Also, just remember that orders close on Sunday (18th September) for JON IRVIN's Photo Book - this is a special memoir of the 2011 IMANA Wild Ride and contains a collection of every team's photo courtesy of Brian Smith.

RACE REPORT: IMANA Wild Ride 2011
By Rebecca van der Linde.

Shosholoza, sneaks& sunshine for IMANA Wild Ride.

Well known South African folk song ‘Shosholoza’ set the tone for the twelfth IMANA Wild Ride which took place between the 1st to 4th August. For a unique mountain biking event, which is proudly South African and has focused it’s resources in giving back to the community while affording any level of athlete the opportunity of riding the wild coast between the Great Kei and Umngazi Rivers, shosholoza (to push forward) carried a new meaning for the participants of this year’s event.

‘Sneaks’ may be a term used strictly at the IMANA Wild Ride. The only unmarked mountain biking stage race in the country means participants must find their own way along this wild and rugged coastline. While the rules are simple; do not stray more than 2km inland and keep the ocean on your right – an intricate route knowledge is what is required to dominate the top positions. However, this advantage was not enough for four time defending champion Nick Floros and his partner Iain Don-Wauchope as they conceded defeat to Tyrone White and Sean Merredew, who claimed a calculated victory at the finish at Umngazi having dominated the field over the first three days.

Third placed team Craig Woods and Jan Schutte proved that doing your homework pays off and Woods can deservedly claim the title of the ‘King of Sneaks’ having pulled two perfect sneaks on the third and fourth stages; the latter of which gave them the fastest time for stage four. The Smith brothers; Peter and Mike, showed consistency and experience as they claimed fourth overall while Warren Price and Tyron Bird were paying school fees in their first attempt and did well to claim fifth position.

Keeping things in the family, the mixed honours went to Brenda Potts and Russell White (Tyrone’s father) who fought off a strong challenge from last year's runners-up Lindsay Chicken and Bjorn Vye. Third place was firmly held once again by Ann Harrison and Paul Jacobs.

Having experienced an unusually wet winter season in the Eastern Cape, the weather gods embraced the wild coast for the four race days with near perfect weather and can be forgiven for the pesterlynorthwesterly which made for some heavy going on the second stage. With snow on many of the inland mountain ranges, the rivers were in full spate and race organisers took the decision to stop the race on the south bank of the Mbasheriver on day two, to allow participants to be safely ferried across the river’s swollen waters before the finish at The Haven Hotel.

Just for the records (no names will be mentioned); for the first time in the history of the race, one team had to be airlifted off the course on day one after they had not arrived at Kob Inn by late in the afternoon.The organisers decided, for safety reasons - with the high tide (making beaches un-rideable) and nightfall imminent that the team should be airlifted to the overnight. The grateful (novice) pair had learnt the hard rules of the wild coast and the true meaning of the race slogan, “Out there alone, racing the tide”.

The presence of four international teams certainly added flavour to the No.1 mix; George Devenish from New Zealand, the UK based teams of Phillipa le Roux and Wayne Chivellwith friends Celia Geyer and Ivor Read and Pieter and Rita van Rooyen, whose home base is San Diego, California. Along with four (former) Transkei born and bred participants; Justin Mtambeki (an IMANA Wild Ride regular) and his new partner SiyaNjiva (raised in Port St Johns) and the Mabece brothers; Loyiso and Songezo, who made a big impression on the field from the start with their renditions of Shosholoza and the Hacka – together, made for a very cross-cultural gathering which culminated in a unifying moment at the final awards dinner as everyone stood to sing Shosholoza and in closing, the national anthem.

RESULTS, Overall: Tyrone White & Sean Merredew (Thule/Mr Price) 10h47.22, Nick Floros& Iain Don-Wauchope (Mountain Splendour) 11h01.10, Craig Woods & Jan Schutte (First Ascent) 11h06.44, Peter & Mike Smith (IMANA Wild Ride) 11h09.43, Warren Price & Tyron Bird (Liquid Platinum) 11h21.10. Mixed: Brenda Potts & Russell White (Russell White Academy) 13h02.33, Lindsay Chicken & Bjorn Vye (Blue Flag) 13h20.04, Ann Harrison& Paul Jacobs (Giant Racing) 13h52.45.

