Max Knox will be pushing for a podium position at the Clarens round of the National MTB Series this weekend.
The 2016 National Marathon champion, who was fourth overall at the Cape Epic, is leading the men’s series rankings.
His second place at round one, as well as two stage wins and the overall win at round two give him 11 853 points.
NAD Pro’s Nico Bell is second on 10 857 points with Ascendis Health’s Gert Heyns in third on 10 516 points.
Max Knox tight on the heels of Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck at last year’s National MTB in Clarens. All three riders will be pushing for podium positions this weekend. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za
All three will be at Clarens, as well as NAD Pro’s Gawie Combrinck and the Pyga EuroSteel team of Phil Buys and Matthys Beukes.
“I’m looking forward to racing the new two-day format, said Knox.
“Obviously, after the Cape Epic, everyone is a little tired. So I think whoever recovers best and has good legs for both days will win.
“It’s important for me to have two solid stages so that I can build on my overall standings points,” the New Holland/This Way Out rider concluded.
In the women’s category, series leader, Ascendis Health’s Robyn de Groot will start as the favourite.
Robyn de Groot leading Candice Lill and Samantha Sanders at the 2016 National MTB Series in Clarens. These three elite women will be aiming for podium positions this weekend. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za
A series of bad luck incidents put paid to her Cape Epic victory hopes, but a good result at Clarens will go some way to giving the South African champion reason to smile.
“To be honest, I’m still getting used to this new two-day format,” said De Groot.
Sure to challenge De Groot is Valencia’s Amy Beth McDougall, who was a close second to De Groot at round one in Sabie and who has come off the Cape Epic with a runner-up finish in the mixed category.
Also tackling the Clarens round with Cape Epic legs are Valencia’s Samantha Sanders and Galileo Risk’s Theresa Ralph.
The two-day marathon consists of a 70km stage one with 1073m of climb, while stage two is 57km with 1075m of climb.
