Llewellyn Lloyd / Reblex Photography.
Icy rain and cold temperatures made the 2022 edition of the Trans Baviaans Mountain Bike race among the most brutal in recent memory.
More than half the field of a thousand-plus riders did not complete the 230 km trek from Willowmore to Jeffrey's Bay on Saturday due to the extreme cold, mud and rain.
But there were plenty of brave riders who soldiered on regardless and successfully reached the finish after a day in the Baviaans which will no-doubt be talked about for years to come.
The men's race was won by the Uncle Fish outfit of Nico Bell, Gawie Combrinck & Gerrit de Vries in 09h43:49.
The Team Madmacs/Coopetto/Davin Trust duo of Yolande de Villiers and Drikus Coetzee were second overall and also won the mixed teams event in 09h59:36.
The Action Cycles pairing of Juanita Mackenzie & Nicola Freitas won the women's race in 11h32:17.
The leaders were not immune to the cold. "Nico [Bell] punctured and while we were stopped, so he could fix it, Gerrit [de Vries] began to shake uncontrollably," Gawie Combrinck recounted. "He couldn't even get his glove back on. All we could do was keep riding, so he could warm up a little."
Oudtshoorn's Yolande De Villiers struggled with mud in her eyes for much of the race but was happy with her second place overall and another mixed category title. "It was so tough," she exclaimed. "My hands were so cold for the first three hours I couldn't get gels out of my top tube bag. Fortunately, Drikus [Coetzee] is a great partner and looked after me really well, especially when my inability to fuel earlier hit me on the climb up MAC."
Those participating in Trans Baviaans weekend 2 will certainly be hoping for 'friendlier' conditions on Saturday 20 August.
