Max Knox (Specialized/EAI Solutions) won the UCI World Series event at the MTN Clarens National Ultra Marathon MTB event over 100km.
This race is the fourth event in the MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan and part of the UCI World Series which consists of 15 races around the globe.
It is Knox’s second consecutive victory at MTN Clarens.
Nico Bell (Westvaal/Bell’s Cycles) finished second with Germany’s Stefan Sahm (Team Bulls) third.
Sahm, a three time winner of the Absa Cape Epic, is now leading the UCI World series with Bell second overall in the MTN National MTB Series. Knox will have moved up to about 5th place in the overall standings of the MTN National MTB Series.
Knox ensured his victory when he attacked on the last climb about 20km from the finish in the small town of Clarens. None of the other riders were able to keep up with him.
Germany’s Steffen Thum deserves a special mention. His mountain bike’s saddle broke off which forced him to basically stand and pedal for approximately 10km until he could duct tape his water bottle onto his seat post for another 20km before he could fix it. Despite his setback he still managed to finish 6th.
Mens UCI MTN Ultra Marathon 100 km results
1. Max Knox (RSA) 04:18’17”
2. Nico Bell (RSA) + 0’32”
3. Stefan Sahm (GER) +1’51”
4.Gawie Combrinck (RSA)
5. Matthys Beukes (RSA)
6. Steffen Thum (GER)
7. Tom Ettlich (GER)
8. Guylin van den Berg (RSA)
9. Timothy Hammond (RSA)
10. Ben Melt Swanepoel (RSA)
Womens Marathon results
1. Samantha Sanders (RSA) 03:14’51”
2. Christine Jansen van Rensburg (RSA) + 2’17”
3. Amy Mcdougall (RSA) +6’14”
4. Kendall Ryan (USA)
5. Ashleigh Parker-Moffatt (RSA)
