Sarah Hill says she will race her heart out to achieve a top result at the SA MTB XCO Championships in Bloemfontein tomorrow.
The Galileo Risk mountain-biker finished fifth last year and said she felt proud of her achievement.
“I overcame quite a few boundaries and could feel myself growing. This year I expect [to make the] top five again and I’m so glad everyone is here so it makes it a real race.
Galileo Risk’s Sarah Hill, who finished fifth last year, is aiming for a top result at the SA MTB XCO Championships in Bloemfontein tomorrow. Photo: Henk Neuhoff Photography
“Wherever I come I know I’m going to work my butt off to get it. This year it’s going to be more a thing of now I have confidence and can actually try.”
Hill said she would like to achieve a fourth place and would work her heart out to do so.
“I’ve grown so much in one year that I’m here to give it a good go.”
She added that her aim was the same as it was for every race this year, which was to perform with consistency.
“I feel like smooth and fast is kind of my goal. This weekend I’ll make sure I stay safe, think how I can be the fastest I can be and take some risks to make sure I get every millisecond possible.”
Hill felt that in order to maintain momentum throughout she would need to recognise that there were six laps so there was no point in racing like there were only three.
“The first lap you go all out and it’s a bit chaotic as everyone’s trying to find their position. The second lap is where you find your tempo.
“In terms of the speed and strength I put out per pedal stroke, the second one would be ‘I can keep this [up] now for the rest of the race’.”
She added that she would not want to have anything left in the tank at the end, but wanted to finish having put everything she possibly could into the race.
“How do you maintain speed without pedalling? How can you save your matches while going faster? That’s all about keeping momentum through technical sections, keeping my shoulders down, staying relaxed, heading the lines, being smooth and not wasting energy with unnecessary pedal strokes.”
Hill felt her strengths were in the technical parts of the course and she thrived on adrenaline and descents.
“I’m strong in sections that require good strength, stability and handling skills.
“If I stay true to myself and the confidence I have in my handling skills and trust in my bike I think every descent on this course is something that suits me, which is fantastic because it makes me very competitive in this race.”
She said if she won the title and jersey it would be the cherry on top.
“It’s so within reach now and every year I’m a bit closer. Winning would not only show me I could do it, but also the people who think I’m just a number.
“I’m starting to slowly become a threat, which is great.”
