The Continental Tyres combination of Andrew Stockwell and, his last minute replacement partner, Bryce Munro clocked the fastest time on the opening stage of the 2018 Glacier Cradle Traverse. Amy McDougall was the first woman, and the first solo rider, across the finish line on the 36km stage, holding off Sean O’flynn-Madden and Sarah Hill.

One half of last year’s winning team Stockwell was pencilled in to start with Danny Fowler to defend their title, but with Fowler withdrawing at the last minute Munro stepped in as a more than able replacement. The Continental Tyres team led from start to finish and not even a fall, caused by Stockwell’s rear tyre sliding out on a particularly muddy section of trail, could put their lead at risk. The pair crossed the line in an impressive time of 1 hour, 39 minutes and 16 seconds.

Just 2 minutes and 34 seconds after Stockwell and Munro, McDougall crossed the finish line at the Avianto Club House. Her time of 1 hour, 41 minutes and 50 seconds was 2 minutes and 41 seconds faster than the first solo men’s finisher O’flynn- Madden.

Speaking after the stage McDougall commented: “It was surprisingly hard riding, like a cross-country course with steep climbs. But really fun trails.” Further down the field the riders, less intent on climbing the stage’s two main climbs as quickly as possible, were enjoying the downhills in particular. “Ja, it’s been lekker” Teresa Coetzee, riding for Netwerk24 said. “The trails are rocky, but the riding has been lots of fun so far” she revealed at the summit of the final climb.

Yolandi du Toit and Ben-Melt Swanepoel were the first mixed team across the line while the women’s stage honours went to the mother and daughter team of Michelle and Yolande de Villiers.

Saturday’s second stage sees the two-day experience riders join in the Glacier Cradle Traverse action for       the 46 kilometre long Lake Heritage Traverse stage. The longest of the race the stage features 861 meters of climbing and explores the Cradle Moon Private Nature Reserve’s fantastic trails.

Riders and their supporters are reminded to enter the Glacier Cradle Traverse social media competition by tagging the event in their photos, and by using the hashtag: #CradleTraverse.

To stay up-to-date with the action during the stages follow @CradleTraverse on Twitter and @drylandza on Instagram. And to relive all the day’s excitement with photos by Oakpics and Zoon Cronje Market Consulting, plus videos by Bigshot Media, like the Glacier Cradle Traverse Facebook page.

Results: Glacier Cradle Traverse | Stage 1

Men’s Teams:

1. Continental Tyres: Andrew Stockwell & Bryce Munro (1:39:16)
2. Torq Zone: Dirk Oerlemans & Conraadt van der Heever (+12:44)
3. OTR: Dewald Lotter & Stephen Fowler (+14:34)

Women’s Teams:

1. Silverback: Michelle & Yolande de Villiers (2:11:45)
2. Netwerk24: Teresa Coetzee & Isabel Moolman (+25:53)
3. Last Ladies: Mari Schmidt & Madeleine Stumpf (+1:29:08)

Mixed Teams:

1. Garmin: Yolandi du Toit & Ben-Melt Swanepoel (1:55:35)
2. Mixed Team: Michaele & Timo Cooper (+09:22)
3. Mpact Mixed: Wouter Heunis & Karla Stumpf (+10:44)

Solo Men:

1. Sean O’flynn-Madden (1:44:31)
2. Steven Bark (+01:30)
3. Glen Ramsden (+05:08)

Solo Women:

1. Amy McDougal (1:41:50)
2. Sarah Hill (+04:05)
3. Danielle Strydom (+08:52)

For the full results from the Glacier Cradle Traverse click here.