Lynette Louw

Tiaan Kannemeyer, SA cycling champion, who has not been able to participate in any cycle races for three years, took the Bio Anabolic Jock Cycle Classique by storm and showed that he regained his old form with no scars from his accident. He won the race in a time of 3:28:27. Lylanie Louwrens was the first women home in a time of 4:10:28.

For the first time since the start of the Jock in 1984 it was presented in its original form. Cyclists participated in three stages. The race started in Barberton via Hill Top to Nelspruit where they had breakfast before tackling the second stage to Kaapmuiden. Here the cyclists had lunch before departing for the final stage back to Barberton. Approximately 800 cyclists took on the challenge.

Wynand de Villiers of CyclingNews saved the race from being cancelled when he came on board as the main organiser and sponsor only a few weeks ago.

He said after the race that it was enjoyed by all and despite the short time they had to get everything in place, it went exceptionally well. “I was most impressed with the cooperation and assistance we got from the traffic departments, local and provincial. It was the best I’ve ever experienced in any of the races I’ve been involved in,” he said. He also praised the police, ambulance services and everybody involved in the organising. “Whatever and whoever I asked for assistance simple gave their full support. Without it the race would not have been so successful,” he said. He also gave the assurance that he would most definitely be back for at least the next three years.

He said that they did experience some minor problems but it would be sorted out for next year. “I expect much more cyclists to participate as it seems many were glad that we’ve reverted to the original format - we would be able to start with the organising and marketing of the race much earlier”.

Besides CyclingNews, Chris de Beer of Bio Anabolics was the other main sponsor.

During the prize-giving at the Barber Reef Festival the organisers also thanked the businesses and organisations that manned water points. Mica took top honours once again with PricewaterhouseCoopers second and Task Nissan third.

The race will be broadcast on SABC2’s program Peddle Talk on Sunday at 14:30.

Although not many Barbertonians participated, Heidé de Bruin fared the best in an unofficial time of 5:36:00. Both Linda de Bruin and Andy Nuns battled with cramps but managed to finish the race. Linda did it in an unofficial time of 6:13:15 and Andy, who only participated in two stages, 4:45:00.

King of the mountain – Johann Rabie

Queen of the mountain – An-Li Pretorius

Elite men – Arran Brown

Elite women – Roby de Groot

King of the mountain – Tiaan Kannemeyer

Queen of the mountain – Lylanie Lauwrens

Elite men – Hanco kachelhoffer

Elite women – Lylanie Lauwrens

Elite men – Tiaan Kannemeyer

Elite women – Karien van Jaarsveld

Tiaan Kannemeyer – 3:28:27

Dylan Gridlestone – 3:28:31

Shaun Ward – 3:28:35

Hanco Kachelhoffer – 3:28:48

Johan Rabie – 3:29:11

Jaco Venter – 3:29:27

Kevin Evans 3:30:10

Jason Bakke – 3:30:22

Gawie Combrinck – 3:30:57

Michael Pepper – 3:30:58   

Lylanie Lauwrens – 4:10:28

Robyn de Groot – 4:11:45

Marissa van der Merwe – 4:11:45

Cherise Taylor – 4:12:09

Vieham du Plessis – 3:43:18

Willie Smit – 3:50:01

Gareth Krisch – 3:56:39

Jaco Ferreira – 3:57:06

Tat Brummer – 3:58:07

Brand du Plessis – 3:58:07

Stefano Madies – 4:08:41

Johan Ribbens – 4:08:48

Leon Olivier  - 4:10:27

Paul Furbank – 4:10:17

Johan Spies – 4:10:17

Chris Rossouw – 4:12:26

Maurice Connor

Tim Ogilvie

Adriaan Stander

Jaco and Nicolene van Dyk

Rohan du Plooy

PJ Luus

Henrico van Niekerk

Maxime Erasmus

Jandrich Kotze

Kent Main

Johan Gerrit Wibbelink

Heidé de Bruin

Linda de Bruyn

Andy Nuns

Tiaan Kannemeyer, Dylan Girdlestone and Shaun Ward

Marissa van der Merwe, Lylanie Lauwrens and Chris de Beer (Bio Anabolics)

Cyclist with just 25 kilometres to go to the finish