Events

Coetzee Crushes The 36ONE MTB Challenge Course Record

Supplied by 36ONE.

· By Press Office · 4 comments

Multiple Namibian national champion, Drikus Coetzee bounced back from his 2021 36ONE MTB Challenge disappointment to shatter the record, in perfect conditions, in 2022. The 361-kilometre circumnavigation of the Klein Karoo takes in features like the Rooiberg Pass in its 5 000 metres of climbing. The eleventh edition was held on the 13th and 14th of May. Along with Coetzee the local queen of endurance mountain biking, Yolande de Villiers, emerged victorious; while the 180-kilometre half distance course record was broken by CP van Wyk on his way to victory.

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The 2022 36ONE MTB Challenge started and finished at Kleinplaas Resort, in Outshoorn, on the 13th and 14th of May. Photo by Shift Media Co.

The long-distance race started under clear skies on Friday afternoon, at 15:00. This allowed riders to see more of the route before the sun set. As well as getting further towards the first check point, at Louvain, it also set the scene for visually dramatic racing. Freddie Visser duly obliged, seizing the opportunity to launch a long-range attack. 

At just 21 years of age, Visser was one of the youngest riders in the front group of 25. Unphased by the number of kilometres left to race, with only 40-kilometres covered, he upped the tempo and rapidly established a 50 second advantage over the elite selection. After the first water point, at the 54-kilometre mark, the 2021 third-place finisher accelerated to close the gap to Visser.

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Freddie Visser drove the pace in the opening kilometres, which helped enable Drikus Coetzee to break the record. Photo by Shift Media Co.

Once Coetzee had joined forces with Visser it was clear that it would take an almighty effort to bring the break back. Meanwhile, the only woman who had made the front selection, Yolande de Villiers, worked to continually extend her advantage over the chaser, Alma Colyn and Bianca Cooper. Despite the near-perfect conditions, De Villiers never appeared in contention to challenge the course record. Coetzee however, was on course to break the record from early on.

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Drikus Coetzee found allegiances in the relay team riders at various stages in the race, as the RDX Powerbar JD Elliott Cycle and Cycle4Diabetes teams switched out for fresh riders every 80 to 100 kilometres. Photo by Shift Media Co.

He ensured the pace remained high throughout. When Visser started to fade, 100 kilometres into the race, the RDX Powerbar relay team came to the fore. After David Garrett’s opening leg, Johan Trotzky dragged the team back to within touching distance of Coetzee. Theuns van der Bank summited Rooiberg Pass, just behind the solo men’s leader. The team’s final rider Andreas Studer rode the last 80 kilometres, from Calitzdorp to Oudtshoorn, with Coetzee; but was unable to help.

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The spectacular Swartberg and Outeniqua Mountains, as well as the smaller ranges within the Klein Karoo basin, ensure a spectacular backdrop for the race. Photo by Shift Media Co.

“From about 15 kilometres out I knew I was inside the record” Coetzee revealed. “But I wanted to empty the tank. Last year I came close, but made a mistake in the last 100 metres which put me out of contention in the sprint with Konny [Looser] and Christiaan [Janse Van Rensburg]. I knew from last year that I could break the record and conditions were perfect for it today. We only had a short section of head wind, approaching Checkpoint 1 at Louvain. It was a nearly perfect ride.” 

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Drikus Coetzee broke Konny Looser’s course record by 8 minutes and 24 second, setting a new mark of 13 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds. Photo by Carli Munro.

Coetzee’s winning time was 13 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds; breaking the course record Looser had set, of 13 hours, 26 minutes and 14 seconds. De Villiers’ winning solo women’s time was 16 hours, 18 minutes and 10 seconds, which was an hour slower than her 2021 record setting time. The men’s winner was joined on the podium by Dusty Day and Freddie Visser, after Day had surged passed a fading Visser in the final 20 kilometres. Colyn and Cooper completed the women’s podium.

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Yolande de Villiers rode to a dominant victory, though her own course record eluded her. Photo by Shift Media Co.

The 180-kilometre half distance race, started at The 36ONE MTB Challenge’s second Checkpoint, at Highgate Ostrich Show Farm. The route took riders over the Rooiberg Pass, into Calitzdorp and along the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains back to Outshoorn.

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The 15:00 start on Friday afternoon means that every rider cycles through the depths of the dark Karoo Night. Photo by Shift Media Co.

