South Africa’s premier ultra-trail running event, the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town race, took place this weekend where several local and international elite runners gathered to conquer a variety of races traversing the beautiful mountain trails of the Cape Peninsula.
Also read: Runners and trail marshal mugged during RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town
Race day was a scorcher, with athletes gulping down as much water as possible on route and at the checkpoints, reported I Run Far. Checkpoints saw race crews pouring ice cubes into athletes’ packs and ice-filled socks placed around their necks to stop their body temperatures from rising in the heat.
The event offers a distance to suit every trail runner – 100 miler, 100km, 55km, 35km and 23km.
Meet the top trailers:
UTCT
The flagship 100-miler takes runners to Simon’s Town and back onto Table Mountain to the finish in Oranjezicht, covering 167km over Table Mountain and across the Peninsula.
Men’s race:
- First: Aleksei Tolstenko (21:53:04)
- Second: Douglas Pickard (23:53:23)
- Third: Chris Ngaka (25:53:33)
- Fourth: Anele Bans (26:22:54)
- Fifth: Luke Webster (26:48:38)
Women’s race:
- First: Nicollete Griffin (26:11:08)
- Second: Naomi Brand (05:56:52)
- Third: Jo Keppler (06:27:48)
- Fourth: Mari Marincowitz (33:27:58)
- Fifth: Marietjie De Chaconnes Vrugt (37:53:38)
UT100
The Ultra Trail 100 is a front-loaded route, starting with a climb out of the city up to Signal Hill, with two significant climbs on Table Mountain and the remote trails of Karbonkelberg within the first 50km. The second half from Hout Bay takes runners across the beach towards East Fort and the Manganese Mines to eventually end up on the outskirts of UCT
Men’s race:
- First: Dimitry Mityaev (10:43:06)
- Second: Caleb Olson (11:02:28)
- Third: Anthony Costales (11:02:28)
- Fourth: Thibaut Baronian (11:36:29)
- Fifth: Simon Desvaux de Marigny (11:42:01)
Women’s race:
- First: Ruth Croft (12:12:20)
- Second: Marianne Hogan (12:39:53)
- Third: Ekaterina Mityaeva (12:44:07)
- Fourth: Varvara Shikanova (13:20:15)
- Fifth: Samantha Reilly (13:31:09)
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PT55
Starting from Llandudno, the Peninsula Traverse 55km offers runners the chance to experience technical trails incorporating Suther Peak, Manganese mines and Vlakkenberg, eventually winding through Alphen trail, Cecelia and Newlands Forest via the contour, to finish at Gardens RC.
Men’s race:
- First: Robbie Simpson (05:31:30) (repeat victory)
- Second: Mvuyisi Gcogco (05:43:16)
- Third: Josh Chigome (06:10:10)
Women’s race:
- First: Toni McCann (05:47:39) (home-turf record)
- Second: Caitlin Fielder (05:56:52)
- Third: Lisa Wimmer (06:27:48)
TM35
The Table Mountain 35km is shorter in kilometres but still delivers a tough challenge in the form of unrelenting ascents and descents, featuring two major climbs: the first on Table Mountain and the second on Devil’s Peak.
Men’s race:
- First: Bastien Perez (03:53:14)
- Second: Collin Kanyino (04:01:19)
- Third: Brode Gleeson (04:07:29)
Women’s race:
- First: Bianca Tarbaton (04:04:57) (Third overall)
- Second: Holly Page (04:22:42)
- Third: Rebecca Kohne (04:31:29)
EX23
The Explorer 23km starts in the Alphen greenbelt and offers an introduction to the Table Mountain trails, offering runners a glimpse of what makes RMB Ultra-Trail Cape Town special.
Congratulations to both fully local podiums!
Men’s race:
- First: Brandon Keeling (02:10:42)
- Second: Tsielo Tsanyane (02:11:38)
- Third: Thabang Madiba (02:20:48)
Women’s race:
- First: Lijan Burger (02:29:16)
- Second: Meg Mackenzie (02:31:58)
- Third: Mila Geldenhuys (02:35:06)
There’s nothing more heart-warming or spine-tingling than watching fellow humans achieving incredible feats – they deserve all the applause we can offer, and an ice bath or two to cool down.
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Also read:
Efforts to enhance safety on Table Mountain trails yield mixed results
Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook