Mvuyisi’s Whale of Trail victory a stepping stone to Mont Blanc

Mvuyisi Gcogco and Landie Greyling raced to decisive victories at the 53km Merrell Whale of Trail, which took place on Saturday 5 August in the Cape Nature De Hoop Nature Reserve in ideal running conditions.

Mvuyisi Gcogco wins the 2023 Merrell Whale of Trail. Photo – Kirsten Oliver

Gcogco crossed the line at the traditional Koppie Alleen finish in 5 hrs 07 min 48 sec, remarkably just 4 seconds slower than his time last year for third place and four minutes clear of second-placed Bradley Claase.

The win proved an ideal send off for the Eastern Cape athlete, who leaves for Chamonix, France, on Wednesday where he will take on some of the world’s best at the 55km Ultra-trail Mont Blanc OCC at the end of the month.

Greyling was given the go-ahead to compete just days before the race, following a persistent chest infection, and she never looked back in her first race since her strong performance at the World Mountain and Trail Championship in Austria in June, retaining her title in 5:43:25, seven minutes inside her winning time last year.

Husband and wife Whale of Trail winners, Christiaan and Landie Greyling. Photo – Jessica Magner

It was a good day for the Greylings, with husband Christiaan taking line honours in the 35km race. Fellow Protea trail athlete, Lijan Burger, won the shorter women’s competition.

The win marked Gcogco’s second major trail title of the year following his win at the Addo 44km in the Eastern Cape in February, but by his own admission fell short of his perfect race.

Bradley Claase leads the 53km Whale Of Trail 2023. Photo – Devin Paisley

“For some reason I struggled for the first 10km and the last few were a disaster,” admitted Gcogco. “Perhaps it was the cold, but I found the first section quite difficult and let Bradley take the lead. I caught him at the first aid station (at Cupidoskraal 14km into the race) and then moved ahead on the climb out of the station.”

Gcogco was now in the zone, running comfortably over technical sections and arrived at the coast at Noetzie thee minutes clear of Claase. The best was yet to come, as Gcogco opened another four minutes  along the spectacular limestone coast, reaching the aid station at Lekkerwater just over 3hrs 30 min into the race and just over 7 minutes clear of Claase.

Mvuyisi Gcogco in second place through the Potberg mountain stage. Photo – Devin Paisley

But the race was not over and the notoriously challenging soft-sand final section took its toll on Gcogco. “It was hard and I lost my joy of running for some time in those last kilometres,” Gcogco admitted. “I was running a bit then walking, then running again. My heart was low and I found it tough.

“I think I’ve been trying to get my mind back into running. I had decided to take a year off running to get my financial situation sorted. But then there was a chance to qualify for World Champs and after I thought I might as well make use of my fitness and race the George MUT in May.

“Getting an invitation to race the famous Ultra-trail Mont Blanc in France after placing third at MUT again brought a change of mind and I’ve now been trying to get in shape for Europe.”

Fortunately for Gcogco, his lead was substantial and although Claase closed three minutes in the final 7km from Vaalkrans, the outcome was never really in doubt and Gcogco ended his discomfort in style to break the tape and set his sights on his date with UTMB later this month.

“The win will give me confidence and I’m looking forward to the next few weeks when I can just focus on my race preparation in Chamonix,” said Gcogco.

Landie Greyling defends her title at the 2023 Whale of Trail. Photo – Kirsten Oliver

Greyling’s chest infection had impacted her preparation in the build-up to the race but she felt healthy throughout, while short of her best. “Happy to pull off a win, but that was certainly not my best performance. I didn’t feel too strong. Luckily the chest was ok!”

Simone Malan ran strongly to stay in touch with Greyling for the first 28km to Noetzie, before Greyling pulled ahead along the coastal kilometres, initially on the limestone cliffs and later along the sandy tracks to the finish.

Multi-coloured tidal pools provide a dramatic foreground as a runner makes his way along a beach in the closing stages of the 2023 Whale of Trail. Photo – Nick Joubert

Malan held on to a solid second, twelve minutes behind Greyling, to finish in sixth place overall, one behind Greyling and 18 minutes clear of Eastern Cape athlete, Nadia Jooste, in third and ninth overall.

Results

Merrell Whale of Trail – 53km Ultra

Top three in the women’s 53km competition – winner Landie Greyling is joined by runners-up Simone Malan (left) and Nadia Jooste. Photo – Devon Paisley

Merrell Whale of Trail – 35km

Start of the 35km Whale of Trail. Photo_Nick Joubert