The Freedom Challenge
Harris conquers Everest of mountain biking
Press Release / 01.07.2011
Harris arrived at the race finish at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town on Tuesday night after riding for 12 days 15 hours and 30 minutes in this 2300 km non-stop, unsupported expedition mountain bike race on a route that started in Pietermaritzburg and took him over the Maluti Drakensberg mountains, across the Great Karoo and through the Cape Fold Mountains. In the process he ascended almost 50 000 metres, more than three times the height of Mount Everest starting from sea level.
Harris spoke afterwards of the cold, the wet conditions and the wind that had all combined to make the race incredibly difficult. “From the outset you are racing the weather� he said. Harris’s strategy from the outset was to ride for 18 hours and rest and sleep for 6. However, this was soon compromised and in order to reach his daily distance targets was forced to compromise his sleep. “It was the most difficult bike race I have ever done�, he said.
Arriving at Diemersfontein with Harris was third time finisher Ugene Nel, who left Pietermaritzburg three days before Harris. Having ridden at the front of the field for most of the route, Nel, who was then riding with early leader Garth Flanders was finally caught by Harris in the Baviaanskloof. They then rode the last five days together.
Following in Harris’s tracks just over a day behind is single speed rider Glenn Harrison. Harrison left Pietermaritzburg a day behind and has been doggedly endeavouring to match his pace. At the time of Harris’s arrival at Diemersfontein Harrison was riding from the Anysberg Nature Reserve through the Little Karoo towards Montagu from where he was expected to push through the Breede River basin and on towards the final support station at Trouthaven located on the upper catchment of the Holsloot River. It is unlikely that Harrison will be able to match Harris’ time but he too remains on course to break the race record.
About 150 kms behind Harrison, former Dusi winner and race novice Martin Dreyer is headed from Prince Albert through the Gamkaskloof towards the Klein Swartberg and Anysberg. Having lost his riding partner and navigator, Andrew Barnes, who withdrew from the race outside Prince Albert with a muscle tear, it is unlikely that Dreyer will manage to close the gap on Harrison. It remains to be seen whether he is able to hold off former record holder Tim James and secure third place. James, who has been battling with flu is riding with former finisher Marnitz Nienaber towards Prince Albert. The two may well repeat their exploits of previous years and ride the last 400 kilometres of the race with little or no sleep.
Tatum Prins, who continues in her endeavour to become the first woman to finish the Freedom Challenge Extreme Triathlon appears to have reigned in her designs on breaking the woman’s record for the mountain bike leg, electing instead to remain with her husband, Mark Loftus who is battling on having previously dislocated his shoulder. Together with Graham Bird of Team Merrell Adventure Addicts they were approaching the halfway mark in the Swaershoek Mountains above Cradock at the time that Harris was finishing. Ahead of them still lie the Camdeboo Plains, the Baviaanskloof and the Swartberg. With 40% of the starters having withdrawn, they are now riding at the back of the field but seem set to finish well within the 26 days cut off.
Between them and the finish are a number of other riders who are likely to be concerned about making the cutoff or even finishing. In Prince Albert, vet Coen de Bruin was diagnosed as having frostbite in his feet. One of the two other women still in the race Joan Louwrens, who is riding with Craig Mackrory, has a severely sprained ankle. She is headed towards the Baviaanskloof and the debris blocked crossings of the Groot Rivier near Cambria that have caused such difficult to other riders including Harris.
Riders are anticipated at the Diemersfontein finish over the next two weeks.
SleepMonsters
