Hundreds of passionate mountain bikers will take to the popular trail network around the Howick region this Sunday, 7 June when they tackle the 2015 Sappi Howick Classic, amongst them will be local Thami Kunene, fired up to better his 2014 time.
Based in Lidgetton, just 15km away from the race’s host town of Howick, Kunene developed an interest in cycling after seeing a friend riding near his home.
Sappi-supported Thami Kunene hopes to utilise his cycling improvement and increased experience to improve on his finish time of 2014 when he tackles Sunday’s Sappi Howick MTB Classic. // Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media.
Through the support of some key role players in the region’s cycling community as well as forestry giant Sappi, Kunene has successfully conquered the Sappi Karkloof MTB Festival 40km aQuellé Half Marathon in both 2014 and 2015 and will now look to take on the Howick event’s 40km challenge for the second time this weekend.
“I have been training hard and racing a little bit and I hope I can break my time from last year’s Howick race this weekend!” explains Kunene.
“With Sappi’s help I will be taking part in this year’s Howick race and I’m going faster than I was before so hopefully I will achieve my goal.”
Kunene’s cycling interest recently saw him branch out from mountain biking to road racing and the 23 year-old has enjoyed the fresh challenge.
“I have done two road races so far and they were cool even though I wasn’t quite ready for them.
“I am riding on the road as part of my training and to try help with my endurance; I’ll try to learn anything that will help my cycling.
“Riding on the road has definitely helped my mountain biking so far.”
Kunene believes that his increased experience since last year’s Sappi Howick Classic stands him in good stead ahead of this year’s challenge.
“I have now done the Howick race before and this year’s Karkloof race will also help me in this year’s Howick race because I now know what to expect and I know some of the trails.
“I am also going to have a look at this year’s route with (Sappi Howick Classic course steward) Gavin Ryan this week before Sunday’s race which will also help a lot because previously I’ve had to ride without knowing the route, which is very difficult,” says Kunene.
While the growth of mountain biking in his community remains slow, Kunene is confident his interest in the sport will help improve this in the near future.
The 2015 Sappi Howick MTB Race takes place from Howick High School on Sunday 7 June with participants able to choose from the 10km Family Ride, 19km Sappi Intermediate Ride and the 40km Sappi Howick Classic. Entries can be submitted online via www.roag.co.za by 3 June and more information can be found at www.howickmountainbiking.co.za.
