MTB cycling: Martin Gluth (Paarl Media OMX) took second place at the UCI HC Cross Country race in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa). Only his teammate Shlomi Haimy from Israel was faster than the man from Freiburg in the Cascade MTB Park.
The race was dominated very early on by Shlomi Haimy and the South African James Reid (RECM). In the middle of the race, however, the South African fell. Reid was able to continue, but had to retire on the penultimate lap due to a shoe problem. Martin Gluth had worked his way up from sixth place to third behind Reid during the race, ultimately finishing second. A valuable placement for the man from Freiburg, which is also rewarded with 70 world ranking points by the UCI. Malene Degn from Denmark won the women's race ahead of Isla Short from Britain and Mariske Strauss from South Africa.
The UCI HC Cross Country races for elite riders took place as part of the Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival. In addition to Cross Country, the second run of the SA Cup Series Downhill was also held on the Easter weekend.