![\"ccs-62657-0-91091500-1457206336.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-91091500-1457206336.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Fastest man on the track on the day, Alan Hatherly (Kargo Pro MTB Team) took the U23 Men’s title at the second round of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial XCO at Mazarat MTB Park on Saturday 5 March. Photo: Supplied<\/span><\/p>\nHatherly, whose season has gotten off to a great start, was extremely happy with his win and shared his story: \u201cWe started three minutes behind the Elites, which is not the normal thing we do here at the provincials, but it was great training for me \u2013 it\u2019s always motivation to try and close the gap. Marco (Joubert) and I started off at the front and went pretty hard. Unfortunately he had a fall at the top of the climb so I got the gap there on him and then pretty much rode solo. I progressively got into a good rhythm and began to close the gap to the Elites slowly but surely. I ended up winning overall by about six minutes. So a super good day!\u201d<\/p>\n
First u23 and overall woman, Frankie du Toit said: \u201cThe last National wasn\u2019t too great for me, so I had to come back this weekend and just hope it would be a better race. I went hard from the start and managed to pull a gap on the rest of the ladies field in the first lap and maintained that for the rest of the race. I got to then kind of race at my own pace, and I\u2019m a bit sick so I didn\u2019t push myself too hard. But it was great, I really enjoyed the ride and the course and the venue was such a treat. It was quite tight and there were a lot of turns but there was just such a good vibe out here today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was also so great to see some of the GO! Durban guys out here today. I have met with them and ridden with them but never actually seen them race. And let me tell you, they gave some of the others a run for their money. It\u2019s such an amazing initiative and such well mannered youngsters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elite Men\u2019s winner, Brendon Davids (Kargo Pro MTB Team) suffered an injury to his knee on the course, but did his utmost to push through. \u201cThe new venue is really cool. Pretty tight racing in the singletrack made for some interesting tactical kind of racing between the riders,\u201d he said. Davids added that the no-over-taking option in the single tracks made for tough and hard pushes to get out front and make it count.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther than my knee going bang three laps in I think the form is really good going into the Cape Epic but I have a scan on Monday just to see where I\u2019m at and see if the damage isn\u2019t too serious and if I can actually take part,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
<\/a>2015 SA Junior Women\u2019s XCO National Champion, Frances du Toit (Kargo Pro MTB Team), took the overall and U23 Women’s title at the second round of the 2016 KZNMTB Provincial XCO at Mazarat MTB Park on Saturday 5 March. Photo: Supplied<\/span>\n<\/div>\nElite Women\u2019s winner, Johannesburg-er, Mandy de Beer (Team Jordana) said: \u201cThe track was quite technical to get going and to see what it was all about. But at the end of the day it was an amazing event. I raced against the u23 ladies and a very strong field. I had one or two crashes at the technical sections but all-in-all, coming here for training it was absolutely fantastic. Great race, great event, great vibe. A huge thank you to KZN MTB for such a great event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cian Leveridge (Team PAW) took the Youth Men\u2019s title, and enjoyed the twists and turns of the Mazarat course. \u201cI like this track because it\u2019s tight and twisty, and has a really great climb at the back. In the forest you\u2019re just going flat-out, and trying hard to stay on the line that you practiced,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Leveridge said that he wasn\u2019t happy with his start, but managed to get going in the singletrack and stay ahead for the duration of the race. \u201cLuckily they didn\u2019t catch me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Youth Women\u2019s winner, Tiffany Keep (Team PAW) spoke about the Mazarat course: \u201cRacing at this venue was a great new experience. This course was extremely tough to race. It\u2019s very tight and twisty and riding with bigger 29-er wheels made it even more tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keep mentioned that the ladies field is extremely tough this year. \u201cIt was just great being able to race with them and get that experience from it all,\u201d she added. The 16-year-old said that it was very hot, and that the dust made for an even tougher experience, but that she really enjoyed her race. \u201cI think the last round will be very interesting with all of the ladies competing to gain those vital points for the last little one, so it\u2019s going to be tough,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe race was super hard,\u201d said Junior Men\u2019s winner, Thomas Jessop (Specialized Concept Cyclery). \u201cThe first lap was really tough on the climb. There is no shade and about 23 switchbacks I think. Every time you got a gap someone closes down really easily. The singletrack was also just about being smooth rather than stop-starting so that\u2019s where I got away I think,\u201d he said. The bionic-legged youngster sported a red leg brace (after two ACL reconstructions) throughout the race wasn\u2019t going to (and didn\u2019t) let anything stop him.<\/p>\n
The Junior Women\u2019s title went to an always-smiling Chriestie-Leigh Hearder, close to nine minutes ahead of Sabrina van Wyk (BestMed ASG).<\/p>\n
The third round of the KZNMTB XCO takes place at St. Ives in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on Saturday 22 April 2016.
For any further details, please visit www.kznmtb.co.za<\/a>. For more information, contact Rebecca van der Linde info@kznmtb.co.za.<\/p>\nSummary of Results \u2013 KZNMTB Provincial XCO Series #2 \u2013 5 March 2016<\/h2>\n