Reigning champs gear up for Contego Wines2Whales MTB Race

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Tuesday, 19 October 2010 09:36

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Kleinhans / Munnik set to defend Wines2Whales title

Erik Kleinhans and Oliver Munnik will be fighting fit in November when they defend their title at the second annual Contego Wines2Whales Mountain Bike Race. The race takes place from 12 until 14 November 2010, starting at Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West and ending at Onrus Caravan Park, Hermanus.

According to Kleinhans there was a fantastic atmosphere amongst the riders at the inaugural Contego Wines2Whales MTB Race.  “My favorite part of the 2009 route was the single track experienced in Grabouw during Stage Two.  The organizers really did a great job in putting together some of the best routes that the Western Cape has to offer.  A three day mountain bike stage race is great as it doesn’t drain your body as much as the longer stage races do.  At times the racing is more aggressive though, which is awesome.  Oliver and I are definitely going to do our best to maintain our title,” says Kleinhans.

Munnik experienced a severe crash in April this year during the second round of the MTN Cross Country Series in Pietermaritzberg resulting in a broken back with a compression fracture to his T9 vertebrae.  Recently returning from Italy where he spent the last two months rebuilding and training on his road bike, Munnik is positive that he’ll be fully recuperated come November.  “My recovery entailed wearing a corset brace for twelve weeks which constricted the movement of my upper body keeping the spine straight.  In May, after numerous doctors’ appointments, I received the news that the vertebrae had stabilized.  I patiently began building up time on my indoor trainer, before venturing back outdoors for a few easy rides.  In Italy my training focused on rebuilding my endurance and general fitness.  My vertebrae didn't give any negative feedback, which meant that I could load the training schedule over the weeks.  Now that I am back in South Africa my training incorporates more intensity and speed, allowing me to race and become competitive again.  What I remember most of the 2009 Wines2Whales Race is the attention to detail that the organisers went to in order to stage a personal event.  I am really looking forward to the 2010 W2W Race,” comments Munnik.