Cross country star Alan Hatherly has set his sights on three wins in a row at the fourth round of the SA MTB Cup Series XCO in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.
The Spur rider has just returned from a successful stint in Europe where he placed sixth in the U23 UCI MTB World Cup cross country race in the Czech Republic in May. The following week, in Germany, he recovered well to finish 34th after his back wheel got caught up in bunting on the first lap.
Alan Hatherly (right) claimed the elite men’s win at the third round of the SA National MTB Series XCO in Bloemfontein. Photo: Reblex Photography
“My form is really good, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out,” said the 21-year-old. “I have done a bit of a strength block and a bit of speed work leading up to this event.”
Hatherly said he was looking forward to the course, set out by designer Nick Floris.
“Nick really knows how to make a tough course. I rode it yesterday in preparation and it lives up to expectations. There’s a lot of steep climbing and then the normal rocky challenging descents.”
The elite African champion said riding the course had also been a confidence booster.
“There is only like two lines into the rock sections essentially. So it is mainly just a confidence factor that you can come into the rock sections on the limit and you know exactly where every rock is.”
He said he expected a tough challenge from PYGA Eurosteel’s Philip Buys.
“Philip has entered and he will come in with good form. He’s doing marathon world champs afterwards, so he will be coming in firing.”
Hatherly said he would be looking to use the climbs on the course to his advantage.
“I consider myself as one of the smaller riders out of the group at 63kg, so the steeper the climbs the better for me.”
He said his goals were to secure the overall crown in the series and the national title later in the year.
“Internationally, I’m looking for top-five finishes at the next few World Cups. I believe it is very possible for me to podium in the world series.”
He said the support he had received from his team was phenomenal.
“It is a pure cross country orientated team. That is where I want to be with the Commonwealth Games coming up next year.”
Hatherly said by being able to choose his international races it helped him to peak at the right times.
His manager and he have also been looking a bit further at things like bike set-up.
“Small little things, like how new your chain is, add one or two per cent, but those small percentages add up and can be the difference between a top-10 or top-five finish in an international event.”
