Durban mountain biking pro Andrew Hill and Marco Joubert will be keen to make an impact when they tackle the Liberty Winelands Encounter in the Western Cape next weekend.
Riding for TIB Insurance-Momsen Valley Light, the pair will be racing together for the first time in the Winelands Encounter, which starts in Stellenbosch on April 21.
Hill, who has not competed in the event before, acknowledged there would be strong opposition, but said they were definitely aiming for a spot on the podium.
“Although we will be racing together for the first time, I am confident we can combine well,” said Hill, who won the Herald Cycle Tour mountain bike race in February.
Durban professional Andrew Hill is looking forward to his first appearance in the Liberty Winelands Encounter in the Western Cape next week. Photo: Full Stop Communications
“We are both professional and know what we have to do so it’s all about getting the job done.”
Hill said Joubert’s technical skills would be important in their bid to put their rivals under pressure.
Chris Wolhuter, who won last year with Craig Boyes, will be back do defend his title, this time with Dylan Rebello, while Hill said Waylon Woolcock and HB Kruger would also be strong contenders.
“I know they have all just come off the Cape Epic so I am not quite sure what their legs will be like,” he said.
“But they are top competitors and Waylon and HB are riding particularly well at the moment.”
Hill, who won the PwC Great Zuurberg Trek in Addo last year, said he was looking forward to trying a new event.
“Although this will be my first Winelands Encounter, I have ridden a lot in the Western Cape so I’m pretty familiar with the type of terrain,” the 35-year-old said.
“We know there will be a mixture of the known and the unknown, but are ready for that.”
From Stellenbosch, the Liberty Winelands Encounter, in partnership with STANLIB, will take riders through Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington.