CP van Wyk, Lloyd Priestman and Regis Maniora raced the event on gravel bikes, all shattering the record. Insect Science’s Van Wyk was the first across the line, setting a new record of 6 hours, 55 minutes and 58 seconds. Maureen Jordaan was the 180 women’s race winner. Along with the winners Fjord Jordaan deserved a special mention as he completed his tenth 36ONE MTB Challenge.

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The rolling roads of the Klein Karoo provided a challenging course, including 5 000-metres of climbing in the 361-kilometre distance. Photo by Shift Media Co.

2022 36ONE MTB Challenge Results:
36ONE Solo Men

1. Drikus Coetzee (13:17:50)
2. Dusty Day (14:29:00)
3. Freddie Visser (14:31:51)

36ONE Solo Women
1. Yolande de Villiers (16:18:10)
2. Alma Colyn (18:41:08)
3. Bianca Cooper (19:03:21)

36ONE Relay Teams
1. RDX Powerbar: David Garret, Johann Trotzky, Theuns van Bank & Andreas Studer (13:17:51)
2. JD Elliot Cycle: Daniel Steenkamp, Walter Taylor, Andrew Elliott & Kenneth Elliott (13:54:55)
3. Cycle4Diabetes: Louis Visser, Marchal Hendriks, Grant Lindeque & Pierre Terblanche (14:45:28)

36ONE Men’s Teams
1. EnduroPlanet Racing: Charl Coetsee & Ockert Struwig (15:48:23)
2. Wellington Wines: Robin Harris & Garth Ennion (16:12:46)
3. Kirmack 2: Hanro Geldenhuys & Neville Menezes (19:30:58) 

36ONE Women’s Teams
1. Yong & Brave: Tanja Schutte & Iliska Verweg (22:39:50)
2. Kakiebos 2: Jolene de Bruyn & Riaan Robbeson (23:01:58)
3. Raffa Angels: Tamsyn Muller & Veredith Dijk (23:55:40)

Half Solo Men
1.  Warick Minkley (7:03:26)
2. Eugene du Plessis (8:01:20)
3. Raymond Odendaal (8:04:59)

Half Solo Women
1. Maureen Jordaan (9:00:37)
2. Angelique Nel (9:44:56)
3. Elzaan van Blerk (10:09:42)

Half Gravel Bike
1. CP van Wyk (6:38:20)
2. Lloyd Priestman (6:53:06)
3. Regis Maniora (6:55:58)

For the full results visit www.the36one.co.za.

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Comments

Jasper123

May 15, 2022, 4:02 PM

Just mentioning that the RDX Powerbar relay team only caught up to Freddie Visser at 200km into the race and not 100km.

And he quite literally faded as his main light's battery died 50km from the end and was reliant on a head lamp ;)

milky4130

May 15, 2022, 6:40 PM

2 hours ago, Jasper123 said:

Just mentioning that the RDX Powerbar relay team only caught up to Freddie Visser at 200km into the race and not 100km.

And he quite literally faded as his main light's battery died 50km from the end and was reliant on a head lamp ;)

Not that it matters but it says 144km on this live Instagram Story of Friday evening, might've been earlier too. RDX didn't need to chase or catch him sooner since they are racing different categories but could've if they wanted. There was another Insta Story interview of him that was not saved, but the light only went out for last 20kms, Freddie dropped on Rooiberg already but Kudos to him, very strong ride. Drikus was just out of this world!! Well done!!

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Jasper123

May 15, 2022, 10:09 PM

I know it doesn't really matter but sorry the urge overcame me 🤦‍♂️ I was at the all the checkpoints and finish when all the top riders came through so had a close view on what was going on.

The screenshot shows Dusty Day (who was still 3rd Solo when the story was posted) with the 2 relay teams (Link to same video on 36One's twitter). Freddie and Drikus rode together until 190km (after a brief split at checkpoint 2) at which point Drikus really turned on his Beast mode (Twitter link shows final split between them). Dusty Day, RDX Powerbar and JD Elliot Cycle was still about 8 minutes from Freddie and Drikus at Checkpoint 2 which was at 176km (Twitter link shows RDX Powerbar still behind at 180km)... As to the 50km before the end when the light went his light died, I spoke to Freddie personally after the race. You can also check his Instagram post. That distance was maybe referring to his downhill crash due to not being able to see the road well?

But well done to all the riders, don't know how they do this. Especially Drikus. Also saw his monster Munga Grid ride a month ago where he broke at about 40km and stayed away for the remainder of the 500km. 

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'Dale

May 16, 2022, 9:38 AM

Dusty Day is such a cool name for an ultra endurance mountain biker

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