Following a two-and-a-half month layoff, Craig Uria will be using the 70km Winter Fast One mountain-bike race in Alberton on Sunday as a “tester” for the rest of the season.
Having not raced competitively since the sani2c Race in May, Uria said he was not feeling too optimistic about his form but he hoped to get going again as the season unfolded.
“I have no big expectations; I’m just using the race for the intensity and more as a form of training,” he told In the Bunch today.
“I’m feeling good and healthy but as far as where I am at in races I have not reached my best form yet. I hope that I will get there over the next few weeks.
“There is no better training than actually racing,” he added.
Craig Uria will be using the 70km Winter Fast One mountain-bike race in Alberton on Sunday as a “tester” for the rest of the season. Photo: Supplied
Uria, who rides for Concept Cyclery Melrose Arch, last year finished third in the Winter Fast One, just five seconds behind Henry Uys in second and Edwill O’Neil who won the event.
“It was nice to get onto the podium last year because it was also after a bit of a break.
“It’s a good burn and I’m looking forward to some flat-out racing. You never know who is going to take part on race day,” he said, noting that Uys and O’Niell would not be there this year.
“A result is not on the cards for me but getting one will be a bonus,” Uria said.
He was looking forward to competing in the race “on my doorstep here in Johannesburg”, Uria said.
“They put a nice route together and it is not overly technical. It is the type of route where you have to work constantly.
“There are certainly no ‘free’ miles. It’s an interesting route and I really enjoyed the event last year,” Uria said, adding that the course was “very flat compared to most other marathons”.
“But that doesn’t mean you won’t be working – you actually end up pedalling hard for most of the route. It will be super fast.”
Uria won the Route 66 MTB Experience in February, before taking part in the Tankwa Trek and Cape Epic in March.
His chances of getting a result at the sani2c were hindered when he contracted pneumonia, his reason for taking time off the bike.
“It’s been a bit of a rough year but we want to build up again. Our next big goal is the Cape Pioneer Trek [starting on October 14].”
