Jan Withaar has been focusing on getting into the right headspace for the SA MTB National Cross-Country Championships in Stellenbosch on Saturday. Photo: Trailseeker series
A silver medallist last year, Jan Withaar will be using this week to get himself mentally prepared for the SA MTB National Cross-Country Championships in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The 38-year-old privateer said the turmoil this year’s schedule had suffered because of the Covid-19 pandemic had left them with little time to prepare physically for the nationals.
However, after arriving in Stellenbosch on Monday, the Johannesburg rider has focused his attention on attaining familiarity with the course at Coetzenburg.
“There hasn’t been the usual preparation leading into the event because most of our races have been marathon events and the training has been geared for that,” said Withaar, who was second to Alan Hatherly in last year’s race.
“We only knew recently that the nationals were on and there’s very little you can do to switch that training across. It’s almost a ‘let’s see what happens’ type of event.”
But he feels that a week of preparation will play a critical part from a mental perspective.
“The first thing to achieve is to settle your mind and to get to a stage where everything is okay,” he said.
“It’s quite a daunting track and you don’t want to go into the race feeling you’re afraid of this section or you haven’t quite got the control of that section. If that happens then your mind is in the incorrect space.
“The more I can ride the track and feel at home on it, the better I will be on Saturday.
“There’s not much you can achieve physically this week, but mentally there is a huge amount to gain.”
Withaar raced on the course when he competed in the 2018 World Cup and said he felt the track had improved since then.
“Look, two things could have happened – it could have worn out terribly or it could have become better and after Monday’s ride I feel it is better.
“In my mind it’s a bit easier because a lot of the crevasses and dips have filled up, so it’s not as bumpy as it was previously.
“That is great because to throw us onto a crazy track with no real cross-country training would have been a bit extreme.”
The course, he added, had a strong technical dimension he felt would suit his style.
“The more demanding it is technically, the happier I am. The climbs are not too long but they are fairly steep and technically you really have to concentrate under pressure.
“I’m comfortable with that as I prefer having to focus on the ground instead of worrying what people are doing around you.”
Although the lead-up has not been ideal, Withaar acknowledged that his competitive instincts would kick in once he was on the starting line.
“You need to keep it in perspective, but when the racing starts there will be the normal expectation to achieve the best you can.
“But, due to the lack of adequate preparation, if it doesn’t work out I think I will be able to take it in my stride and there won’t be the disappointment you might feel in normal circumstances.”
