The heat was no match for Douglas Pickard, at yesterday’s 120km 2022 K-Way MaxiRace Cape Winelands presented by Banhoek Chilli Oil in association with On Running and Yenn Health, seeing him set a strong lead from the start and finishing in a blistering time of 13hrs57min31sec. The fight for second place saw Anele Bans and leading lady, Lodelia Odendaal rallying each other for a while with Anele taking the lead and finishing 2nd in a time of 15hrs38min46 , and Lodelia taking 3rd overall and the 1st lady over the line in a time of 15hrs59min07sec.
“Wow what a tough race, that has to be one of the most testing runs I have done this year,” says race winner, Douglas Pickard. “The heat on course was hectic, but the route and the experience was incredible, I thoroughly enjoyed that!”
Lodelia Odendaal proved once again that the ladies are no match in the ultra distances. Second place went to Caro Jordaan in a time of 17hrs36min10sec and 3rd place to Danelle Joubert in a time of 27hrs03min31sec.
“This is my first time running in this area and what a treat! Going up Mont Rochelle and getting to see the sunrise was a highlight,” says Lodelia. “I completely underestimated this race though, but it was such an amazing experience!”
In the 75km route, Gobler Basson took podium position in a time of 8hrs01min35sec, with Roelof Mostert taking 2nd place in 8hrs23min59sec and Brendan Lombard in 3rd in 8hrs52min27sec.
“What a flipping lekker race!” says Basson. “The climbs early on in the morning were really cool and I felt incredibly strong. Roelof Mostert pushed me hard on the downhills, but I was able to pull away strong for the second part of the race.”
Taking first place in the ladies 75km category was Jana Van Houwelingen in a time of 10hrs25min23sec, taking almost one hour off her winning time from last year. Nicky Booyens took 2nd place in a time of 11hrs19min31sec, with Many Banks in 3rd in a time of 12hrs06min55sec.
“What an amazing day out in the mountains,” says van Houwelingen. “It was super-hot, so each of the river crossings were an absolute blessing. I really enjoy this race, the route is spectacular and the aid stations are the best!”
Jacques du Plessis took podium position for the 45km route in a time of 3hrs33min29sec, with Zibele Bala in 2nd place in 3hrs50min15sec and Cornel Smuts in 3rd in 3hrs50min27sec. Christelle Hattingh was the first lady over the line in a time of 4hrs40min03sec, with Natalie van Reenen in 2nd place in 4hrs50min54sec and Sveta Becker in 3rd place in 4hrs54min25sec.