To view the IMANA Wild Ride 2011 Shosholoza song on You Tube, click below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eul94z99LHU

Pre-event When the next new moon waxes on South Africa’s eastern shoreline, one hundred and sixty mountain bikers will take on the twelfth ‘racing of the tide’ along the wild coast between the Great Kei River and Umngazi River mouths. This annual ritual, known as the IMANA Wild Ride, is South Africa’s original stage race and one of the most sought after. Two hundred kilometers of pristine coastline offer a mountain biking experience than cannot be matched elsewhere on the planet.

The records were set in 2009; not only being the tenth anniversary of the IMANA Wild Ride but also the only year that the winners broke the ten hour barrier and similarly the only year the mixed champions have gone under twelve hours. Nick Floros and Peter Smith (the only team with a hat trick of victories) clocked an unbelievable time of nine hours, forty-eight minutes and 12 seconds whilst Craig Woods and Sara Muhl took the Mixed honours in a new record time of eleven hours, fifty-seven minutes and 24 seconds. Blasting tail winds on stage three apparently contributed to the record times.

2011 looks set to become a show-down amongst the leading men’s teams. Can Nick Floros, partnered with multisport ace Iain Don-Wauchope, claim his fifth consecutive win? Last year’s runners-up Tyrone White and Sean Merredew are looking to go one better this year whilst Cape Town’s Craig Woods and Jan Schutte have unfinished business after their untimely withdrawal on the final stage last year.

Of course, one can never discount the wryly farmers Glen Haw and Steve Stamp; founders of this race who know every trick in the book to outsmart the youngsters. The novice duo of Warren Price and Tryon Bird may cause a few upsets amongst the leaders – but they will have to play a smart game on the unmarked course. Then there’s the yet untapped strength of Umngazi’s own cycling talent – Justin Mtambeki, who has become adept on the IMANA Wild Ride terrain and has teamed up with the young talent of Siyabonga Njiva (who grew up in Port St. Johns) to form a formidable force capable of knocking on the top five teams.

Sadly the defending Mixed team Champions, Ian & Jane Seggie, will not be on the start line – next in line are Lindsay Chicken and Bjorn Vye who claimed a close second last year. Ann Harrison and Paul Jacobs, third last year, will also be back. With nearly thirty mixed teams in the line-up, there is sure to be a good challenge amongst the mixed teams.

For the teams competing in the 2011 version, they may be faced with more than the notorious ‘mothers’ to challenge them. Weather conditions across South Africa have led to a colder (and wetter) than normal winter and with recent heavy rain and snow falls in the Easter Cape region, rivers are expected to be in full spate. High seas have also resulted in large amounts of sand being washed out – only to be washed back in further up the coast. While the weather may be one factor the organisers cannot control, no unnecessary risks will be taken and should the rivers be regarded as unsafe then alternate plans will be put in place to ensure that all participants reach the finish safely.

A combined mission between title sponsors Imana Foods and race organisers through WREC (Wild Ride Education Company) has been to make a difference to the educational facilities in the impoverished areas through which the race passes. This year Madakeni Junior Secondary School (near Coffee Bay) will be the worthy recipients of four classrooms donated from fund raising efforts in the last year. These four classrooms make up a total of eighteen classrooms built to date as a direct result of fund raising efforts of the Imana Wild Ride family over the past seven years. Participants are encouraged to attend the classroom handover at 14h00 on Wednesday 3rd August.

Come Monday 1st August, rain or shine, a shy moon and a spring tide – it is time for the IMANA Wild Ride 2011!

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The first stage between Kei Mouth and Kob Inn saw the field of one hundred and sixty riders set off in high spirits with a gentle south-westerly wind and sunny skies to blow them along up the eastern shoreline. Early race leaders Peter Smith and rookie partner Willie Brink (Team Jeep) put pay to any hopes of the race victory when Brink’s rear derailleur broke leaving them to limp home some 75minutesafter the stage winners. Floros and Don-Wauchope controlled the pace for the rest of the day and won the stage just two seconds ahead of Tyrone White and Sean Merredew (Russell White Racing). Craig Woods and Jan Schutte placed third. In the mixed teams, the Seggie’s made their intentions clear, winning the stage ahead of Lindsey Chicken and Bjorn Vye (Blue Flag) with Ann Harrison and Paul Jacobs (Team Giant) third.

