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Fast start to Freedom ChallengeMonday, 14 June 2010 00:00 Fast start to Freedom ChallengeAllendale Farm, Sisonke DistrictWednesday 14 June 2010, noon The first riders in the 2010 Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa that started in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday 12 June 2010 and ends 2400km later at Diemersfontein Wine Estate outside Cape Town, have been extremely fortunate, enjoying some beautiful winter weather over the past few days. With warm temperatures and a mild wind the first few racers have been able to cycle long days. On Saturday Trevor Ball and Ugene Nel set the pace for the race flying through the lunch stop at the Vintage Engine and Tractor Museum at Minerva Nature Reserve before dropping down to cross the Umkomaas River well before noon. Trevor and Ugene had previously scouted the river and found what they hoped to be a shortcut. Looking to avoid a large part of the aptly named 700 metre Hella Hella climb Trevor and Ugene hopped the fence and hoisted their bikes onto their backs to portage straight up the mountain. Whilst the route may have been the most direct it was not the most efficient. Gawie De Plessis crossed the Umkomaas River just after the Adventure Racing Duo and was able to spin up the Hella Hella climb and gain a 10km lead arriving at the Allendale support station, in the Sisonke District of Southern Kwa Zulu Natal well ahead of the others. However, this lead was short-lived as Gawie opted for a warm bed, spending the night in Allendale. Trevor and Ugene pushed on through the indigenous forests and plantations around Donnybrook Forest into the night. After an 18 hour day with over 3500 metres of climbing the two arrived at the Centocow Mission just after midnight. The pace has been set and it means that all racers that come behind them must look to cover the 157km from the start to Centocow in the first day. The 2010 Freedom Challenge has already seen a fair share of broken bikes. Cape Townian Ray Farrenkothen's back wheel broke a few km's from Allendale. He was fortunate to be assisted by the local Ixopo magistrate, himself a former Freedom Challenger, who gave him a wheel. Johannesburg school principal David Bell snapped his seat post within the first 60km of his ride. It was replaced by a local farmer. In the course of the second day of racing Francois Reynecke was forced to rest up at Centocow with a broken derailleur whilst early race leader, Trevor Ball's freewheel hub broke going from Centocow through to the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve. Trevor and his racing partner, Ugene Nel, continued on very slowly out of the Ntsikeni Nature Reserve arriving at Banchory Farm after midnight. Trevor is continuing to limp on to Masakala despite his very broken bicycle. This morning, saw the two youngest Freedom Challenge Race Across South Africa competitors depart. The De Decker brothers, Jethro and Zane, set a blistering pace this morning pushing past the 42km lunch at Minerva at 9:15 and looking to reach the Allendale support station in the early afternoon. With snow on the Drakensberg ahead and a fierce wind pushing a large cold front towards them, the riders already on the trail hope to make it through the approaching mountainous areas before winter slows them down. The 2010 Freedom Challenge Race across South Africa can be followed live at www.freedomchallenge.org.za.
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