Cyclists from far afield as Cape Town, with many first-time participants, entered for the 2024 Mokala MTB Classic.
This good turnout for the seventh edition on 1 and 2 June in the Mokala National Park close to Kimberley was welcomed after having to cancel the 2023 event.
The 40 km and 80 km race were held on Saturday, and the technical 35 km ride on Sunday.
The overall winners of the combined 115 km route were Willem du Toit and Margaret van der Merwe.
Du Toit took first place in the 80 km race, with Schalk van der Merwe in second and Stoffel van der Westhuizen in third place. The women’s winner was Johanet Heymann, with Van der Merwe second and Anne Vittoz third.
Christopher Clarke was first in the 40 km race, followed by Jaco van Wyk second and Jaco Oosthuizen third. The first women over the finish line was Ane Jacobs, followed by Anri Stevens, and Ancke Oelofse in third place.
The 35 km technical ride was also won by Van der Merwe, followed by Du Toit and Niel Fourie in third place. Van der Merwe was the first woman home, followed by Vittoz and Carolina Pretorius in third place.
As before, the MTB event was hosted by the SANParks Honorary Rangers and the South African National Parks (SANParks). Race organiser Hestia Swanepoel thanked the volunteer members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, race sponsors and management team at Mokala for their support. She congratulated all the cyclists, stating, “this was a big win for conservation in Mokala”.
Proceeds of the event will be allocated to conservation projects in Mokala.
An eighth event is planned for 2025.
