Rated best race in South Africa, the Powerade Kremetart cycle race this year attracted close to 1 000 cyclists in the main event over a distance of 175km.

The race was closely contested right from the start. Unfortunately, last year’s overall winner, Daryl Impey, and women’s winner Chrissie Viljoen, were not able to compete in this year’s event. Nonetheless, the event made for exciting racing.

Stage 1 of the event, finishing at Waterpoort, was clinched by Emil du Toit, racing for the Bionic Cycling Club. The first woman over the finishing line was Lisa Vermaak, racing for Standard Bank. Lisa took first position in the race after a nasty fall by Marissa van der Merwe (Bionic) a couple of hundred metres before the end of Stage 1. Marissa was favourite to take the women’s division, but the fall and a visit to the hospital saw the end of her race.

Stage 2 to Vivo was as eventful in the women’s division. As the leading bunch of female contenders battled it out, rider Annatjie van Wyk (Transwerk) managed to break away unnoticed with a group of male riders. As her fellow female riders battled it out for pole position, she crossed the finishing line at the end of Stage 3 to clinch the stage. As for the men, Jaco Ferreira (Team Computer Smith) was the first one home.

Stage 3 started a bit later than expected, but the riders were certainly not deterred by this. A last-minute dash to the finishing line at Schoemansdal saw Bionic rider Armand Snyman taking first place. Lisa Vermaak fought back well and secured herself as second stage win.

By now, the relentless pace of the race started to show on the faces of many. No time was wasted in getting back home, following the start of the fourth and final stage to Louis Trichardt. After some tough pedaling, Eben van Wyk (Queens Wheelers), was the first to cycle over the finishing line. Lisa Vermaak made it three stage wins for her, also winning the final stage.

The overall winner of this year’s Powerade Kremetart was Jaco Ferreira in a time of 04:14:23. Just nine seconds separated first and third place. Eben van Wyk was second in 04:14:26 and Armand Snyman third in 04:14:32.

Her three stage wins were enough to secure Lisa Vermaak an overall first place in the women’s category in a time of 04:59:58. Second place went to Cbist cyclist Laetitia Botha in a time of 05:00:10 and third place went to Samantha Oosthuysen (Cbist) in a time of 05:00:19.

Eben van Heerden and Kevin Willemse managed to take top honours in the men’s tandem section, snatching overall first place from last year’s overall winners Ivan Pentz en Andrew Lonmon-Davis. Eben en Kevin’s overall time was 04:35:25 and Ivan and Andrew’s time was 04:36:55. Third place went to John Carew and Peter William Hawkins (04:52:49).

The 100km Kremetart race was won by Danie Marais (Cycle Lab Super Cycling) in 02:43:34. Christo van der Merwe (Chermiston Wheelers) was second in 02:58:40 and Chris de Klerk (Polokwane Pedalers) third in 02:58:40. The overall women’s winner was Eureka Celliers (Limpopo Police Cycling Club) in 03:14:58, with Madeleine Botha (Maluti Wheelers) second in 03:18:05. Marina Lockwood was third in 03:31:14.