Max Knox (Specialized/EAI Solutions) will be a very busy man during the first two weekends of May. Knox will be out to defend no less than two MTN National MTB Series titles.
But he is not complaining. Knox fully realizes that if you want to remain a champion, you have certain responsibilities, one of which is to defend your titles.
Last year Knox won the MTN Clarens and MTN Gravel Travel ultra marathons.
However, there is a big difference between last year and this year. Last year MTN Clarens was in May and the Gravel Travel in August, but this year the two races are scheduled to be only a week apart.
Knox will be racing the UCI world series event, MTN Clarens , on the 4th of May and a week later he will be in Wellington. He openly admits that it will take a heroic effort to win both races again, but he seems to feel up to the challenge. “Luckily I have fully recovered from the knee injury that I sustained during the Cape Epic.
“But with regards to racing two hard races on consecutive weekends, I realize that no rider can be in peak condition weekend after weekend so it will be a tall order. That was actually why I decided to take a break after the Epic to give my body time to recover to be able to handle more hard efforts.”
“My current goal is to be competitive from MTN Clarens up to the UCI World Marathon Championship in Austria on 29 June. Everything I do from now will be aimed at ensuring that I will be at my best for the World Championship race.”
“I really believe that I am capable of improving on my 18th place at last year’s World Championship. That does not mean that I am not serious about getting good results in the MTN National MTB Series driven by NISSAN .
“Both races are special to me. I regard the course at Clarens to be one of the most exciting of the MTN National MTB Series. The fact that I won my first South African marathon title in Wellington, means that the Gravel Travel is also special.”
But first things first and MTN Clarens will be Knox’s first challenge as he will have to contend with the likes of international riders Steffen Thum (Ultra Sport Rose racing team), Stefan Sahm (The bulls) Pablo Morales and Tom Ettlich (FRM).
Last year his victory at MTN Clarens was achieved in emphatic style. To say that it was ‘textbook stuff’ will actually be a truer description. Knox bided his time, and patiently waited for the most opportune moment to attack. When the riders reached the first serious climb, it was the right moment and there was no way of stopping Knox.
He immediately upped the pace. This created pandemonium in the lead group, causing one rider after the other to drop off. By the time he reached the top, he was out in front on his own. From then on Knox managed to increase his lead with every pedal stroke.
According to Knox, the second half of the race was the hardest.
“I think the MTN Clarens could be won or lost over the last 50 kilometres. Many riders make the mistake of going out too fast, too soon, and they end up paying the prize. The high altitude definitely has an effect on the way you race.”
Charles Keey (Cannondale/Blend Properties) is the current overall leader in the MTN National MTB Ultra-Marathon Series. He won at MTN Sabie as well as MTN Tulbagh.
Knox was victorious at MTN Barberton.
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