Henry Liebenberg says he is looking forward to defending his U23 title at the Knysna Bull, which takes place from tomorrow till Saturday at Thesen Island.
Henry Liebenberg heads to Knysna Bull after achieving victory at SA XCO Championships. Photo: Meraki media
The 21-year-old, who is the current U23 XCO champion, won the U23 category and placed fourth overall in last year’s edition.
“I love this race; this is real mountain biking. With amazing trails, lots of climbs and two hilltop stage finishes this is a fun event to come and do to get the legs going for the season,” Liebenberg told In the Bunch.
The Absolute Motion rider often heads to the Wilderness for training at this time of year and appreciates the unique routes the organisers of the Knysna Bull create.
“I enjoy the trails and climbs a lot. It’s not every day you get to race in the Knysna forests.
“The hilltop finishes are something I feel more stage races should consider doing.”
His strategy is to go flat-out in the prologue and ride hard and smart during the rest of the stages.
“As with any stage race, the challenge will definitely be to not take too many risks and end up losing the race over a big mechanical.
“I will just try my best to ride within my abilities. It is a long race.”
This year the Knynsa Bull is offering an enticing cash prize of R100 000 for the leading man and woman, and a R10 000 cash prize for the U23 winner. This should provide a great incentive for the riders to push themselves to the limit to take the win.
“The prize purse in this race is definitely very attractive. It’s amazing to see people invest in an event like this,” said Liebenberg.
“The U23 prize money is also very rewarding.”
