Cromwell and Van Dyk Dominate Swartberg 100 UCI Gravel World Series Race

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. The race served as a qualifying event for the UCI Gravel World Championships scheduled to take place in Belgium in October.

Cromwell, a rider for Canyon-SRAM, shared her experience on Instagram, mentioning that despite not feeling her best, she pushed through the challenging course and enjoyed the stunning scenery. She finished the race with a lead of over 14 minutes ahead of second-placed Robyn de Groot and over half an hour ahead of Layla Schwellnus.

In the men’s race, Van Dyk clinched the victory by crossing the finish line just one second ahead of Marco Joubert, with Wessel Botha following closely in third place. Van Dyk’s win came after he overcame a mechanical issue early in the race.

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. Each rider showcased their strength and determination throughout the challenging race.

The women’s elite top 5 included Tiffany Cromwell, Robyn de Groot, Layla Schwellnus, Zanri Rossouw, and Anneke Lund. In addition to Cromwell’s impressive performance, Rossouw stood out as she completed the course while battling an injury. On social media, she shared her experience and encouraged others to keep pushing through difficult times.

The men’s elite top 5 featured Jaco van Dyk, Marco Joubert, Wessel Botha