Durban – Team Sandton City Cycle Nation’s Jo van de Winkel has set herself up for a unique double-double when she won the aQuellé Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab at Cornubia, Durban, on Saturday.

As the defending champion in Sunday’s 110km aQuellé Tour Durban, Van de Winkel is hot favourite to claim a double in the road race, but her win on Saturday in the MTB race also sets up the chance of a rare weekend double of MTB and road race wins in two days.

Van de Winkel was briefly challenged on Saturday by her Sandton City Cycle Nation teammate Bridget Theunissen, before a stick in a wheel derailed the youngsters challenge and Theunissen had to settle for second.

In the men’s race, DriveTrain Academy’s Daniel van der Watt proved once again that there is a change in guard of the top riders in the KZN mountain bike scene and he was able to relatively easily hold off veteran Andrew Hill, with defending champion Brent Yelland crossing the line third.

Van der Watt and Hill opened a gap on the rest of the field early in the 40km route and then the youngster powered away over the second half to cruise home with an advantage of over two minutes.

“It was good race for me,” said Van der Watt after finishing. “I went hard from the start and just tried to keep the momentum all the way through.

“Andrew (Hill) and I got away early and I pulled him away so we got a gap on everyone else. Then I put a bit of effort in just after the first water point and got away then . it was about 18km in.”

“There was a lot of course marking this year so not much chance of getting lost and the route was good.”

This win for Van der Watt is a good starting point for a crowded schedule of events that include a SA XCO Series event next weekend, then the Sappi Karkloof Classic at the end of the month, before a probable trip to compete overseas in the European summer season.

In the women’s race, Theunissen’s misfortune allowed Van de Winkel to jump clear early in the race and the 2022 road race winner was happy to race the male competitors near her.

“It was really fun and I thought it was nice to do something different . I usually ride on the road,” said Van de Winkel with a muddy grin after crossing the line with what she is hoping is the first of two wins for the weekend.

“It was quite fast in the beginning and I kind of lost my nerve a bit early on but then settled in and really enjoyed it. I was with a guys’ group and then crossed over to another group of two other guys, and so rode with them for most of the way, but rode the last bit by myself.”

“I hope I can defend my title and make it a double celebration for the weekend and the road race. That is the plan, but we will have to see.”

On Sunday the top riders will set off at 6.15am for the 110km road race with the 42km and 28km events starting at 8.40am and 9am respectively.

Leading Results
40km
Male
Pos        Name    Time
1           Daniel Van Der Watt       01:25:55
2           Andrew Hill       01:28:13
3           Brent Yelland     01:30:18
4           Joshua Paul       01:30:20
5           Tayne Rudling    01:31:10
Female
Pos        Name    Time
1           Joanna Van De Winkel    01:36:21
2           Bridget Theunissen         01:46:45
3           Errin Mackridge 01:50:00
4           Stacey Hyslop    01:51:22
5           Robyn Chapman             01:58:53

20km
Male
Pos        Name    Time
1           Cody Maidman  00:56:58
2           Jono Grant         00:57:02
3           Simangaliso Thabani Bhengu      00:57:43
Female
Pos        Name    Time
1           Madison Bateson            00:57:08
2           Sophia Lombaard            01:02:32
3           Sophie Bircher   01:06:33