162 km | 2409 m ascent | Franschhoek to Hermanus

3 September 2022 was a red-letter day for King Price Race to the Sea, the second event in its short existence and the first-ever SA Gravel Bike Championships in South African gravel racing history. And what a perfect day it was. The weather played along beautifully, which can pretty much make or break the most well-organised event.

Things got off to a rocky start, though… The wind was pumping around Franschhoek the evening before the start, which blew the start gantry branding into tatters. This had the organisers scrambling at the last minute to replace the tattered race gantry ready in time for the race to start. Thankfully, that was the last of the bad luck.

A great cup of coffee from vida e caffè had everyone in good spirits and ready to tackle 162 km of gravel riding. Right from the outset, the 7-km climb up Franschhoek Pass had riders throwing down the gauntlet and settling into their rhythm for the remainder of the race. The Ciovita K.O.M and Q.O.M an the top of the Franschhoek Pass was hotly contested and won by Marc Pritzen and Haley Preen. They each took home R3 500 for their efforts.

Marc Pritzen, unfortunately, had a flat tyre and lost a lot of time trying to get plugged and sealed, leaving the race wide open for Matt Beers to win. Matt comfortably took home the title of SA Elite Men’s Gravel Bike Champion for 2022!

In the women’s race, Amy Wakefield on a mountain bike and Haley Preen on a gravel bike rode closely together for most of the race. In a sprint finish between the two, Haley Preen came through to win the 2022 title of SA Elite Women’s Gravel Bike Champion.

The SA Gravel Champions in all the respective age categories for 2022 are:

Men:

Elite | Matt Beers | 04:43:27

Sub Vet | Dean Hopf | 05:21:10

Vet | Donovan Le Cok | 05:16:45

Master | Andreas Studer | 05:29:34

Grand Master | Eben Espach | 05:48:36

Ladies:

Elite | Hayley Preen | 05:39:41

Sub Vet | Sarita Louw | 06:38:46

Vet | Nicola Walker | 06:34:54

Master | Jodi Zulberg | 07:08:14

Grand Master | Aryna Edwards | 08:01:41

Podium Winners

Congratulations to our Elite King Price Race to the Sea 2022 overall podium winners:

Overall Men:

🥇Matt Beers | 04:43:27

🥈Marc Pritzen | 04:55:04

🥉Dusty Day | 05:03:13

Overall Women:

🥇Hayley Preen | 05:39:41

🥈Amy Wakefield | 05:40:21

🥉Catherine Colyn | 05:56:22

Sterling results! Access the complete list of race results here.

But, King Price Race to the Sea is not only for the racing snakes. The middle and back markers as well as the relay teams had a field day cruising the gravel roads with a tailwind for most of the day through the golden yellow canola fields of the Overberg. 

The six water points along the route were stocked with delicious and nutritious race food and with the compliments of Foodlovers Market and PVM Nutritional Sciences. Every water point was a mini feast!

Riders cruised triumphantly across the finish line at the stunning Benguela Cove Lagoon and Wine Estate – the perfect finish venue for an extraordinary race. The beautiful views over the waters of the Botrivier lagoon and the distant Palmiet Mountains set the scene for a fairy tale ending. Thank you, Benguela Cove, for generously welcoming us to your shores. 

Sun & Sea Club

Completing a 100-mile gravel event is a feat in itself, but completing TWO 100-milers in one year is astonishing. Riders who completed both King Price Race to the Sun AND King Price Race to the Sea in ONE year now have the privilege to be welcomed to the exclusive Sun & Sea Club.

The Sun & Sea Club members for 2022 are:

• Dusty Day
• CP Van Wyk
• Marc Pritzen
• Jaco Van Dyk
• Casper Kruger
• Carl Lotter
• Gert Nel
• Erich Meintjes
• Christopher Van Rooyen
• Francois Kemp
• Jeandre Van Schalkwyk
• David Labuschagne
• Thys Oosthuizen
• Julien Van Der Pluym
• Anton Du Plessis
• Robert Cornforth
• Darryn Ridgway
• Andrew Westaway
• Mark Pretorius
• Kieran Correia
• Jos le roux
• Francois Botes
• Ernest Welch
• Roelof Bonnet
• Graham Tyrell
• Joe Visser
• Alex Mason-Apps
• Mc Lamprecht
• Koos Klopper
• Cloete Murray
• Clifford De Wit
• Jacques Maritz
• Sonica Klopper
• Ivan Harkema
• Otto Van Der Dussen
• Gina Wills
• Allenore Willemse
• Johan Zietsman
• Grant Van Der Wal
• Chris Van Der Meulen
• Jodi Zulberg
• Eradus Van Antwerpen
• Duane Roulstone
• Abraham Meyer
• Grant Lawless
• Johan Conradie
• Christo Bezuidenhout
• Francois Le Roux
• Jacques Van Staden
• Peter Elliott
• Anneke Harmse
• Alan Rolfe
• Kenneth Mccrindle
• August Van Heerden
• Terence Abrahams
• Fernal Anthony
• Henry Munnik
• Prince Manana
• Morne Postma
• Jacques Du Preez
• Craig Du Plessis
• Rudolf Van Rensburg
• Joubert Hay
• Brian Andrew
• Rashied Bardien
• Michael Mc Donald
• Andy Robertson
• Riana Robertson
• Anneke Greeff
• Chantelle Kruse
• Francoa Willemse
• Jorge Santiago
• Xavier Leroy
• Kyle Hanlon
• Seann Gerber
• Sheldon Geyer
• Xander Van Zyl
• Tebogo Motsepe
• Lerato Molobye
• Nthate Mokgele
• Bradley Maritz
• Rob Lewis
• Jasper Van Zyl
• Henk Geels

That’s a wrap for King Price Race to Sea 2022. Thank you to every sponsor, rider and supporter for the art you played in this amazing race. 

See you next year!