The Insect Science mountain bike (MTB) team entered two teams for the popular Sani2C race over three days from the 3rd until the 5th of December around Scottburgh in KwaZulu-Natal. The event soon turned out to be a wet and muddy affair, making for very technical riding for the participants.
The team’s youngest riders, Keagan Bontekoning and Brendan van Eeden, put in a stellar performance to win the u/23 category for men. This excellent result saw Bontekoning en van Eeden also claim third in the overall standings.
The other Insect Science team consisting of CP van Wyk and Alan Gordon, finished in a credible fifth place overall. They lost time on the final day due to mechanical calamities and a crash also hampered their progress. Van Wyk and Gordon however stuck to their guns to finish the race successfully.
Van Eeden and Bontekoning’s completed their race in a time of 06:25:24. Teammates Gordon and van Wyk finished in a time of 06:42:32.
The DSV Pro Cycling’s Arno du Toit who partnered with Gert Heyns won the third and final stage of the KAP Sani2C that finished at the Scottburgh Golf Club in a time of 06:10:38.
Du Toit is the current SA XCM champ and the exciting news is that the Insect Science team recently announced that he will be joining the team for 2021.
The Sani2C is a three-day MTB event in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. Mud was the order of the day as the 2020 KAP Sani2c riders wrapped up their journey to the sea in Scottburgh.
This event draws a close to the shortened 2020 racing season as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Insect Science is also proud and excited to be a part of the second round of the 2021 South African XCO Cup series with Insect Science as title sponsor of the event. This race will take place at the Waterberg Trails in Vaalwater on the 6th of March.
Insect Science has always been committed to the development of cycling in Limpopo and is excited to now be a part of it’s first national XCO race. This race will also be doubling up as a UCI Junior World Series event and the new title sponsor is hoping to see some international talent showcasing their skills on South African soil.
The first women’s rider to join the Insect Science MTB fray is Danielle Strydom. She competed her first outing in the Insect Science team colours and scored a first podium at the Midvaal 100 Miler on the 13th of December.
Strydom raced in the Midvaal 100 Miler Solo Race where she competed in the category for senior women. She crossed the line in 14th place overall, took the second step on the podium in her category, and was also the second female rider to finish the race. The race was held over two laps, the first lap was run over 62km, and the second lap 63km. Strydom completed this race in a time of 05:04:44. The Midvaal 100 Miler is held between Johannesburg and Vereeniging.
