In the grueling 170km Swartberg 100, Tiffany Cromwell and Jaco van Dyk emerged victorious. The South African UCI Gravel World Series race took place in Prince Albert and tested the endurance of riders from around the world.
Cromwell, a member of Canyon-SRAM team, shared her experience on Instagram, expressing her excitement about finishing the race despite not feeling her best. She enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and pushed through the challenging course to claim victory by over 14 minutes ahead of second-placed Robyn de Groot and over half an hour ahead of Layla Schwellnus.
In the men’s race, Van Dyk clinched victory with a thrilling finish just one second ahead of Marco Joubert. Wessel Botha followed closely behind in third place. The men’s elite top 5 included Van Dyk, Joubert, Botha, Tristan Nortje, and Rossouw Bekker. Each rider displayed immense strength and determination throughout the grueling race.
The Swartberg 100 serves as a qualifying event for the upcoming UCI Gravel World Championships scheduled to take place in Belgium in October. The challenging course features over 3,000 meters of elevation gain, with the highest point being at the top of Swartberg pass at an altitude of 1583m. This qualifying event showcased each rider’s ability to endure extreme conditions and overcome adversity on their way to victory.
Overall, this race was a true testament to human strength and determination. Each rider demonstrated their dedication to their craft and their commitment to pushing themselves beyond their limits to achieve success on this grueling course.