Tyronne White looks like the rider to beat at the Fuel & Gas Kamberg Classic MTB & Trail Run at Glengarry in the foothills of the Drakensberg on Sunday.
The Kamberg event is the second leg of the Quattro ROAG Series powered by Momentum and not only is White leading the MTB series after claiming victory in the opening event at the Illovo Wartburg Classic in February, but he was also the winner of the Berg 100 last weekend.
White edged out Ballito Bicycle Co teammate Andrew Johnson at last weekend’s 100km ride from Himeville to Nottingham Road, a virtual repeat of their battle at Wartburg which saw White take the lead in the Quattro ROAG Series just ahead of Johnson.
On the basis of these results it looks like the training partners could be locked in a third battle for honours when they both take part in the 65km Kamberg event on Sunday. They will however not have things all their own way with David Low another rider on the entry list who will be expecting to at least be in contention for the victory.
“I think I am in good form at the moment,” said White this week. “It all depends on who arrives and who else is racing at Kamberg, but I am feeling pretty good so would like to be going for the win.
“I have never done the race before because it normally conflicts with something else, but they have moved the date and it is now part of the ROAG Series so I am very keen to ride. I have heard loads of good things about it from other riders.”
In the women’s race, Christie-Leigh Hearder leads the Quattro Series but will face a strong challenge from Andrea de Boer, who she tied with for the series title last year, while Hayley Smith could also be a contender.
In the 14km trail running event on Saturday, Mthobisi Mzolo leads Dumisani Shabalala and Mthokozisi Chamane on the Quattro Series standings after Wartburg and they will be favoured to fight for the win depending on who enters.
For the mountain bikers, the Fuel & Gas Kamberg Classic will be a case of “similar but different”.
“We have not changed the route too much,” said race organiser Kelly Sivright this week. “Gareth, my husband who creates the trail, has included some new single track on a section of trees which we have got access to this year.
“Other than that new single track through the trees, the route is very similar to the past, but it will ride very differently this year because of the change of date.
“Because we are part of the Quattro ROAG Series this year we have moved the event from September to March and that means that the Kamberg Valley is looking quite spectacular for the race. Instead of holding the event as we come out of winter with the dry brown veld, we are hosting it at the end of summer when everything is much greener and is looking beautiful.
“The rivers and streams are also full so riders will be riding past waterfalls that are flowing, and Gareth has had to build bridges over streams. Riding the valley at this time of the year is so special and so beautiful.
“The trail run is a new route and different from the past. The profile for the runners is a very much straight up and then straight down. The runners will probably struggle on the first half, but then there is the reward of a spectacular view from the top. You can look across the Berg and see all the way from Giants Castle to the Kamberg to Cleopatra Mountain.
“And of course the second half back to the finish is all downhill,” added Sivright.
The 5km and 14km trail runs takes place on Saturday afternoon at 2pm and are followed by a potjie evening. The longer 65km MTB race starts at 8am on Sunday morning with the 45km setting off at 8.15am and the 25km at 8.30am. A free 3km fun run and ride starts at 8.45am on Sunday.
Current Quattro ROAG Series Powered by Momentum standings
MTB
Men
1 Tyronne White 100
2 Andrew Johnson 86
3 Warren Price 74
4 Mazwi Smimango 64
5 Brennan Anderson 56
6 Keagan Matthews 51
7 Luke Chambers 47
8 Matthew Stamatis 44
9 Hendrik Bester 42
10 Mboneni Ngcobo 41
Women
1 Christie-leigh Hearder 100
2 Debrah Thomas 86
3 Tarryn Morgan 74
4 Brenda Potts 64
5 Bronwyn Evans 56
6 Belinda Mason 51
7 Karen Fortune 47
8 Donna Winter 44
9 Marion Sykes 42
10 Linda Erskine 41
Trail Run
Men
1 Mthobisi Mzolo 100
2 Dumisani Shabalala 86
3 Mthokozisi Chamane 74
4 Lungisani Majola 64
5 Wiseman Vezi 56
6 Mdu Zondi 51
7 Matthew Edmonds 47
8 Wiseman Mkhonza 44
9 Craig Houston 42
10 Grant Humphrey 41
Women
1 Jackie Moore 100
2 Apiwe Gaga 86
3 Wendy Mills 74
4 Patricia Dammann 64
5 Dorothy Fourie 56
6 Hayley Mackinnon 51
7 Alexandra Edmonds 47
8 Esther van der Merwe 44
9 Kirsten Hillermann 42
10 Theresa Hohls 41
Remaining 2019 Quattro ROAG Series powered by Momentum events
| DATE | EVENT | VENUE |
| 30-31 Mar | Fuel & Gas Kamberg Classic MTB & Trail Run | Glengarry, Kamberg |
| 28 Apr | Husqvarna Mid Illovo Classic | Gwahumbe Game & Spa |
| 12 May | Sugar Rush Classic | Sugar Rush Park, Ballito |
| 1-2 Jun | Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival | Karkloof Country Club |
| 29-30 Jun | Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Challenge | Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens Resort |
| 20-21 Jul | Sappi Scottburgh | Scottburgh Main Beach |
| 4 Aug | Illovo Eston MTB Challenge | Beaumont Eston Farmers Club |
| 17 Aug | Harburg Tour de Krantz | Harburg Hall |
| 15 Sep | Safire Baynesfield MTB & Trail | Baynesfield |
