If Andrew Hill wins the Drak Descent this weekend it will be his fourth consecutive victory in the two-day event, which takes place along the banks of the Umzimkulu River in the Drakensberg.
Andrew Hill is targeting his fourth Drak Descent title in the Drakensberg this weekend. Photo: Matthew Volek
“The idea is to definitely try and push the body and have a good start to the mountain biking season,” said the 37-year-old ahead of a race that consists of 42km and 45km stages.
He said he enjoyed the singletrack and the altitude. With the route being under 50km each day, it was a full-on cross-country race with nice technical riding.
“The route is predominantly singletrack. It also follows the river and includes a lot of the Sani Spoors network.
“So it’s prepared singletrack, but with some rough new stuff they add in each year to keep us on our toes.
“It’s generally a well-maintained sort of trail, which I really enjoy. I’ve seen the profile which looks the same as last year, but they can always shift in new tweaks here and there.”
Regarding strategy, Hill said he would have to decide on the day.
“The plan is to stick to knowing the singletrack and where it comes in. If they dramatically change it then that is going out the window.
“Being up near the front of the race will definitely help, and also to make it hard and fast from the beginning.”
He added that it was often quite wet and muddy, especially with it being near the beginning of the year and up in the Drakensberg, so that could present a challenge.
“You have to manage your bike and equipment really well and make sure you’re using the right chain lube and tyres. Controlling the controllable is always the case.”
Hill says he enjoys the people and the vibe at the event, especially as it links up with the Drak Descent paddle race.
“You have a different group of crew you’re interacting with. Everyone is happy, amped and chatting about their off-season.”
He said he had a good link-up with Giant Bikes and TIB Insurance, his main sponsor, so he was looking forward to a good and solid year with lots of racing.
“I’ve been doing lots of alternative racing on the calendar – events I haven’t really got to before, to try and see what else is out there in terms of mountain biking.
“Some target races this year will be PE Plett, Route 66 MTB Experience and the nice big one will be joBerg2c. The year is looking really full.”
