Makhado (Louis Trichardt) to take part in the annual PPC Kremetart Cycle Race.

Although the entries drew almost 500 fewer cyclists than last year, the 175 km one-day event still attracted a couple of top names and teams in South African cycling circles, with both the men’s and women’s categories being fiercely contested.

This year, the 175 km race was decided over three stages, instead of the usual four stages, because the Vivo road did not form part of the route. The organisers decided to opt for a route change because of the bad state of the Vivo road.

The new route was, however, not the only challenge cyclists had to face. Heavy crosswinds caused several accidents along the Waterpoort road, as well as on the new route that stretched from Waterpoort along the R521 road.

One other challenge was a bad Internet connection during Stage 2 of the race, which resulted in cyclists’ race times not being recorded properly. The following race report and results are made available with the kind cooperation and permission of Team BestMed ASG (elite women) and Team Bonitas Pro Cycling (elite men).

The first major accident occurred mere meters from the finish of Stage 1 when Desray Sebregts, Chante van der Merwe and Chrisel van der Merwe from Team BestMed ASG hit the deck at high speed. Sebregts and Van der Merwe were injured to such an extent that they had to pull out of the race and be taken to hospital.

Another accident occurred shortly after the turn on the R521 on Stage 2, when the elite men group crashed into each other. This crash took Team EuropcarSA’s Calvin Beneke out of the lead (after Stage 1), giving team Bonitas Pro Cycling an opportunity to push for top finishes. By the end of Stage 2, Bonitas had two cyclists on the podium – Herman Fouché (first) and HB Kruger (third). Nolan Hoffman (Team Abantu), who won the 2013 Kremertart, managed to finish second in this stage.

HB Kruger managed to take top honours in the race during Stage 3, when he beat Beneke by more than two seconds and finished ahead of David Maree (Team Abantu). David Maree finished second overall, with Beneke third.

In the women’s category, Team BestMed ASG dominated the winner’s podium, despite the major setback they suffered during the crash at the end of Stage 1.

Top honours went to Charlene Roux, who came first in two of the three stages of the race. Her team mates, Carla Oberholzer and Juanita Venter, finished the race second and third respectively overall.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the Kremetart Cycle Race. It also saw two paracylists competing in the 175 km event for the first time. Barend Coetzee, who travelled all the way from Kato in the Northern Cape (not on his bicycle), completed the race with fellow paracylists and friend Euvrard Geldenhuys.

For the full race results, visit http://www.timeme.co.za .

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

More photos... 

Charlene Roux from Team Bestmed ASG who was the overall elite ladies winner of the PPC Kremetart Cycling Race over the weekend. She won two of the three stages in the 175 km race. Barend Coetzee (front) and Euvrard Geldenhuys are two friends and paracyclists who competed in this year's 25th annual Kremetart Cycling Race. It was the first time ever that paracyclists competed in the Kremetart. Herman Fouché from Bonitas Pro Cycling took the yellow jersey on Stage 2 away from Team EuropcarSA. The stretch from Waterpoort back to Makhado (Louis Trichardt) was long, and the water offered between the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnels was greatly appreciated by all the Kremetart cyclists who passed the waterpoint. Tony Naudé from Mokopane is the one doing the running to keep up. It was a cold start for this year's Kremetart Cycle Race. Team mates Juanita Venter and Charlene Roux cycled alongside each other for Team BestMed ASG. Renata Joubert, a local cyclist, also competed in this year's 25th annual PPC Kremetart Road Race. Juanita Venter from Team BestMed ASG, who finished third overall. HB Kruger (left), overall winner of the 2014 Kremetart, just before the start of stage 3. Next to him his team mate, Herman Fouché, is wearing the yellow jersey to show that he won the second stage.