![\"ccs-58780-0-99205400-1484728851.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-99205400-1484728851.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge will challenge some of the world\u2019s top female racers on Saturday, covering a distance of 121km with more than 3000 metres of accumulated ascent. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\nA crash in December resulted in L\u00fcthi having to take some time off training, but she\u2019s recovered fully and has been working hard on improving her skills, which will see her start the demanding race with her confidence levels at an all-time high. Her experience of the race route (which stays virtually the same) and the conditions, which generally include heat, a late-race headwind, rugged terrain and steep gradients, will all count in her favour.<\/p>\n
South African marathon champion, Robyn de Groot (Ascendis Health), the 2016 winner, is sure to be L\u00fcthi\u2019s biggest rival. Their mutual respect off the bike is admirable, but their rivalry on the bike is always fierce.<\/p>\n
For De Groot, winning the 2016 edition was one of her career highlights. The South African marathon champion went on to have one of her best years last year, no doubt buoyed by her early success at Attakwas, which was a confidence-boosting win over L\u00fcthi, who was third.<\/p>\n
Current XCO World Champion, Annika Langvad (Specialized) of Denmark will also be on the start line, making her Attakwas debut. Winner of the past three Cape Epics (with L\u00fcthi), Langvad is also a three-time former marathon world champion and her presence will change the dynamic of the race, even though she\u2019s a first-time Attakwas competitor.<\/p>\n \u201cTo win Attakwas this year is going to be a huge challenge that I\u2019m super motivated for. This kind of competition pushes me to pay more attention to details when preparing for it. I can\u2019t afford to have any lapses, no matter how small,\u201d said L\u00fcthi.<\/p>\n \u201cThe crash resulted in some hiccups in my training. I will find out on Saturday at the race just how that affected my form. But in general, I feel strong and confident, which is always a good way to go into a big race like Attakwas. I\u2019m very keen to win it again,\u201d added L\u00fcthi.<\/p>\n But even with good form, L\u00fcthi is taking a realistic approach to the event in which for half a decade she was unbeatable.<\/p>\n \u201cThe competition will be the toughest yet. Apart from having Annika (Langvad), in the race for the first time, I believe that Robyn (de Groot), Jennie (Stenerhag) and the other women have all upped their game. It\u2019s going to be a very exciting race,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n For De Groot, Attakwas is virtually a home race. She lives in Glentana, which is a few kilometres from the finish. As the defending champion, she\u2019s taking it seriously, but says the bigger goal remains winning the Cape Epic in March.<\/p>\n \u201cAttakwas is the hardest one-day race in the country for sure. It\u2019s not often us ladies get to race an ultra-marathon. It\u2019s always difficult starting with such a long, hard race at the beginning of the year. Obviously as a professional athlete, winning an iconic race like Attakwas is a major objective. We compete to win. But it will serve as a gauge as to how training has been going and what still needs to be worked on ahead of the Cape Epic. The Epic is pretty much Attakwas x 7!\u201d said De Groot.<\/p>\n For Langvad, the decision to race Attakwas came from the praise given to the race by L\u00fcthi.<\/p>\n \u201cI start my studies again in February, but decided to come to South Africa for training and thought I would spice things up a bit by doing some racing. I also know the organisers from my previous participation at the Cape Pioneer Trek, which I enjoyed, so I knew that Attakwas would be worth paying a visit to. I\u2019m really looking forward to it,\u201d said Langvad on Monday night, just prior to boarding a flight to South Africa.<\/p>\n The Dane escaped the icy winter at home recently and spent two weeks training in Majorca. But she feels the change in temperature won\u2019t trouble her much.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t hot in Majorca, but it was sunny. I will have a few days to get accustomed to the South African summer heat for Saturday. My rivals will obviously be more used to the conditions, but I\u2019ll take one pedal stroke at a time and then we\u2019ll see,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/a>Swedish champion, Jennie Stenerhag, who punctured while leading last year, will return for another shot at the coveted the Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge women\u2019s crown in South Africa on Saturday. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge includes some rugged terrain through the Karoo and the Attakwas Reserve. Here Ariane L\u00fcthi tackles a loose, rocky climb during the 2016 edition. Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za<\/span><\/p>\n