Russian athlete Aleksei Tolstenko won the second edition of the 100 Miler in a time of 21:53:04 . While slower than the winning time of 21:30:17 set by Fotis Zisimopoulos ( Greece ) at the inaugural UTCT last year , Tolstenko was well ahead of the next placed man , South Africa ’ s Douglas Pickard , who finished in 23:53:23 . Cape Town local Chris Ngaka had an incredible run to finish third in 25:53:33 . Another South African , Anele Bans , was the fourth man home in 26:22:54 . Early leader Vasily Korytkin ( Russia ) withdrew at Constantia Glen after

Aleksei Tolstenko

139km , and another frontrunner , Vincent Viet ( France ), withdrew at Noordhoek ( 119.6km ).

Tolstenko says that he had felt unwell all week before the race , but decided at the last minute to line up . “ I pushed in the first half to get the gap between me and the others as much as possible , so that if I don ’ t feel good in the second half , I could maybe still keep the lead . This is a beautiful race , and the views and landscapes are amazing , but it is one of the most

technically difficult races in the world – the only thing similar is in Reunion . This was my second 100 miles at UTCT , but I think I will choose 100km next time !”

Pickard sums up : “ It was awesome to watch Aleksei and Vince ran up Rocket Road , like Formula One cars . They really flew up there , which in a way worked well for me , because I was able to run my own race . I got tired at three , four o ’ clock in the morning , but when the sun started coming up , I got a second wind .” He says he passed Vince between Simonstown and Kommetjie , and then caught Vasily going up Chapman ’ s Peak : “ I was feeling good and was actually enjoying the climbs . I found it very technical between Alphen and UCT , so when I got to UCT and I was told that the other guys were not yet at Alphen , I spent time there with my family before heading to the finish . This is so different to what I am used to in the KZN Midlands and Drakensberg , where it ’ s a lot softer underfoot . The climbs are big there , but easier . Here , the downhills are also extreme – it ’ s rock jumping and it ’ s jagged in all kinds of directions .”

UTCT 100 Miler Men

Images : Kelvin Trautman , Zac Zinn , Sam Clark , Fahwaaz Cornelius , Jason Broderick , Devin Paisley , Mentz Germishuis , Jess Meniere