Christoph Sauser and Karl Platt will continue their rivalry at the opening round of the National Mountain Bike Series in Grabouw on Saturday.
Both Sauser (Investec-Songo-Specialized), a multiple world champion, and Platt (Bulls) are five-time Cape Epic winners.
Together with 2015 Cape Epic champion Kristian Hynek (Topeak Ergon), the trio delivered a spectacular podium battle at the Attakwas last Saturday and find themselves in a field with even more depth this weekend.
Defending champion Max Knox of Lowveld Tractors/This Way Out (left) says he is looking forward to the shorter distance of the National MTB Series. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za
Also confirmed are 2015 world marathon champion Alban Lakata, South Africa’s Erik Kleinhans, who was fourth at the Attakwas, and Jeremiah Bishop, America’s most successful stage racer.
They will all be competing for the Topeak Ergon team.
Another high profile team is that of Cannondale Factory Racing, which boasts German Manual Fumic and Brazilian Henrique Avancini. They won the final stage of the 2016 Cape Epic and are in the country early to prepare for their assault this year.
Other leading South Africans on the start list are multiple Cape Epic stage winners Phil Buys and Matthys Beukes (Euro-Steel/Pyga), the Telkom BCX pair of Waylon Woolcock and HB Kruger, Cannondale Red-E’s Matt Beers, Dylan Rebello, Lourens Luus and Andrew Hill (TIB).
It will be the first competitive outing of 2017 for defending National MTB Series champion Max Knox (New Holland/This Way Out).
“I’m looking forward to the new National MTB Series format. The racing will be more aggressive with more riders in contention for podiums. With this in mind, you cannot afford to make mistakes,” said Knox.
The women’s race also boasts a strong field, headed by National MTB Series champion Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health).
The current South African champion finished second at last weekend’s Attakwas, indicating her good form early in the year.
Also on the entry list are Swiss marathon champion Ariane Lüthi (Team Spur), Swedish marathon champion Jennie Stenerhag (CBC/Abro), South Africa’s London Olympian Candice Lill (Dormakaba) and Namibian champion Vera Adrian (Dormakaba).
In addition to the marathon, which covers a distance of 75km with an accumulated ascent of 1 500m, there is a half-marathon (43km with 900m ascent), a 20km fun race and a 10km fun ride.
