THE inaugural Prince George Monumental 100 Miler, presented by Dryland Events Management based in Oudtshoorn, took place on Saturday (15 October). Eden riders, Tristan Nortje and Yolande de Villiers – Oudtshoorn’s own cycling champion – were crowned the first king and queen of Klein Karoo gravel racing; having raced to victory across the 165 kilometre long course, which started in Prince Albert and finished in George.
Nortje was followed by HB Kruger and Keagan Bontekoning, while the women’s top three was completed by Catherine Colyn and Juanita Mackenzie.
Starting in Prince Albert ensured that the race was always going to be tough, as the course took in the Swartberg Pass’s northern ascent right from the start. With the climb to 1 500 meters above sea level dominating the route profile the rest of the race, appeared on paper, to be a downhill drag to the finish at Blanco School in George. Cycling is never quite that easy however, and a rising south easterly ensured that the iconic pass was in fact one of the easier sections of the day. As the morning wore on to afternoon the wind gradually strengthened, tugging relentlessly at the slower riders as they made their way towards the Montagu Pass.
Head wind aside, the route was beautiful. Rolling Klein Karoo gravel roads, with surprisingly smooth surfaces, linked the southern foot of the Swartberg Pass with the northern portal to the Montagu Pass. It was perfectly designed for gravel bikes.
“We’re very happy with how the inaugural Prince George Monumental 100 Miler played out,” Carel Herholdt, of Dryland Event Management, smiled.
Eden riders take the lead in Prince George Monumental 100 miler
The first edition of the Prince George Monumental 100 Miler boasted a stellar field comprising of most of South Africa’s top gravel racers, including Oudtshoorn’s own Yolande de Villiers (second from right, pink sleeves) who won the women’s race. Photo: Shift Media Co.