“Now, in its second year running, the Robberg Express Multisport Challenge presented some new additions as well as some changes to the route and the infrastructure of the event. These changes were all an improvement on the inaugural event and has surpassed many a competitor’s expectations.

So, just exactly what changed and why the big hype? For starters, the start has moved into the forest at Harkerville. This created more forest riding, more excitement and no double backing of the route. The transition was on top of Robberg with views all the way to the peaks of the Tsitsikamma mountains to the shipping lanes of the southern ocean. The run took you right around the peninsula on very technical terrain and then a paddle in the bay of Plett, home ground of many seasonal whales and sharks. For variety, a short course option was available as well as a team format. Also, true to Magnetic South, organizers of the Land Rover G4 event, they had a continuous shuttle service running between the start venue and the transition/end venue!

The race kicked off at a chilly 8am and sent the riders through the fresh forest on jeep tracks, allowing for a fast passage of 35km to Robberg. The route covered some of the Harkerville cycle track and a good mix of plantation terrain, some fynbos and a healthy amount of indigenous forest terrain. The first riders to get to Robberg included Jan Schutte, Cas van Aardenne, Martin Dreyer (who opted not to run due to an injury) and Jeannie Bomford, with Andre Gie further back as a result of an untimely puncture. The 10km run proved to be very tough and treacherous traversing over slippery rocks. The aftermath of the recent high seas coupled with monster seas were clearly visible at the tide line as runners had to run through the remains of a fisherman’s cottage and along an eroded shore, bearing the evidence of the severity of the recent storm. Back at transition and onto the ski’s, the race leader, Jan Schutte could not master the choppy sea conditions and decided to pull out. Second placed Cas also struggled with the choppy sea and ended up resigning to the conditions, agonizingly short of the finish line. This left the door open for a super determined Jeannie to finish first, with a charging Andre Gie grabbing the runner up spot and myself claiming the last podium position.

What a super effort from the first lady being the first athlete across the line!”