Stransky on podium at Cape Epic - 1 year after horrific crash

Cape Town - Legendary former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky on Sunday successfully completed the 2018 Absa Cape Epic mountain biking event.

Stransky and partner Andrew Mclean claimed a podium spot when they finished third in the Grand Masters division, with the pair finishing in 61st spot overall, some 1:29.53 behind category winners, South Africa's Robert Sim and his Germany partner, Udo Boelts.

This comes a year after Stransky’s horror crash in the opening Prologue of the 2017 Cape Epic at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville.

Then, Stransky's race lasted only a few kilometres before he fell.

READ: Stransky posts post-op picture - and it's almost NSFW!

He was left bloodied and bruised and had to be rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery, having broken a rib and punctured a lung.

But the 50-year-old was back in the saddle in 2018 - his ninth Cape Epic - and successfully completed it.

Elation! Cycle Lab KTM’s @stranners & @AndrewMclean celebrate finishing the 2018 @CapeEpic. Riding super-light KTM Scarps, they secured six 3rd places & one 2nd place on stages. They finished up 3rd in the Grand Masters division & 61st overall. Congrats guys!

?? @zooncronje pic.twitter.com/GxOUkI72Dm

— Cycle Lab (@cyclelab_ZA) March 26, 2018