GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - International cyclists dominated the podium spots when the Liberty TransCape MTB Encounter got underway in George last Sunday.
Australian mountain bikers Damien Ingram and Stuart Cathcart were first in the 78km stage from George to Oudtshoorn, while Germany's defending champion Udo Mueller led the way in the solo category.
Overseas riders filled the first three places in the team category, with Zbigniew Wizner and Pawel Gaca of Poland four minutes behind the Aussies, followed by Italians Marco Finazzi and Guilio Lodovico.
The first leg of the 591km journey through the Western Cape took competitors from George over the Montagu pass to finish at the Chandelier Game Reserve near Oudtshoorn.
Driven by Volvo, the seven-stage race will come to a conclusion at the Holden Manz Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Saturday.
A strong group of international cyclists leading the first stage of the Liberty TransCape MTB from George to Oudtshoorn last Sunday. Photos: Deidre Cloete
Three people who know exactly how much planning goes into the annual TransCape MTB. From left: Irmarie Venter, Corné Grobler and Jacques Marais.
Former Springbok rugby captain John Smit still smiling while negotiating the Montagu Pass.
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