Having missed the second round of the Gauteng Trailseeker Series in May, Nico Bell will be looking to make Saturday’s event count if he is to defend his series title.
A win at the opening race in March meant he was off to a good start but the NAD-Pro rider said his busy racing schedule only allowed time to enter three of the five scheduled events.
“When I do take part, I have to do really well to make sure it counts,” he told In the Bunch ahead of what is also known as the Lionman.
“If I want a chance of winning the series again, I have to try and win all the events I take part in.”
Nico Bell won the first round of the Gauteng Trailseeker Series, ahead of Philip Buys, in March. Photo: ZC Marketing Consulting
Bell will be at a slight disadvantage as he sets out on the 68km race in Mabalingwe, north of Pretoria, having missed it last year.
“I had a car accident shortly before the Lionman last year so I wasn’t able to do it, but my teammate Gawie (Combrink) has done it and I’ve just chatted to him about what I should expect.”
The pair will line up alongside an expected field of almost 3 000 and Bell said only Combrinck could be dismissed as competition.
“One of the best things about having Gawie there too is that there is one less person to ride against.”
He said it was never wise to count out any of the competition and that they would aim to keep up the pressure from the start.
“It will be a short and hard race and everyone will want to win, but we’ll have to be smart and time our efforts well.”
Bell’s last race start was in the previous National MTB Series event, where he finished fifth overall last month.
“We’ve had a slight rest now, which has been a nice change, so obviously we’re hoping for a win.
“Our minds are in the right place and we’re feeling positive, so we’ll see how we do on the day.”
Samantha Sanders, who won last time out, confirmed she would be at the start of the Lionman.
She said she planned to ride a conservative race as she expected sparks to fly on the final climb to the finish.
“This will be my maiden Lionman so I only know as much as I can see on the profile,” she said. “I’ll take everything as it comes, but I always race to win.”
