Five-time national marathon champion Robyn de Groot and three-time Cape Epic winner Ariane Luthi will join forces for the three-day Great Zuurberg Trek, which starts in Addo, Eastern Cape, on May 25.
The pair will ride under the Team Ascendis Health-Spur banner.
Ascendis-Health’s Robyn de Groot, pictured here, has joined forces with Team Spur’s Ariane Luthi for the Great Zuurberg Trek, starting in Addo on May 25. Photo: Zoon Cronje
De Groot, who won her fifth straight national marathon championship title in Pietermaritzburg last year, said she was looking forward to a new challenge alongside Luthi.
“I have never ridden in the Addo area before,” she said. “New challenges and new adventures keep my motivation at a high.
“I have always heard great reports of the race, so when Ariane and I spoke about potentially doing it together I jumped at the opportunity.”
While racing with the aim to win, De Groot is also looking forward to an enjoyable race.
“There is no doubt that we will race hard,” she said. “But I am also very sure we will enjoy what the event has to offer.
“The Great Zuurberg Trek offers a unique boutique stage-racing experience.”
Luthi is currently in Belgium and she is set to fly back to South Africa next Tuesday. She said the race would fit perfectly into her schedule.
“I am going to spend about two weeks in SA after I land on Tuesday,” she said. “It [the race] fits perfectly into those two weeks as well as into my training schedule.
“After discussing the race with Robyn, I can confirm it is finally happening that we are teaming up. We tried a few times before, but it just never worked out. Somehow our schedules were just never aligned.
“We have raced many times against each other before in some tight races. She was a person I always looked up to and had a lot of respect for, so I really look forward to spending a weekend riding with her.”
