South African Mariske Strauss said she was disappointed with her performance in the women’s cross-country race of the Commonwealth Games on the Nerang Mountain Bike Trails in Gold Coast today.
Mariske Strauss pictured during the women’s cross-country race at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast today. Photo: Mark Ethridge
Strauss, who won the second SA MTB Cup Series XCO event last week, finished seventh and said a “terrible” start placed her on the back foot from the outset.
“I kind of forgot how to cleat into my pedal at the start. I went a little too deep and then I was pretty much last. I had to do a lot of fighting to catch back up with the front riders.
“I then slipped on some rocks, which is when Hayley [Smith] came past me. I was with her at that point.
“In hindsight, I should have ridden a bit more steadily and recovered, but I got caught up in the moment and floored it too much.”
She said one mistake on the track could cost “valuable” time. “It was quite a fast track so there was very little room for error,” Strauss said.
“It was difficult to catch back on [to the front group] once you were already on the back foot.”
England’s Annie Last, who partnered Strauss at the Cape Epic this year and finished third overall, comfortably won the race by 48 seconds, beating her compatriot Evie Richards into second place.
“Annie had an amazing race. Well done to her. It [her result] made it a little more difficult [to accept], because I know I am capable of racing up there.
“However, it is part of racing and the journey. I just need to learn from my mistakes and stay calm and collected while working my way up again.
“My fitness is definitely there, but today the body just was not firing on all cylinders.
“Unfortunately at this level of racing if you are just half a per cent off of your best it will cost you valuable positions.
“I am looking forward to the rest of the season and reaching my potential.”
