De Villiers Takes The Win At MTN Blockhouse

Race Report : Advendurance Media

Yolandé de Villiers (Toyota-Cyclelab) set up an exciting finish in the MTN Mountain Biking Marathon-series for women when she won the MTN Blockhouse Race on Sunday.

Even though it was her third win of the series, De Villiers is still not the overall leader.  Ischen Stopforth (Marsillio Projects), who finished 2nd on Sunday, is the overall leader but the points difference between the two ‘ladies’ from the Southern Cape is insignificant.

Both of them are still in a position to win the series overall.  Everything depends on the two final races.

However, an overall victory was the last thing on De Villiers’ mind on Sunday.

“It was just good to finish a race again, and I am not even talking about winning. I have had some really bad luck this year. If I was not ill, it was my mountain bike that ailed.”

According to De Villiers, the flatness of the MTN Blockhouse route forced her to ride a tactical race.

“Until about 500 metres from the finish, Ischen, Yolandé du Toit (Konica-Minolta) and I worked very well together. We took turns to ride in front, setting the pace.  I think what counted in my favour in the end, was the fact that I often compete in road races as well. That is where you learn to sprint and this ability stood me in good stead because I waited until the right moment and then ‘kicked’.”

As usual, De Villiers had time for a joke afterwards. When asked about the three ‘Yolande’s of South African mountain biking’, De Villiers, Du Toit and Speedy, she jokingly said that, to prevent any confusion, they should be known as: ‘Ou Yolandé’, that’s me, ‘Mooi Yolandé’, that’s Du Toit, and ‘Speedy Yolandé.

According to a fan who prefers to stay anonymous, South African mountain biking is lucky to have their own version of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly’.  He wisely refused to say which Yolandé is which.

Stopforth who, if her face is not caked with dust or mud, is a medical doctor doing clinical research in George, said that she was fighting a losing battle with the flat route the whole day. 

“I know exactly how it feels to be sandwiched between two Yolandé’s. I tried my best to outsprint Yolandé de Villiers in the end, but she was just too strong.  I would have loved to win, but I am always looking at the bigger picture.  Cycling is just my hobby, even though I sometimes begin to doubt that because of the way I have to fit in my work as a doctor around my training and racing program.

“But I am in the lucky position that when I lose, it is not the end of the world.  It is not as though I have not done my job properly.”

Stopforth has been cycling for a number of years, but mostly just in the Southern Cape.  She has only started racing nationally this year.

“My husband, Peter, and I went to compete in the MTN Barberton event.  I surprised myself by finishing 2nd in the women’s race and then realised, hang on, I might just be good enough to compete with South Africa’s best.  So I decided to race the whole MTN series and I am enjoying every moment of it.”

Du Toit, who finished 3rd overall, said that for her the deciding part of the race was over the last 4 kilometres.

“I was having quite a good day, even though I would have preferred one or two serious climbs. What counted against me was the fact that my technical abilities are not yet as good as they should be.  Because of that, I was dropped during the last few kilometres when the route was all twisty and rocky.  But I am happy with my race.  It is good to have a podium finish.”

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje