The ninth edition of the Amarider 100 Miler was met with near-perfect conditions on Saturday morning. Starting and finishing at the Malmesbury Showgrounds, the route – as always – charts a challenging path through the surrounding farms of the Swartland and along the Kasteelberg (the 50 Miler starts at the halfway mark in Riebeek Kasteel) before returning to the finish via a series of challenging climbs. It’s one tough race – both mental and physical – made tougher by the miles of untamed, corrugated gravel tracks, thick sand and leg-draining rolling topography. Back to defend his title was Topeak-Ergon team rider, Erik Kleinhans, who decimated the field yet again by riding away from the main peloton on his gravel-cum-hartail Frankenstein mountain bike – trouncing his nearest rival by more than 30min. Here are a selection of pictures of the day’s action courtesy of Chris Hitchcock.

Results 100 Miler:

Men

1. Erik Kleinhans 5:33:16
2. Richard Simpson 6:03:54
3.  Rikus Visser 6:05:41

Women

1. Marleen Lourens 6:54:57
2. Simone Van Aardt 7:12:53
3. Elizabeth Janse Van Rensburg 7:27:14

Results 50 Miler:

Men

1. Luyanda Thobigunya 3:09:53
2. Dean Hopf 3:12:12
3. Baphelele Mbombo 3:14:34

Women

1. Nadia Visser 3:16:41
2. Leanne Brownwaterson 3:43:46
3. Jenna Borrill 3:46:40

READ MORE ON: Gallery gravel MTB SA races