Pietermaritzburg – Andy Birkett fought neck-and-neck with fellow pre-race favourites Lance Kime and Sbonele Khwela to win the first stage of the Dusi canoe marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Dusi Bridge on Thursday.
The four-time champion crossed the line in the opening 42 kilometre stage with a time of two hours, 36 minutes and 26 seconds (2:36.26), just 25 seconds ahead of defending K1 winner Kime (2:36.51).
Khwela, who won the K2 or doubles classification alongside Birkett last year, came in third position with a time of 2:38.21
after fading towards the latter end of the stage.
But it had gone well for Khwela earlier in the day when he took over the lead at Guinea Fowl Portage – around the halfway mark.
Before that he made a tough start as he trailed Birkett and Kime, who got through the opening Ernie Pearce Weir first and second respectively.
The pair lead by a minute shortly after, but saw their lead cut back to 40 seconds by Khwela at the bottom of Campbells Farm Portage, where the latter first made his move.
And by the time they got to the next major take out, Khwela was 50 metres behind and subsequently stormed into a 45 second lead from Kime, who was followed by Birkett seconds behind.
But once back on the river, Khwela, whose strength lies in running, saw the two chasers, stronger on the water, close to within 10 seconds of him at Mission Rapids, about 10 kilometres from the finish.
Birkett and Kime went past him at Cabbage Tree Portage, with their lead opening up even further by the end of the stage Ä it ended at a healthy one minute and 55 seconds.
Meanwhile, the women's stage one was won by three-time runner-up Laura O'Donoghue, who was over 13 minutes ahead of sister Cana Peek and Jordan Peek.
That race is open this year after five-time defending champion Robyn Kime opted not to compete.
Friday's second stage is from Dusi Bridge to Inanda Dam, near Hillcrest, with the 64th edition of the world-famous 120km race concluding at Blue Lagoon in Durban on Saturday. – Sapa