David Maree will be hoping to dust off the cobwebs when he participates in track events at the Joburg Grand Prix to be held at Hector Norris Park in Johannesburg tomorrow.
Maree, who rides for BCX on the road, hasn’t raced on the track since representing South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in April.
“I’m not really sure what to expect. My road condition is good but I haven’t been on the track since April,” Maree told In the Bunch today.
“I think it might be a little shock to the system but I’d [still] like to finish on the podium in my events.”
David Maree (pictured) will be hoping to dust off the cobwebs when he participates in track events at the Joburg Grand Prix at Hector Norris Park tomorrow. Photo: Owen Lloyd
The 29-year-old will be competing in the super-sprint elimination and madison disciplines.
He said the elimination has a slight variation in that riders get eliminated as normal until eight riders remain. Those eight then battle it out for 10 laps and the first to cross the line takes the spoils.
The madison comprises a two-man relay race where Maree will pair up with Josh van Wyk.
Describing the race, he said one of the riders will do the racing at a given time, before he passes his partner and gets slung inwards onto the track.
“It’s like a relay but there will be numerous changes and challenges throughout the distance.
“It’s one of the most exciting events; there’s a lot happening all the time,” he said, adding that he would be competing against his BCX teammates Nolan Hoffman and Steven van Heerden as an opposing pair.
The Fourways local said he would use the event largely as preparation for the Gauteng track champs and national track champs, both taking place next month.
He said track racing was very spectator-friendly.
“Even in the crowd you can get so involved in the racing.
“You can sit with a beer and just enjoy live cycling. Even as a rider you never know what’s going to happen, which is exciting.”
Despite being somewhat rusty in track racing, Maree said it was important to head into an event with confidence, which he likened to boxing.
“Track racing is a lot like boxing. You can’t go into it thinking ‘I’m not that good’.
“You have to go into it like getting into the ring and knowing you are going to knock the other guy out.
“You have to have that same mentality otherwise you’re going to get a hiding. Track races are also short and tense so you have to aim to destroy the competition.”
