![\"ccs-2-0-87496300-1458656861.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-87496300-1458656861.jpg\")
<\/a>South African Women’s Cross-country Champion, Cherie Redecker (Novus OMX Pro Team), will be among the country’s great MTB enthusiasts at the Stihl 2016 SA XCO Cup Series, which takes place at Wolwespruit Bike Park in Erasmuskloof, Pretoria on Saturday 26 march. Photo: Chris Hitchcock <\/span><\/p>\nTraining to de-stress from wedding plans could have been just what Redecker needed to secure a fifth and second place at the first two rounds respectively. \u201cThe stress levels were more than I expected but it was all worth it in the end. It has reminded me that we have our plans and try control things as much as possible but in the end, God has his plans and timing,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The Novus OMX Pro Team rider, who sits only ten points behind the series log leader, Frances du Toit, feels that her form is not where she would like it to be, but is confident that she is heading in the right direction. \u201cThe schedule ahead is going to be crazy so starting off with less races now will help me later in the season,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
When chatting about goals for the season, Redecker said: \u201cMy top goals for this year are the Championships \u2013 South African, African and World \u2013 as well as the UCI World Cups. If I qualify for Olympics, that will be a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n
A name to look out for in the Junior Men\u2019s category is current series leader, Reinhard Zellhuber. The 18-year-old began mountain bike riding eight years ago and has only recently switched his focus over from cross-country marathon racing to the short-course format.<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to race marathon quite a bit, but decided to put more of my focus onto cross-country. I feel that the international scene is larger when it comes to cross-country, and I would ultimately love to go and race overseas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Zellhuber sits four points ahead of Jarrod van den Heever. \u201cBecause of the training and hard work that my coach and I have put in in Ballito, I was expecting to do well and hoping for a top spot,\u201d said the Kokstad teenager.<\/p>\n
A promising season so far has Zellhuber dreaming big and aiming high, with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. \u201cI would really like to win the African Continental Championships in the Junior category this year, and qualify for World Champs. After the Mankele race, I was sitting at the top of the international rankings in the Junior World XCO Series for a bit, which was quite exciting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Zellhuber, who is currently home-schooled, has decided to split his final year into two and focus equally hard at both cycling and achieving academically.<\/p>\n
Online pre-entries for the third round of the Stihl 2016 SA XCO Cup Series at Wolwespruit Bike Park close at midnight tonight (Tuesday 22 March 2016). Click here<\/a> to enter. Late entries will be accepted at registration, with a nominal charge of R50 in addition to the entry fee.<\/p>\n