Hungarian cross-country mountain biker and Olympian Barbara Benko has set her sights on some major races in South Africa and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.
The 30-year-old, who is a 30-time national champion across the road, cross-country, cross-country marathon and cyclocross disciplines, placed third in last weekend’s Attakwas and is now preparing for her second Tankwa Trek and first Cape Epic.
“This was my first ever Attakwas and I had no idea what to expect. I just heard it was hard,” Benko told In the Bunch.
“Surely I didn’t choose the best year to debut. The weather made it even harder. It wasn’t cold, but the wind was crazy strong and I rode 80km alone in the headwind. Fair to say I didn’t enjoy it.
“I dropped my chain at a crucial moment, just before the first steep, loose climb, where Jenny [Stenerhag] attacked. I had to stop to fix it, so I got stuck behind the group. At the top I could overtake and tried to chase, but she already had a good gap with Robyn [de Groot].”
Benko said the group were strong and worked together well.
“I just couldn’t catch them but broke away from the group behind, so I found myself solo for the last 80km. The last part of the race was incredibly hard. I was completely broken, but it was a great relief to finish, especially on the podium.
“I won’t lie, I went there with zero expectations. But still I wanted to win. I always want to win if I have a number plate on my bike. Knowing the route is a big advantage, which only means I have to go back and try again to end on the top step.”
Hungarian Barbara Benko has set her sights on some major races in South Africa this year. Photo: The Attention Builders (Irmo Keizer/Andreas Dobslaff)
The Ghost Factory Racing rider has teamed up with Dutch cyclist Anne Terpstra for the Epic and will also tackle the Tankwa Trek alongside her.
“I did Tankwa with Anne last year for the first time. It was really a last-minute decision. Coincidentally both of us were here in Stellenbosch for a training camp at the same time, so I asked Anne if she was keen to do it to close our camp with a nice race and try to get some UCI points.
“It took her about two minutes and she said yes, so we did it and it was awesome. We went there cool and calm, almost with no support team and a bit tired from the training before. And we just lost the leaders’ jersey on the last day, which means we have to go back to try again.
“But, also, it will be another test for us before the Epic. This time we will have our team around us for both races, which will be a huge step forward and I can’t wait to share some lifetime memories with them.”
Benko said it was hard to say what she expected from the Epic and she had no idea what eight hard days would do to her body.
“We will take it day by day and see how the race unfolds. We have a similar mentality about racing. So we want to do our best every day and we will try to stay in contention for the win, but for the podium for sure.
“I have some private goals for us which I only share with Anne. I want to finish on a high and with the feeling that I did everything I could.
“Tankwa is a bit different. We will try a few things out for Epic and we definitely want to go for that pink jersey. The field is even harder than last year, so it will be a great challenge.”
Following these events, Benko will shift her focus to the XCO world cups.
“I changed coach in the middle of last season, which is surely not the best timing, but I had to make that call and I’m delighted I did. This means very different preparation and training methods than what I was used to, but so far so good.
“I have the feeling we are a good match, me and John [Wakefield, my new coach]. I can’t tell you why, but I trust him already 120%, which is very unusual for me.
“It just clicked immediately after our first phone call when I was deep in a hole and he gave me a helping hand to try to get me back to my best.
“So at the end of last year we discussed what my racing plans are to get me in the best possible shape at the world cup start line. ”
Benko said she enjoyed racing in SA as at this time of the year it was great to escape the European winter and train here.
“I really like it here – love the trails, the lifestyle, the nature, and for me it’s still a new place to discover. Actually I still want to see and do so many things here besides cycling.
“I also made a few new friends here, so it’s nice to spend time with them or ride with them.
“I did Wines2Whales at the end of last year and I have to say the races here are well organised, so you get quality for your money.”
Compared to international mountain biking, Benko felt the sport in SA had developed massively over the past few years.
“We don’t have to go too far [for examples] – you have a world champ called Alan Hatherly. Also on the women’s side the girls have improved a lot. SA has some world-class athletes for sure.
“You have great facilities to train here. You just have to put the work in and it will pay off. The XCO races I did last year were very good too – the course was technical and had everything an XCO course needed to have.
“Marathons are a bit different – it’s simply because of the terrain and how the nature is. You can find super-hard marathon races here and in Europe too. It’s really just the terrain which is different.”
She added that racing was on the next level now and that the competition was “so tight”.
“Just watch one of the world cups. I’s so exciting. For example, if you see the women’s podium from last year, it changed in every world cup.
“It’s intense. You have to be on the top of your game to be there. The world cups are the top races for sure and all well organised.
“I think we can make some improvement in the smaller races and make them better.”
Benko will be based in her home country of Hungary and travel from there to the different events.
“I love to go back there between races to recharge and switch off and see family and friends.
“For me it’s very important to keep the balance. The season is long. The last world cup is only in September, so I will see which races I will do in the off-season.
“I plan to do a holiday with friends, too. It will be a big year.”
