Wolfaardt, Steyn win BSG Energade Triathlon at Potch DamMonday, 18 October 2010 16:43
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Series defenders strike back at BSG Energade PotchErhard Wolfaardt of Potchefstroom and Andrea Steyn of Pretoria showed why they are the reigning BSG Energade Triathlon Series champions when they overcame stiff opposition to win the second leg of this year’s competition at Potch Dam in the North West Province on Sunday October 17.Wolfaardt, who came second in the opening race of the series last week at Roodeplaat Dam behind Claude Eksteen, appears to be regaining the form that made him the winner of this sprint triathlon competition for the past two years when he outclassed Dutch Olympian, Sander Berk in the final stages of the race to claim victory in 59:02. With a bunch of about eight athletes coming into transition after the 600m swim and 20km cycle stages the senior men’s event looked like anyone’s race going into the final 5km leg. Berk, who has made his home in Potchefstroom during the South African summer months for the past few years - but leaves these shores this week to take up a triathlon coaching position in Luxembourg - quickly made his intentions, of leaving SA with a win under his belt, clear by moving to the front of the field. Unfortunately for the flying Dutchman, Wolfaardt had other ideas and stayed within striking distance to eventually pass Berk with 200m to go, bagging full points for the race and relegating Berk (59:09) to second spot on the podium. An emotional Berk, who won the BSG Energade Triathlon Series in 2007, said after the race he had tried his best to get away from Wolfaardt, but the latter was just too strong on the run. “I knew it would be hard to beat Erhard so I am happy with my race. It was a great way to finish my stay here and I hope to return in the future to compete in the series again,” he added. A smiling Wolfaardt commented that he knew Berk would be going hard for the win so he just “hung in there” and gave a final push at about the 4.8km mark which paid off. The champ also said he has not reached his best form yet so the other athletes in the field should be warned they will need to lift their game if they are to beat him when he reaches peak fitness. In an outstanding effort one of the athletes who has shown tremendous improvement in the last few years in the series, Michael Davidson of Jo’burg outshone some of the more fancied athletes in the field to finish third in a time of 59:41 with last week’s winner, Eksteen fourth in 1:00:24 and Zimbabwean Olympian, Chris Felgate fifth in 1:01:12.
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