![\"ccs-62657-0-40767700-1496856829.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-40767700-1496856829.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Max Knox, at the National MTB Series sound 2 in Sabie, is sure to use the climbing and elevation to his advantage this weekend at the 4th round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series in Champagne Valley. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span>Men\u2019s Marathon Series leader Max Knox (New Holland\/This Way Out) will be on the start line, as will newly crowned South African champion, Nico Bell (Team NAD Pro), who is currently lying second in the prestigious series. Also confirmed are Gawie Combrinck (Team NAD Pro) and the Pyga Eurosteel pair of Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes and Ascendis Health\u2019s Gert Heyns.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to seeing what the people from Advendurance have in store for us at this new venue,\u201d said Knox, who comes fresh off securing two dominant wins at the Sappi Karkloof Classic and the Vodacom Hippo Hollow Challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new two-day format of the series has made the racing closer, which is good for the sport. I\u2019m quite happy with the shorter distances, but personally like there to be some tough climbs and a generous helping of singletrack so that the stages are still challenging,\u201d added Knox, who is the defending series men\u2019s champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be the first race of our second block of racing this year. We had some time off after SA Marathon Champs followed with a solid two weeks of training in the George area with Matthys. The legs feel fresh and the shape is good,\u201d said Buys, who, along with Beukes, won the Old Mutual joBerg2c and KAP Sani2c since their one-two success at Round 3 in Clarens in early April.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s event, current series leader Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) will be out to extend her lead. She\u2019s been recovering from recent illness, but is looking for a strong performance this weekend as it forms part of her build-up for the Marathon World Championships in Germany later this month.<\/p>\n
Amy Beth McDougall (Valencia), currently second in the women\u2019s series rankings, will also be at Round 4 this weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I have good form going into the race. I\u2019m very excited about the new venue. Having ridden there before I know we are in for a treat!\u201d said McDougall.<\/p>\n In addition to the marathon and half-marathon two-day events, there will also be a single-day marathon and half-marathon on Saturday (no points or prizemoney). And a 20km Fun Race on Saturday followed by a 10km Fun Ride on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an event for everyone. And for most, it\u2019s possible to participate on both days, which makes for a very rewarding weekend away. Champagne Valley is just a two-hour drive from Durban and a four-hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria so we are expecting quite a decent sized field,\u201d said Wessel van der Walt of Advendurance.<\/p>\n<\/a>Current series leader Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health) will be out to extend her lead this weekend at the 4th round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series in Champagne Valley. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to the routes at this venue. I\u2019ve only ever been to Champagne Valley for holidays as a kid. But I can imagine the mountain biking must be bliss there. Advendurance always stages good events and I try to compete in as many of them as I can. At the Ashburton Investments Series, the racing is tough and the routes are always challenging, as they should be in XCM mountain biking,\u201d said De Groot.<\/p>\n