Team Contego's Louis-Bresler Knipe won the Porcupine Ridge MTB Challenge over 49km in Franschhoek in just less than two hours. The 22-year-old got the better of David George who finished second, while Dominic Calitz took the last spot on the winner's podium. Knipe's team-mate Adriaan Louw finished fifth.
"The pace was high right from the start. Timo Cooper attacked and along with David, Shan Wilson, Dominic and I got away from the group. On the first big climb David, Dominic and I were on our own. It is a nice solid climb of 4km and shortly before the top we dropped Dominic."
Knipe broke the seat of his saddle and struggled to find his rhythm, but the gap George got was never too big for Knipe to lose sight of him. He finally got a comfortable position on the saddle and started to close the gap.
"I could feel that I'm riding strong and that the gap is getting smaller. On the long steep downhill I got closer and closer." With only 6km to go, Knipe joined George in the lead. "I felt strong and jumped to see what happens. I got a gap and with some hard riding I managed to keep the gap and win the race."
It was a hard race in windy and very hot conditions. The route had a bit of everything: sand, rocks, gravel, fast downhills and nice climbs. "I gave it my all the whole time. I had so much fun on the Giant 29'er. I'm really thankful for this bike, because the route is hard on the body and bike. I would have liked more single track, but I do understand that the terrain here makes it difficult for more single tracks. The route was perfect for a power rider."
Standing tall at 1,92m power is one of Knipe's biggest assets. As a former downhill champion Knipe is ready to take his cross country career to the next level. "I really feel that I have what it takes thanks to some great support from those around me. I can already see a difference in the short time I have been working harder than usual."
Louw Kriel, part of the Contego/Sludgies team, won the 27km race.
