Candice Lill intends to give it her all at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup race at the Coetzenburg Grounds in Stellenbosch tomorrow.
Lill, who won the gruelling three-stage Tankwa Trek a month ago, said the seven 4.4km-lap course would take her “out of my comfort zone”.
“I have mainly focused on the Cape Epic [next week]. I have not trained specifically for cross-country racing,” she told In the Bunch, “but I hope to give it everything I have got [and] to stay safe as much as I can on the technical sections.
“I’m not starting very close to the front, so I will have to work my way forward to get to the bunch in the first few laps. It will be a good challenge for me.”
Candice Lill, pictured here after Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge in January, intends to give it her all at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Stellenbosch tomorrow. Photo: ZC Marketing Consulting
Lill has described the route as “world-class”.
“The make-up of the course this year will challenge even the top riders in the world. That is a good thing.
“For me, there are a few sections that I feel will suit me, but then there are other parts that I am nervous about.
“I have a lot of fun on the wine barrel and I enjoy ‘pick up sticks’ and even the rock garden, which is quite challenging. It will be important to pick the right line.
“There are quite a few steep slopes, where it will be important to be behind your saddle when taking them on.”
In a stacked international field, Lill warned that there would be no place to hide during the event.
“I have just got to put it all out there,” she said. “I will try not to worry too much about all of the other contenders and what is going on.
“I have just got to focus on myself, ride the best I can and race how I know best. If everything goes well, I can surprise myself.
“I am trying not to put too much pressure on myself,” she added.
The dormakaba SA rider said the race would offer her a good chance to up her game.
“It is wonderful to have a cross-country World Cup right here in our backyard where we can race against the best in the world without having to travel across the world.
“The guys have done an amazing job in building a very testing course, which should provide a good opportunity to improve on technical riding.
“This will be a great way to prepare for the Epic.”
