Since I started cycling, the 94.7 MTB Challenge has always been the biggest race of the year for me. I remember my first podium as a Junior, when Conrad Stoltz took top honors from Burry Stander in 2nd in 2008 I think. It was from then that I knew I wanted to win this thing.
Unfortunately in 2010 and 2011, I didn't race, but in 2012 I was back - more eager to win - and finished 4th with Kallen Williams winning and Karl Platt in 2nd. In 2013 Kallen won again and I finished 3rd. Last year (2014), most of you will remember the crash 200m from the finish line where I finished 4th again and Neil Robinson won. Three years in a row no win but always so close…
So this year 2015 was my 4th chance to try for the win! I felt a bit tired, but really motivated and positive, I even woke up very early for a bath and warming up on my trainer at home.
I cycled to Riversands which is 3km away from home and I got there just in time with five minutes before the start so I was still very warm. The plan as always was to go hard from the start, but after the 2nd climb I realized I was digging myself a deep hole, so I chose to hide myself for a while to try regain my strength. I started feeling very comfortable, but I had to wait for the right moment.
So it was seven of us in the group but after 15km it came down to five. 12km from the finish just when we entered Steyn City, Nico shook things up a bit by slightly increasing the momentum haha, then it was just three of us.
I now knew I had one in three chances to win between myself, Nico Pfitzenmaier - an amazing mountain biker, very strong with a lot of miles in those legs, and Neil Robinson- the defending champ with a never give up attitude.
And so the mind games began because there was no way to lose these guys. While climbing the hill in Steyn City I increased the pace just a bit and saw Neil was slightly off the pace. Nico’s peddle stroke changed, but if I attacked too hard Nico was going to catch me on the downhill and I might use all my reserves for nothing, so I waited a bit more…
Then at the last hill I thought to myself - no sprint finish this year, it's now or never! I gave everything I had. Those minutes of 500w I was doing with Devlin at the HPC came in handy. Hardest three minutes of my life to the finish line, but then the pain was over shadowed by the victory.
I'm really starting to have high hopes for next season and working with a great team to help me get to the next level. There is nothing greater to an athlete than seeing improvement.
To the Kargo Pro MTB Team and our sponsors, High Performance Centre and Devlin (coach), Tennille (PR), James JP and Kyle (physio), Nicki De Villiers (nutritionist) and all the support I'm getting from each and every one of you- Thank You.
Unfortunately in 2010 and 2011, I didn't race, but in 2012 I was back - more eager to win - and finished 4th with Kallen Williams winning and Karl Platt in 2nd. In 2013 Kallen won again and I finished 3rd. Last year (2014), most of you will remember the crash 200m from the finish line where I finished 4th again and Neil Robinson won. Three years in a row no win but always so close…
So this year 2015 was my 4th chance to try for the win! I felt a bit tired, but really motivated and positive, I even woke up very early for a bath and warming up on my trainer at home.
I cycled to Riversands which is 3km away from home and I got there just in time with five minutes before the start so I was still very warm. The plan as always was to go hard from the start, but after the 2nd climb I realized I was digging myself a deep hole, so I chose to hide myself for a while to try regain my strength. I started feeling very comfortable, but I had to wait for the right moment.
So it was seven of us in the group but after 15km it came down to five. 12km from the finish just when we entered Steyn City, Nico shook things up a bit by slightly increasing the momentum haha, then it was just three of us.
I now knew I had one in three chances to win between myself, Nico Pfitzenmaier - an amazing mountain biker, very strong with a lot of miles in those legs, and Neil Robinson- the defending champ with a never give up attitude.
And so the mind games began because there was no way to lose these guys. While climbing the hill in Steyn City I increased the pace just a bit and saw Neil was slightly off the pace. Nico’s peddle stroke changed, but if I attacked too hard Nico was going to catch me on the downhill and I might use all my reserves for nothing, so I waited a bit more…
Then at the last hill I thought to myself - no sprint finish this year, it's now or never! I gave everything I had. Those minutes of 500w I was doing with Devlin at the HPC came in handy. Hardest three minutes of my life to the finish line, but then the pain was over shadowed by the victory.
I'm really starting to have high hopes for next season and working with a great team to help me get to the next level. There is nothing greater to an athlete than seeing improvement.
To the Kargo Pro MTB Team and our sponsors, High Performance Centre and Devlin (coach), Tennille (PR), James JP and Kyle (physio), Nicki De Villiers (nutritionist) and all the support I'm getting from each and every one of you- Thank You.