The Soutpansberg was once gain abuzz with cyclist from all over South Africa converging on Makhado (Louis Trichardt) to take part in the annual PPC Kremetart cycle race. (See photo galleries below)

With the Kremetart being regarded as one of the most popular race events in South Africa, this year’s event drew almost 300 entries more than last year in the 175km and 70km road races, upping the total number of entries to almost 1 500. Regarded as one of South Africa’s toughest road races, the 175km one-day event, decided over four stages, once again comprised the bulk of the entries.

Due to its popularity, the 175km race once more attracted a couple of top names and teams in South African cycling circles, with both the men’s and women’s categories being fiercely contested.

This year it was Nolan Hoffman (team Abantu) who took top honours, winning the race a mere one second faster than second-placed finisher Willie Smit (team Bonitas). Hoffman, who won three of the four stages, completed the gruelling event in a combined time of 04:15:59, while Smit’s combined time was 04:16:00. Nico Bell (team Bells Cycling), who is also not unfamiliar with the race, took overall third place in a combined time of 04:16:40.

It was as close a finish in the women’s race, with a mere two seconds between the first- and second-place finishers. Top honours, however, went to double masters world champion Lynette Burger Pieterse (team Momemtum Toyota). Her first-place finishes in stage 2 and 3 of the race secured her an overall winning time of 05:24:53. An-Li Kachelhoffer (team BestMed ASG), who boasted a win in the final stage, cycled across the finishing line in second place in a combined time of 05:24:55, with teammate Linda van den Biggelaar finishing in overall third place in a time of 05:25:00. Van den Biggelaar was the winner of the first stage, which finished at Waterpoort.

The other fiercely contested category during the 175km main event is the tandem section. This section was clinched by Jacques Fullard and Hansie Joubert (team Velo Cycling) in a combined time of 04:23:14. In second place was mixed tandem pair Karl Horak and Andrea Steyn in 04:33:35. Another mixed tandem team, Koos and Theresa Klopper, was third in 04:49:51.

This year’s race also saw a number of local cyclists from both the P&L Hardware Cycling Club and AFB Makhado compete. Kremetart race ambassador for 2013 and local rider CP van Wyk (18) did exceptionally well in keeping up with the lead bunch in the men’s race during all four stages. CP completed the race in 32nd place out of 714 riders in the men’s category and was fourth overall in his age category in a combined time of 04:29:10. It is rumoured that this might be a new local record for participation in the 175km race. Two other local riders who did very well to finish within the top half of the field was mixed tandem team Renata Joubert and Glen Mcleod. They finished 14th (out of 35 teams) in their category and was overall 279th out of 900 riders in a combined time of 05:30:19.

The 70km race was dominated by local riders, with P&L Cycling Club members Shaun Constable and Christiaan Roos clinching first and second place respectively, both in a time of 02:07:44. Jacques Neethling was third in a time of 02:08:32. The women’s race was won by Cherie Siebert in 02:18:38, followed by Mina Radoycheva in second place in 02:19:57 and local rider Catherine Labuschagne third in 02:31:54.

For full race results on both races, visit http://www.championchip.co.za .

View our photo galleries of the 2013 PPC Kremetart Cycling Race here:

PPC Kremetart Cycling Race 2013 - Stage 1

PPC Kremetart Cycling Race 2013 - Stage 2

PPC Kremetart Cycling Race 2013 - Stage 3

PPC Kremetart Cycling Race 2013 - Stage 4

Music used in the video:

Ages (Silence Is Sexy) / CC BY-NC 3.0

Rain Begins To Fall (Silence Is Sexy) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Highlights (Silence Is Sexy) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0