GEORGE NEWS - Cronje Beukes will go into this weekend’s Madibaz XCO at Mandela University’s Saasveld campus as red-hot favourite following his dominant performance at the inaugural Garden Route Giro in April.
In only his third gravel race, the 21-year-old cycling sensation won five of the Giro’s six stages to break the tape more than eight minutes ahead of the runner-up.
What made his showing even more remarkable was that he broke his leg on the Outeniqua Pass a year ago, necessitating a difficult period of rehabilitation.
Fresh off his incredible comeback, Beukes now turns his attention to Sunday’s XCO, a race he has won four times across the sprog and sub-junior boys categories.
“I did almost every one when I was still in school. It’s always been great to race on these courses around Saasveld,” the George South Primary and Outeniqua High alumnus said.
He began racing Eden XCO Series events at the tender age of 11 and progressed quickly through the ranks. In 2023, he claimed the South African junior marathon title as an 18-year-old.
Beukes’s palmarès includes eighth at this year’s Attakwas Extreme, an event between Oudtshoorn and Groot Brak via a historical ox-wagon trail rated one of the toughest in the country.
He is also a category runner-up in the Cape Epic this year following his second place overall in the open men’s division alongside teammate Jean-Pierre du Plessis.
Now he is ready to test his form in the shortest and most technical of off-road cycling disciplines.
“I’m not too sure what to expect from the course or the competition, especially with the weather looking like it could be wet,” he said.
On the women’s side, a notable name is former professional Robyn de Groot.
At the peak of her powers, the former Olympian represented South Africa at four UCI Marathon World Championships, placing third in 2019 and fourth in 2020.
She claimed the National XCM title several times and achieved numerous podiums at the Epic.
Her last outing at the Madibaz event ended in a comfortable victory in 2017.
Since its inception the year before, the Madibaz XCO has become a cornerstone of the regional cycling calendar.
It attracts riders from as young as sub-nippers (7 to 8 years) to grand masters (over 60).
Entrants can expect a route comprising flowing singletrack, berms and a bridge.
The rock garden is back for the first time in several years on the 4.1km course, which serves up a testing 50m of ascent every lap. The 1.1km course has a more modest elevation gain.
Enter at Entry Ninja.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
