2017 Glacier Cradle Traverse Stage 1 Review & Stage 2 Preview
The opening stage of the Glacier Cradle Traverse took riders along 40km of singletrack filled trails through game farms where antelope roam free and past the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The technicality of the riding required absolute focus at times, but at others the flowing trails allowed the riders to simply enjoy the riding experience.
The Continental Tyres team of Andrew Stockwell and Dan Fowler proved to be the most competitive bursting from the blocks and flying through the Avianto singletracks as they sought to establish a lead over Andrew McLean and David de Lima, riding as The Team, and the leading solo rider, Sean O’flynn-Madden. Stockwell and Fowler soon established a comfortable lead and raced to stage victory by seven minutes over Sean O’flynn-Madden and fourteen over McLean and de Lima.
In the women’s race Yolande de Villiers was the first woman across the line followed closely by Vanessa Bell racing in the Mixed Category with Christo Carelsen. The first women’s team was the TBC Nelspruit pairing of Lousanne Ackerman and Santie van der Westhuizen.
Stage 1 Media
Take a look at the amazing images Oakpics captured during Stage 1 of the 2017 Cradle Traverse by clicking here.
Stage 2 – #LakeHeritageTraverse
Distance: 54 km
Vertical ascent: 985 m
Water point 1: 18 km Cradle Moon Dam wall (double water point)
Water point 2: 31 km Cradle Moon Dam wall (double water point)
Water point 3: 43 km Lanseria/N14
The longest stage of the Cradle Traverse, starts with a short stretch of tar road which leads riders onto the jeep tracks of the Avianto trails, after a short section through Syringa, riders will face the climb of the Driefontein waterworks. After a short tar transition riders are linked in with trails of the newly formed Cradle Moon. Some tough single track and jeep track sections with plenty of short power climbs will be the order of the day. The Cradle moon reserver will offer some fantastic scenery of Lake Heritage and some possible encounters with the game life that roam freely in the newly renovated conservancy.
After exiting the Cradle Moon Conservancy, riders will head into the open farmlands of Lammamoor. Long dirt road drags and descents interspersed with some fun single track sections will give riders a chance to recoup after the harder start to the stage. Some single track climbing and descending will still need to be conquered before riders find themselves back into the Avianto trail network and the finish line.
Stage 1 Results:
Men’s Teams
- Andrew Stockwell & Dan Fowler (Continental Tyres ) 01:57:27
- Andrew McLean & David de Lima (The Team) +00:14:18 | 02:11:45
- Janus Marais & Johan Cronje (Zebra Sports) +00:34:02 | 02:31:29
Women’s Teams
- Lousanne Ackerman & Santie van der Westhuizen (TBC Nelspruit) 02:51:17
- Madeleine Stumpf &Thea Els (Els) +02:08:26 | 04:59:43
- Mari Schmidt & Christine Schmidt (Single Track Minds) +02:11:34 | 05:02:51
Mixed Teams
- Christo Carelsen & Vanessa Bell (Bellscycling) 02:07:16
- Estie van Heerden & Mattheus van Heerden (Trifactri) +00:34:04 | 02:41:20
- Yolandi du Toit & Ben Melt Swanepoel (Team Garmin) +00:48:00 | 02:55:16
Solo Men
- Sean O’flynn-Madden 02:04:33
- Dieter Rothman +00:24:26 | 02:28:59
- Ken Ruest +00:27:42 | 02:32:15
Solo Women
- Yolande de Villiers 02:06:32
- Collette Bastard +00:40:23 | 02:46:55
- Teresa Coetzee +00:58:58 | 03:05:24
To view all the results please click here.
#WinWinWin
Remember you can win a great prize from one of the Glacier Cradle Traverse sponsors if you tag the event in your photos during the race. Tag Cradle Traverse in your Facebook posts or @CradleTraverse on Twitter and drylandeventmanagement on Instagram. And whatever you do use the hashtag #CradleTraverse.
@CradleTraverse living up to its vision of being a fun family orientated event.The trails weren't too bad either ?The 'jol' continues tmrw! pic.twitter.com/C9bUTveGwU
— Ben Melt Swanepoel (@benmelt) May 5, 2017