![\"ccs-58780-0-71998200-1485942425.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-71998200-1485942425.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Johann “Pottie” Potgieter was over the moon with his win at the first round of the 2017 SA Downhill National Cup Series in Helderberg on Sunday 29 January. Photo: Theo Bruwer<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt was an unbelievable day for me yesterday,\u201d said Potgieter. \u201cWe had had the Western province race the weekend before and obviously Stefan Garlicki was on form again, so I knew that I would have to put in 110% to beat him,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He mentioned how close the friendship is between him and Garlicki, but also said that the rivalry on the track is strong. \u201cWe keep each other on our toes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Potgieter paced himself well, and preserved as much energy as he could ahead of the final race. \u201cI gave it 90% in the seeding run and just tried to get the technical bits pinned and not to break myself on the pedalling sections,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After placing second in the seeding run behind Theo Erlangsen, Potgieter knew that he had to put in just a little bit extra to win at the end. He said: \u201cI managed to nail the technical bits, I had a moment here and there, but luckily I stuck it and where I had to pedal I just gave it my everything. As I crossed the line there was no more breath left and I thought to myself that if it wasn\u2019t enough, then well done to the other guys \u2013 they rode really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
After hearing he had finished with the fastest time, Potgieter said that he could not have been more \u201cstoked\u201d, especially after two years of injuries. \u201cThe last time I won a national was in about 2012 or around there if my memory serves me correctly. It was an awesome feeling to know that I could still do it.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that I\u2019m back, I\u2019ve got my bike set-up dialled and all of that as well. I felt really good on the bike yesterday as well. But as you know, guys like Stefan \u2013 he\u2019s a really quick nowadays and he puts in the hard work and is really hard to beat, so I am incredibly stoked.\u201d He said.<\/p>\n In the overall Women\u2019s category, Rika Olivier impressed all as she powered to victory with 13 seconds over Sabine Thies, and Simon Futter two seconds behind to grab the third spot on the podium.<\/p>\n In the Junior Men\u2019s race, Cullen McMaster had just under nine seconds over Nicolaas Van Pletzen, who had 400 split seconds on third placed Francios du Toit.<\/p>\n<\/a>In the Junior Men’s category, Cullen McMaster impressed with nine minutes on the second placed rider in his category in Helderberg on Sunday 29 January. Photo: Theo Bruwer<\/span><\/p>\n