Cross-country mountain bikers will be heading to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands for the third and final round of the 2016 KZNMTB XCO Provincial Series at St. Ives MTB Park on Saturday 16 April.
The Series Log after two races reflects that there will be some exciting racing action in some of the age categories as riders battle it out to win the Series overall.
Kargo Pro MTB Team’s Alan Hatherly is sitting at the top of the u23 Men’s Log and leads by 125 points ahead of the final round of the 2016 KZNMTB XCO Provincial Series which takes place at St. Ives MTB Park, on Saturday 16 April. Photo: Paul Botma.
Brendon Davids (Trek South Africa) has had two straight wins so far this season in the Elite Men’s class while the Elite Women’s class sees two riders tie with equal points, having each raced one event this season – Candice Parker-Dennison and Mandy de Beer (Team Jordana). Alan Hatherly (Kargo Pro MTB Team) leads the under-23 Men’s class by 125 points after two straight wins as well, with Frankie du Toit (Kargo Pro MTB Team) leading the under-23 Women’s Log. Teammate Hayley Smith and Genevieve van Coller (Absolute Cycling) are tie in second place.
Kelvin Green leads the Junior Men’s race with two consistent second places after two races with Dean Wortman (Jowetts Cycles) only five points behind; and Chriestie Leigh Hearder (Absolute Cycling) leads the Junior Women’s class with two straight wins. Cian Leveridge and Tiffany Keep (both Team PAW) lead the Youth Men and Women’s Series Log so far after their dominant performances this season with two straight victories to their names.
Team Jordana’s Mandy de Beer shares the Elite Women’s Log top position with Absolute Cycling’s Genevieve van Coller ahead of the final round of the 2016 KZNMTB XCO Provincial Series which takes place at St. Ives MTB Park, on Saturday 16 April. Photo: Paul Botma.
St. Ives’ neighbouring Sappi forests will be utilised for the XCO track and the nature of the course will suit both newcomers to the sport as well as those at the sharp end of racing, and keeps the racing closer to the Boma area. Measuring 4.5 kilometres, the singletrack trails wind their way through Blue Gum plantations with very few technical elements, which lends itself to exceptionally fast racing.
As is said in mountain biking, “the faster you go, the harder it gets” and this will be the case as the marked course is relatively flat with one gradual climb to factor in. The twisty trails are in fantastic condition and there will be a double feedzone along the track. The younger nippers and sprogs categories will race along a shortened 3.7 kilometre track so that they can complete more than one lap.
While the provincial series provides riders at the sharp end of the sport the opportunity to claim provincial honours and to improve their racing on local terrain, it also provides newcomers to cross-country racing the opportunity to test their skill and abilities more competitively.
The St. Ives Boma, where registration and prize giving will be held, provides a wonderful, scenic setting next to the dam and offers food and refreshments on race day.
Round three of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial XCO Series – takes place St. Ives MTB Park, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, on Saturday 16 April. Entries close at midnight tonight, Wednesday 13 April 2016. Enter here: http://www.roag.co.za/eventinfo.aspx?EventID=1733.
For any further details, please visit www.kznmtb.co.za. For more information, contact Rebecca van der Linde info@kznmtb.co.za.
