Professional mountain biker Pieter Seyffert will be chasing a second title when he returns to take on the PwC Great Zuurberg Trek with teammate Travis Walker at the end of May.
The 30-year-old Seyffert, from Helderkruin in the West Rand, won the event in 2015, in partnership with Kevin Evans.
Now he and Walker, this year’s TransCape champions, will test themselves in the three-stage race at the Zuurberg Mountain Village outside Port Elizabeth from May 26.
Riding under the Ellsworth-ASG banner, Seyffert said they would be targeting at least a podium finish in the Eastern Cape race.
Pieter Seyffert and Travis Walker from Ellsworth-ASG will tackle the PwC Great Zuurberg Trek outside Port Elizabeth from May 26 to 28. Photo: Jacques Marais
“Travis, who is 26, is very focused on doing well and that helps me to stay focused too,” said Seyffert.
“It is always good to try to get that exposure, not only for us as cyclists, but also for those who are backing us.”
Walker, who hails from Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal, will be appearing in the Zuurberg event for the first time after having spent several years racing in Europe.
However, Seyffert said the talented rider would have no problem adapting to the course.
“Travis has ridden in some of the world’s toughest events and, as one of the younger riders, he finished in the top 10 in his first appearance in the Cape Epic in 2015,” he said.
“He is a talented mountain biker and I have no doubt he will be able to handle any course he tackles.”
Reflecting on his previous visit to Zuurberg, the West Rand pro said he particularly enjoyed the overall offering, which took in remote sections of the Addo Elephant National Park as well as parts of the Sundays River Valley.
“You get the full package at the GZT, with single-track changing to Karoo-type terrain, and then a few district roads. I think it is cool if an event has a variety of routes.”
Seyffert said he also enjoyed the social aspect which existed in the various race villages, with great camaraderie among the riders as they “shared their war stories”.
Having just completed the five-day Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, Seyffert said he would race the Liberty Winelands Encounter in April before heading to the Eastern Cape.