Stage two dawned cloudy and cooler with signs of the predicted cold front on the horizon. Despite their handicapped start from the third batch, the Team Jeep duo showed grit and determination to ride through the field into first place and break the two hour mark for stage two. White and Merredew had the legs to power up the testing climb from the beach to The Haven Hotel and claim a few seconds from Floros and Don-Wauchope giving them a narrow 20 second lead at the end of the second day. In the mixed, Team Blue Flag took the lead from the Seggies with Team Giant in third.

In an uncanny déjàvu to last year’s dubbed ‘day 39 of the IMANA Wild Ride’ which beheld a strong south-easter, rain and freezing temperatures, stage three dawned equally threatening as rain and wind greeted the field emerging from their tents and bungalows at The Haven. The chilly weather certainly had the new recruits of the Peloton hopping as Mike Clark (aka Spider) had some fun and games with the initiation ceremony then it was onto the bikes to face the elements for day 43.

As the terrain becomes more mountainous and the coastline more rugged, the route between The Haven and Coffee Bay takes the riders on tracks and trails away from the beaches. With several climbs only ridable by the very skilled and fit, the ‘mothers’ as they have become affectionately known, test the riders stamina to the full.

Stage three saw Floros and Don-Wauchope re-claim one minute to win the stage from White and Merredew. The ill-fated Team Jeep pair suffered another major mechanical when Brink’s cassette body ceased. Consistent riding from Woods and Schutte gave them third place. Amongst the mixed it was the Seggie’s back in front but the race was close with Team Blue Flag in second and Team Giant trailing in third.

In a combined effort between WREC (Wild Ride Education Company) and IMANA FOODS (SA) (Pty) Ltd and the IMANA Wild Ride, four classrooms equipped with desks, chairs and blackboards, were handed over at Ntekelelo Junior Secondary School near Hole-in-the-Wall on Thursday afternoon. This is the IMANA Wild Ride’s biggest ever donation in a single year and it was a proud moment for those riders who were able to attend the classroom handover ceremony, to witness the difference they have made to the lives and education of many scholars.

Perhaps witnessing this heartfelt experience, combined with a moving speech from Umhlobo Wenene DJ and presenter Mbulelo Ngewu the previous evening, led to the fines evening raising in excess of R350 000 for WREC this year. An amazing effort from a relatively small group of people. The evening was made extra special by the presence of Key-Accounts Director at IMANA FOODS, Justice Nkumishe, who was attending the fine’s evening for the first time – added to which it was his birthday!

Stage four; the longest stage covering approximately 60km from Coffee Bay to Umngazi River Bungalows. With a mere 40 seconds separating the two leading teams overall, the racing was going to be testing. The winds had turned revealing clear skies but head winds. Sadly, the third placed team were forced to withdraw when IMANA Wild Ride stalwart Craig Woods was forced to retire at the halfway point at Hluleka Nature Reserve due to illness.

Floros and Don-Wauchope rode home to a hard won victory in an accumulated time of ten hours, twenty-eight minutes and 50sec. The persistent pair of White and Merredew claimed second. Riding in honour of the legendary Graeme Pope-Ellis, Martin Dreyer and Lloyd Darby moved into third place overall ahead of the IMANA Farmers (and event directors) Steve Stamp and Glen Haw. It was somewhat of a consolation for the winners of the second and fourth stages, Smith and Brink, to take fifth overall.

With the top three mixed teams in close contention, the Seggies took the overall honours ahead of Chicken & Vye with Harrison and Jacobs placing third.

Umngazi River Bungalows provided a superb finish venue where participants were warmly welcomed by the friendly staff and treated to an indulgent dinner at the finals awards ceremony. Race organisers extend their thanks and appreciation to the riders for making the 11th racing of the tide a truly special event.

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RESULTS - Overall: Nick Floros & Iain Don-Wauchope (W-Squared/Mountain Splendour) 10h28.50, Tyrone White & Sean Merredew (Russell White Racing) 11h11.41, Martin Dreyer & Lloyd Darby (Pope’s Partners) 11h42.23, Steve Stamp & Glen Haw (IMANA Farmers) 11h55.31, Peter Smith & Willie Brink (Team Jeep) 12h02.36

Mixed: Jane & Ian Seggie (Without Kids) 13h05.53, Lindsey Chicken & Bjorn Vye (Blue Flag) 13h07.09, Ann Harrison & Paul Jacobs (Team Giant) 13h46.39

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