Teenager Tristan Nortje is gearing up for his first Knysna Bull, which kicks off from the waterfront tomorrow.
Tristan Nortje is gearing up for his first Knysna Bull, which starts at the waterfront tomorrow. Photo: Mankele Mountain Biking
“I’m only old enough now to do it, so this year will be my first Bull,” said the 18-year-old.
“I decided to do it because there is a lot of competition and strong hard racing, so it makes for a good four days.”
The event starts with a 13.5km prologue followed by 59km, 60km and 52km stages.
“Due to the stages being so short, the racing will be flat out from the gun.
“So the aim will be to just go flat out and keep up,” said Nortje, who is competing in the U23 Young Bulls race.
He added that he knew it was going to be a fast race and that it featured a lot of singletrack, which he loved.
“I don’t know too much of the route but I’ve done a few races and rides in this area, so the tracks will probably come to mind in the race.”
Nortje added that the goal was to do the best he could and enjoy the hard racing.
“It’s my first Bull but there are other guys who’ve done it, so I’ll just have to watch out for them,” said the George local.
The event offers a winner-takes-all prize format in which the riders to win the men’s and women’s main events take home R100 000 each. This dynamic could play on the minds of U23 riders when they choose which category to enter.
If they enter the open category they stand to hit the jackpot, whereas the U23 race offers smaller money prizes for the top five.
“That was a difficult one because you can only enter for one,” said Nortje.
“So enter for the Big Bull and stand a chance of winning R100 000 or nothing, or go for the U23 category and have prize money for the top five.
“That’s really good prize money, but I think they could’ve made the main race also the top five,” said the Imbuko Giant Pro Cycling rider who, following the Knysna Bull, will target the SA XCO cups and champs and then a few Trailseeker races.
