Tiffany Cromwell and Jaco van Dyk emerged victorious in the Swartberg 100, a 170km South African UCI Gravel World Series race that started in Prince Albert. Despite not feeling her best, Cromwell pushed through the challenging course and enjoyed the stunning scenery.
In the women’s race, Cromwell finished with a lead of over 14 minutes ahead of second-placed Robyn de Groot and over half an hour ahead of Layla Schwellnus. Meanwhile, Van Dyk clinched the victory in the men’s race by crossing the finish line just one second ahead of Marco Joubert, with Wessel Botha following closely in third place.
The course features over 3,000 meters of elevation gain, with the highest point being at the top of Swartberg pass, reaching an altitude of 1583m. This race serves as a qualifying event for the UCI Gravel World Championships scheduled to take place in Belgium in October. Each rider showcased their strength and determination throughout the challenging race.
Cromwell shared her experience on Instagram, saying that she felt proud to have completed such a grueling course while still enjoying its beauty. She also thanked her team for supporting her during her journey.
On the other hand, Van Dyk said he was thrilled to win his first UCI Gravel World Series event and promised to continue training hard for future races.
Overall, this race was a testament to these riders’ endurance and resilience as they faced harsh conditions but still came out on top.
