On a frosty July morning, almost 2000 Trailseekers flocked to the ever-popular Sondela Private Nature Reserve for the fourth leg of the King Price Trailseeker Series, and a fun-filled day of cranking the pedals! The sun soon drove out all vestiges of cold, and the day was warm and mild – perfect riding weather!
What makes cycling at Sondela so special is the super flowy, flat and fast trails winding through scenic Lowveld bush scapes. This event is perfect for beginner riders looking for a non-technical introduction to the sport that is both scenic and fun. Intermediate to advanced riders can really crank up the pace, flying along the twisty trails with barely containable glee. The pace of this event is fast and furious cementing its reputation for exhilarating riding!
Sondela welcomed cyclists with open arms and hearty hospitality. The post-race celebrations are always a highlight with the kids being treated to many activities to keep them busy, while the parents can relax over a tasty meal and a drink.
Elite Racing
Owing to the course being so flat, non-technical and flowy, the racing was incredibly fast. No one was able to really get away, resulting in exciting sprint finishes in most age-category races.
Philip Buys timed his sprint perfectly to snatch the victory mere seconds ahead of Jan Withaar and Johan Fourie de Villiers.
In the Elite Ladies race Danielle Strydom was able to power away from Samantha Sanders and Sarah Hill to take the win comfortably with roughly a minute to spare.
Results
70 km Elite Men
🥇 Philip Buys | 02:20:25
🥈 Jan Withaar | 02:20:26
🥉 Johan Fourie De Villiers | 02:20:27
70 km Elite Ladies
🥇 Danielle Strydom | 02:42:25
🥈 Sam Sanders | 02:43:57
🥉 Sarah Hill | 02:49:40
40 km Men
🥇 Travis Rademan-Ludeke | 01:17:55
🥈 Beon Van Staden | 01:18:07
🥉 Henro Van Der Walt | 01:18:10
40 km Ladies
🥇 Rachel Jane Green | 01:29:41
🥈 Michele Wolstenholme | 03:10:32
🥉 Yolandie Bothma | 01:32:02
20 km Boys
20 km Boys
🥇 Liam Espach | 00:40:36
🥈 Matthew Dickens | 00:40:39
🥉 Jaco du Bruyn | 00:40:40
20 km Girls
🥇 Hannah Lansdell | 00:45:35
🥈 Danika Lombard | 00:46:06
🥉 Bella Grobler | 00:46:13
Congratulations… and celebrations!!!
Thank You!
Thank you to every rider, supporter, vendor and sponsor who made this day amazing!
Thank you, Sondela for welcoming us back with open arms and going above and beyond to prep the trails for an incredible day on the bikes! We’ll be back next year.
The King Price Trailseeker Mountain Bike Race at Sondela on 1 July 2023 was a true testament to the spirit of mountain biking. It brought together a community of passionate riders who embrace challenges, push their boundaries, and experience the sheer joy of conquering the trails.
As the dust settled and the sun set on an unforgettable day we were left eagerly anticipating the next Trailseeker adventure: #5 Prime View 29 July…
See you there?
