![\"ccs-62657-0-82160500-1485157554.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-82160500-1485157554.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Karl Platt is in South Africa to prepare for the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope and the Cape Epic in March. Photo: Supplied.<\/span><\/p>\nThe 38-year-old from Osthofen will be supported by Swiss marathon mountain bike champion Urs Huber and fellow Germans Tim B\u00f6hme and Simon Stiebjahn.<\/p>\n
Platt, who is already in the country to prepare for a series of events, intimated that they were ready to shake things up in the Cycling SA-sanctioned race, which is presented by the City of Drakenstein and Scicon.<\/p>\n
Although he was cagey about his objectives, simply saying it was \u201cstrictly confidential\u201d, he said the tour would play an important part in fine-tuning his form ahead of the Epic.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great event with great racing and we want to race cleverly to make the most of it. We will use the strength of the team to our advantage and, for sure, we want to start some fireworks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Platt will team up with Huber at the Epic just over a week afterwards in a bid to defend their Cape Epic title and with the aim of becoming the first six-time winner.<\/p>\n
He currently shares five overall triumphs with Switzerland\u2019s Christoph Sauser, a multiple former world marathon mountain bike champion who is a regular face at the Tour of Good Hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be some other strong rivals at the Epic this year, so the duel between Christoph and me is just one of many rivalries,\u201d said Platt.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there will be a special feeling racing against him as we are both gunning for our sixth title.\u201d<\/p>\n
Platt said B\u00f6hme and Stiebjahn, who will team up for the Epic, were the best support team one could imagine.<\/p>\n
His objective, he said, would be to \u201cdeliver a top performance and to be competitive for the win\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNeedless to say, after last year\u2019s overall victory, this can be the only goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
After spending time in South Africa in November, Platt, who ended third in Attkwas at the weekend, has been back for a block of training leading up to the racing season.<\/p>\n
He said there were many benefits to training in the country at this time of the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be able to get used to the heat and the special weather conditions. Also, we will be riding awesome trails and last, but not least, enjoy the beauty of South Africa and the great hospitality.\u201d<\/p>\n