Both for Andrin Beeli and Simon Vitzthum, the second Swiss in the junior race, the competition in the heat of Pietermaritzburg does not get off to the best start. Both were involved in a mass crash after 30 meters and had to roll up the field from behind. They manage to do this quite well with their combined efforts, and after two laps they are already in the top 15. But their podium dreams were already over. Nevertheless, Beeli achieves the best result of his career to date with tenth place. "I didn't expect to go so far forward after the crash. I'm very happy with the result," he comments on his race. Simon Vitzthum finished only slightly behind Beeli in twelfth place.

Lukas Baum takes the first German title in the junior class. Baum crashed over French rider Raphael Gay on the second lap and twisted his handlebars, but the European champion was unfazed by this and secured the third medal in the third race for the German World Championship selection.