Max Knox (Lowveld Tractors) is eyeing a fourth consecutive win as he aims to take a step closer to securing the National Mountain Bike Series title in the penultimate round in Dullstroom on Saturday.
Knox, overall winner of the prestigious series in 2013 and 2015, won the last three rounds of the 2016 series and sits in third on the overall standings.
National MTB Series defending champion Max Knox taking the win at Dullstroom in 2015. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za
He confirmed his good form when he outsprinted a strong field to win the TrailSeeker Series last Saturday.
“The Dullstroom course suits me perfectly and is one of my favourite routes. I’m super keen to race there again this weekend and my goal is to try to defend the title I won there last year,” said Knox.
Knox has accumulated a total of 15 605 points. Ahead of him in the standings are Waylon Woolcock (USN Purefit), who is second on 15 862 points, with Nico Bell (Team NAD), the 2014 winner, leading on 17 748.
Woolcock will miss this Saturday’s race, but Bell will be on the start line, eager to maintain his lead in the series and avenge the narrow defeat to Knox in the sprint last Saturday.
Among the women, Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health), national champion and series winner for the past two years, was forced to miss rounds four and five due to a shoulder injury.
This has opened up the title race and African marathon champion Amy Beth McDougall (Valencia) is the leader with 12 768 points.
De Groot, who won rounds two and three, is second with 11 484 points, while Samantha Sanders (Valencia), winner of round five, is a close third on 11 366.
“I’m excited to race in Dullstroom this weekend. The course looks great. I am still a bit fatigued from racing the Ironbike stage race in Europe last month but I hope to be as competitive as possible,” said McDougall.
