Third time lucky in 80km Extreme MTB race for Smart

Rogan Smart on his way to victory in sweltering weather during the 80km Extreme MTB Challenge at Addo on Sunday. Photo: Richard Pearce

It was a case of third time's a charm as Plettenberg Bay's Rogan Smart sprinted to the finish line to win his first Herald Cycle Tour Mountain Bike race in his third attempt at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday.

The event, held in association with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, saw the 25-year-old professional, who finished third in 2022, cross the line in a time of three hours, 20 minutes and 12 seconds to claim his best result in the popular event.

He was followed closely by Stuart Marais, who came in at 3:20:18, while Adriaan Oosthuizen was third with a time of 3:20:27.

Meanwhile, in the women's race, Karla Stumpf made an impressive debut at the Herald Cycle Tour by beating Gqeberha's star veteran and multiple Herald Cycle Tour winner Anriette Schoeman, cruising to the finish line in 3:44:58.

Schoeman settled for second place (3:53:59), while Olivia Read claimed third (4:06:08).

Smart fell behind after suffering a puncture just 40km into the race but battled his way to the front to eventually win.

"This is my third Herald Cycle Tour race," Smart said.

"The route is always similar but different every year as well. There are always new single tracks, but it's hard because they took out the one big climb in the middle which was supposed to make it easier.

"The race is still hard, it's just flat, fast and there are lots of hard grass patch sections.

"It also has nice open roads so it does lean well to group riding.

"There were three of us for the last 30km, and then it was a sprint.

"I had no plan coming into the race.

"I haven't felt very well lately so I was happy to just come here and train a little bit but it worked out all right."

Smart said the Herald Cycle Tour would help put him in competitive shape for the PE to Plett race taking place at the end of February.

Claiming her first Herald Cycle Tour win, Stellenbosch's Stumpf, 21, said she would definitely be back in 2024 to defend her title.

"I didn't expect it [the win] but felt good and I just went with it.

"The weather was very humid. I am not quite used to it but I am just glad that I am finished now.

"The course was super cool. I love all the single tracks and the climbs were also really nice.

"My highlight of the race was the single track coming down from the Zuurberg Mountain Village.

"There was some stiff competition in the race. There were two women in front of me at the start and then somehow I caught them.

"I will definitely come back next year, this race is so cool. I am excited already for next year," she said.

The Herald Cycle Tour road race takes place this coming weekend.