When the going gets tough Eszter Cluer (Jeep) gets going.
 
The Hungarian proved that when she won the women’s marathon race (75km) of MTN’s 50 Miler-event in Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal.
 
The racing conditions were certainly not easy. On race day the temperature soared up to 35 degrees but it did not seem to bother Cluer.
 
Local mountainbiking fans in Gauteng and the other provinces could be forgiven if they wonder who this Eszter Cluer is.
 
“I have been an athlete for 20 years, this is my life and I love it! I have won several Hungarian national races in track and field, mountainbike and off road triathlon,” is how Cluer describe herself. She recently married well known mountain biking commentator Max Cluer.

“In 2007 I won the Xterra European Championship as well as the European series and last year I won the South African Xterra Champion.”
 
Samantha Oosthuizen (WIN/Karsten Cycles) finished 2nd and in doing so ensured that she also finished 2nd overall in the MTN women’s marathon-series.
 
Oosthuizen could be forgiven if another puncture is the last thing she wants to talk about.
 
“I was really confident about winning especially since I have beaten Eszter by minutes earlier this year during the Jeep Hill 2 hill.
 
“For the first few kilometers myself and Eszter were involved in a dingdong battle with her riding out in front and then myself. But after 9 kilometers it was game over for me. I punctured. I just could not get the tyre to seal. I think I battled for about for five minutes to keep the air in.
 
“Just as I thought my problem was over I had to stop again to pump air into the tyre.
 
“But I am not complaining. Finishing 2nd in the race and 2nd overall in the series is still a good result for me. It proves that slowly but surely I am improving as a mountainbiker.”
 
PHOTO: Zoon Cronje