![\"ccs-62657-0-43001000-1476303297.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-43001000-1476303297.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The elite men lining up on the start line at the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series Rooiberg in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\nWith four wins in the last four rounds, Knox (Lowveld Tractors) has essentially tied up the overall series win in the Elite men\u2019s category, but the Sabie resident has never won at Rooiberg and says that it\u2019s one race he\u2019s eager to add to his growing list of victories.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really like the Rooiberg course, but I\u2019ve never been able to win there. I\u2019m hoping that will change this weekend. I\u2019ve haven\u2019t raced hard in the past few weeks and I\u2019m feeling strong and confident. It will be good to end the series off with a win, but nothing is certain in mountain biking and I need to ride a smart race,\u201d said Knox.<\/p>\n
Knox will be up against strong contenders in the Team NAD duo of Nico Bell and Gawie Combrinck, who recently won the Three Towers Stage Race in Mpumalanga. Bell and Combrinck are lying second and third respectively behind Knox in the Ashburton Investments Series standings. Combrinck, winner at Rooiberg last year, was runner-up to Knox at Round 6, with Bell runner-up at Rounds 4 and 5. Both will be eager to finish the prestigious series with a victory.<\/p>\n
Also confirmed on the start list is the SCOTT LCB Factory Racing pair of Philip Buys and Arno du Toit. The technical route on the ultra-marathon should suit them and they\u2019ll certainly be podium contenders, as will Lourens Luus (PSG Wealth), who was fourth at Rounds 4 and 5.<\/p>\n Konny Looser (BIXS) will also be on the start line. The Swiss racer had mechanical problems at Rooiberg last year, which pretty much cost him the National Series overall title. He\u2019ll be eager for some redemption on Saturday. He is also on the road to recovery from illness earlier this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m finally back in South Africa and also recovered from surgery to the main artery in my right leg. I\u2019m more excited than ever to race the big events and would love to have a good result at Rooiberg,\u201d said Looser.<\/p>\n Riders\u2019 final series points are calculated on their best five results. So for De Groot (Ascendis Health), who missed Rounds 4 and 5 due to injury, a victory is virtually a must if she is to defend her National Series title. Her three wins \u2013 at Rounds 2, 3 and 6 put her in third place behind Theresa Ralph (Galileo Risk) and Amy Beth McDougall (Valencia), first and second respectively in the series.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to this race. I\u2019m growing stronger each week after returning from my injury layoff and I\u2019m excited from some proper mountain biking on the rougher terrain at Rooiberg,\u201d said De Groot.<\/p>\n McDougall is sitting out the final round due to fatigue, while her Valencia teammate, Samantha Saunders, will also be conspicuously absent as she is representing South Africa at the road cycling world championships abroad.<\/p>\n Joining Ralph and De Groot on the start line will be De Groot\u2019s Ascendis Health teammate, Jennie Stenerhag and Vanessa Bell (Bells Cycling).<\/p>\n Stenerhag recently successfully defended her Swedish national marathon title, so arrives with good form, while Bell, currently fifth in the rankings, will be eager to get her first podium of the 2016 series.<\/p>\n The routes have all been made shorter and\/or faster compared to those used previously. There is also more singletrack. These changes are is sure to result in a tighter contest in each of the distances.<\/p>\n The Elite women will tackle a 70km course with 1 120 metres of ascent, while the Elite men will do battle over a 97km course with 1 689 metres of climbing. The popular half-marathon is 45km with 455 metres of elevation and there is also a 20km Fun Race and a 10km Family Fun Ride.<\/p>\n \u201cRooiberg is just a two-hour drive from Pretoria. We cater very well for supporters so the day trip is worthwhile. But there is also Tented accommodation available for those that want to arrive on Friday,\u201d said Wessel van der Walt of Advendurance, the organisers.<\/p>\n<\/a>A crocodile busking in the morning sun at Rooiberg as Darren Lill rides past, followed closely by Philip Buys and Max Knox.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Konny Looser, the Swiss racer maintaining a steady lead back in 2015 at Rooiberg before disaster struck with a mechanical problem.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/a>The elite women, lead by Robyn de Groot and Samantha Sanders at round 3 of the series in Clarens.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>A giraffe spectating the Rooiberg race in 2015. A variety of game and sights are up on offer at the Rooiberg venue.<\/span><\/p>\n