Theresa Ralph – a mother, coach, sports masseur and, for good measure, leader of the Gauteng TrailSeeker Series – has her work cut out for her as she juggles her various roles.
This weekend, her focus will shift to the penultimate round of the mountain bike series, which takes place at Hazeldean Farm in Pretoria tomorrow.
Ralph said she hoped a good ride combined with her results from the earlier events – she won the opening round in March and placed third and second in the following two – would be enough to keep her in the running for the overall title.
She heads the standings on 11 275 points ahead of Maricel Bekker (9 518) and Cindy Porobich (8 941).
After a strong start, Theresa Ralph leads the standings of the Gauteng TrailSeeker Series. Photo: ZC Marketing Consulting
The defending champion admitted it was a challenge to keep all the balls in the air, but her competitive streak meant she was determined not to drop a thing.
She said the increased level of competition in mountain biking kept her on her toes and while it was refreshing, she said it was becoming more difficult to stay at the top.
“The skills of the girls have increased,” she said. “Previously the guys would worry about getting stuck behind a slower girl, but now we’re trashing the boys because we’ve developed our skills.”
The 42-year-old said Samantha Sanders, Amy McDougall, Vanessa Bell and the up-and-coming Sarah Hill were all women at the top of their game and that Sanders, in particular, would present a real challenge.
“I know Sam is coming to race and at the moment, admittedly, she is better than me, so if I get a second to her I’ll be happy,” she said.
Sanders, who won the corresponding race last year, will line up at the start of the 70km marathon event with added confidence after she won the previous two rounds.
“Vanessa is always someone I end up racing, we’re quite evenly matched and it’s good racing with her,” said Ralph, who put her new teammate, Hill, in the category of up and coming star.
Not one to back down from a fight, the Galileo Risk-NavWorld rider said, regardless of the challenge, her goal had always been to defend the series title.
“I’ve attended most of the events in the series and have been on the podium for all of them. This has kept me in pole position and will hopefully keep me there until the last one.
“Obviously I’d also like to win my age category, my old-lady category, and inspire all the other people of my age to keep on pedalling hard.”
The Bryanston resident, whose cycling journey started in 2009, said she was lucky to still be able to do what she loved.
“I’ve got a competitive nature and it’s rewarded me in my cycling. I suppose the lesson is to follow your passion and it will take you to places where you’re successful.”
