The battle for overall supremacy in the MTN National MTB Series driven by Nissan will come down to the wire for the first time in recent memory. The series of eight national events will culminate in a three-way battle with the MTN Ride Crater Cruise this weekend.
Current series leader Nico Bell (Team RECM) will have to contend with Darren Lill (Cannondale Blend) and his Team RECM team mate Lourens Luus for the 2014 title. The R50 000 prize purse for the winner on the day could well upset the overall series aspirations for the trio.
Last year’s winner Waylon Woolcock (Cannondale Blend) will be looking to come back with a bang after a hiatus from racing due to injury. Kevin Evans will also be turning pedals in anger eager to make it win number six at the MTN Ride Crater Cruise. News that James Reid (Trek), Hanco Kachelhoffer (Altech), Brand du Plessis, Gawie Combrinck and Melt Swanepoel (both EIA cycling) together with Erik Kleinhans (team RECM) have also confirmed their entries adds to the excitement making it even harder to predict the outcome on Saturday.
The women’s marathon series title has been sewn up by Ariane Kleinhans (Team RECM) who will be racing the Swiss Epic this weekend leaving it to Yolandi du Toit (Garmin), Cherise Stander (Team RECM) and Theresa Ralph to battle it our for the R32000 prize purse on the day.
According to the organizers the route has some new sections including a brand new 20km section described as proper mountain biking that will certainly make the racing more exciting and slightly longer with 115km for the Ultra Marathon. The elite women will be doing the new 80km Marathon route.
For full results and series standings visit http://www.saseeding…ults/?event=742
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