MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The annual Kremetart Cycle Race on Saturday (7th) was characterized by perfect weather and a record number of entries, as 400 cyclists vied for the Yellow Jersey. As predicted, the yellow jersey changed hands at the finish of every stage.

The frontrunners exploded into action soon after the Witvlag turn-off, just five kilometres into the 172km race. There were numerous attacks, but it was Nico Bell of Nelspruit who crossed the line first at the prime at the entrance to the Mountain View Hotel.

Once off the N1, there were plenty of attacks but the strong tail wind ensured a fast pace on the flat road, making a successful breakaway unlikely. Eventually a bunch of about 30 riders contested the sprint at Waterpoort, which Ignus Oosthuizen of Velo Cycling Club narrowly won to wear the Yellow Jersey during stage two.

With the strong tailwind still blowing, the massive contingent of 400 riders proceeded en masse towards Vivo at 40km/h, until the minor inclines at the Saltpans allowed Jaco Ferreira, Anton Small, Bertus Fouché, Henco Nel and Grant Trueman to break away from the bus into smaller groups. From then on there were plenty of attacks, with Tuis Sebona always appearing to chase the attacker down and bring him back. At Vivo, Tuis sprinted early and lifted his arms in victory 50 meters from the line to claim the yellow jersey for Stage 3. However, four other riders, viz. Grant Trueman, Bertus Fouché, Anton Small and Ignus Oostehuizen, shared his overall time of 02:31:04, with Nico Bell one second behind. Another 30 riders finished this stage within the next 10 seconds.

With such a tight grouping the scene was set for plenty of drama during Stage 3, helped by the amazing 180 degree turn-around by the wind during the lunch break, ensuring that the whole race benefitted from a strong tail wind. The sprint at Buysdorp, which Jaco Ferreira won, did exactly what it was intended to do and broke up the field into small groups, with the leading group consisting of 18 riders. This group of riders remained intact until the inclines at the Spies Dam, some eight kilometres from the stage finish. It was there that Nico Bell broke away and five riders, Tuis Sebona, Henco Nel, Ignus Oostehuizen and Jaco Ferreira, formed the group that gave chase. Nico managed to retain his lead up the steep climb at Schoemansdal to win Stage 3, increasing his lead to 19 seconds.

With the Yellow Jersey around Nico Bell's shoulders with a comfortable 19 second margin, the only hope for the chasing contenders on the remaining short 20km Stage 4, was for a breakaway on the notorious "Otto's Hoogte" incline, four kilometres from the finish. But every attack up the hill was marked and counter attacked immediately and eventually Jaco Ferreira managed to take the Prime – by a mere bicycle length. From there the bunch sprinted into town, with Bertus Fouché winning Stage 4. Nico Bell retained his 19-second lead and walked away as overall winner in a time of 04:16:06. Grant Treuman was the second senior home, as well as the first sub-veteran, in an overall time of 04:16:25. Tuis Sebona came in a mere second later in third place, with an overall time of 04:16:26. The fourth rider home was well-known former local rider, Henco Nel, in a time of 04:16:30. The tandem section was won by Charl Grobbelaar and André Steenkamp (SA Paving) in an overall time of 04:10:48, while André and Ingrid Taylor took second place in a time of 04:34:58. André and Ingrid were also the first mixed tandem team to finish the race. Martin and Ansie Taylor were third in the tandem section and second in the mixed tandem section in a time of 04:37:51. The first veteran to complete the 172km cycle race was Henry Hayes (Cyclelab Supercycling) in a time of 04:18:13, while Attie van Wyk ended as first master in a time of 04:44:18. The first grand master home was 62-year-old Per Pedersen-Hoile (Speke) in a time of 05:22:35. The two oldest cyclists to complete the race were 71-year-old Steyn Grobler (Speke) in a time of 05:29:26 and 73-year-old Edward Thomlinson (Avrasan) in 06:42:53.

Two women dominated the women's race. At the Mountain View Hotel, Alti Pienaar (Microsoft Club 100) showed she meant business when she took the mountain Prime. But it was Karen van der Bijl (Gary Beneke Cycling Club) who managed to edge her out at the finish by seven seconds to take the Pink Jersey. Nienie Steenkamp, Justine Kollbeg and Colleen Fandam came in six minutes off the pace. The finish of the second stage was a repeat of the first with Karen managing to beat Alti by 3 seconds. During Stage 3 Alti came to the fore when she took the sprint at Buysdorp and managed to get into the second men's group and stay there, to eventually win the stage by an unbeatable 3 minutes. The pressure was off her on the last stage but she still won the Prime at Otto's Hoogte and the stage by 18 seconds, to give her a 3minute 10 second win over Karen in an overall time of 04:25:50. Karen's overall second place time was 04:29:00, with Nienie Steenkamp (Cyclelab Supercycling) in the third place in a time of 04:40:22. Nienie was also the first sub-veteran lady home. The first veteran lady to complete the race was Kim Hammond (Cyclelab Supercycling) in a time of 05:02:11, while Mariko Sillo (Midrand CC) and Emma Bosch (Speke) respectively finished as first master en grand master in the women's race in times of 06:33:43 and 05:42:14. Following this year's Kremetart Cycle Race, the Kremetart was rated the best cycling event in South Africa.

The national event rating website www.eventrating.co.za places the Kremetart at the head of 58 events. It is rated with a score of 90.16%, almost 5% ahead of the next best event, the mCubed Company Relay. Also rated on the site are well- known events such as the Argus Cycle Tour, The Energade Tour of Durban and the Ride for Sight.

The 72-kilometre race from Vivo, held in conjunction with the Kremetart Cycle Race, also attracted huge interest. Johan Albrecht won the race in a time of 01:54:00. Eduard Prinsloo was second in a time of 01:54:30. He was also the first senior to complete the race. Well-known local cyclist, Raymond Fuchs, was third in a time of 01:56:38. The first lady to cross the finish line was Cherise Taylor in a time of 02:06:40. She entered in the u/14 category. Herman Steyn was the first sub-veteran in a time of 02:04:11. The first tandem home was that of Dries Neeleman in a time of 02:08:07, with Gekie van Niekerk completing the race as first master in a time of 02:27:53