![\"ccs-62657-0-78959800-1456933658.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-78959800-1456933658.jpg\")
<\/a>Solid-Reverse Factory Racing Team\u2019s Stefan Garlicki (sponsored by Investec) took the Elite Men\u2019s title and fastest time of the day at the Helderberg Trails in Somerset West for the Western Cape Downhill Provincial, which doubled as the first round of the South African National Cup Series, at the weekend. Photo: Ewald Sadie<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThe conditions were tough as it was extremely hot and dusty. I don’t think I have ever ridden a track quite as loose and dusty as that anywhere around the globe,\u201d said Garlicki.<\/p>\n
Garlicki said that he knew the track well and did not have to have too much time to practice beforehand. \u201cI just tried to keep my race run mistake-free, which was no easy task on that track,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his seeding run, Garlicki noticed a few costly mistakes he had made and knew that if he could iron those out, he would have a good chance of being the fastest down the hill. \u201cThe key, I think, was just to keep a good flow and not over ride the course,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been training hard over the past few months plus I did well there two weeks ago at the first WPMTB Provincial so I was confident that if I kept it on two wheels, I could take the win. However with riders like Johann Potgieter, Jono and Chris Philogene, Sam Bull and Adi Van Der Merwe there, I knew it would not be easy!\u201d<\/p>\n
Racing for the Solid-Reverse Factory Racing team in Europe, Garlicki says that his focus this season will be on all of the UCI World Cups and the once-off World Championship. \u201cI will also be focusing on the African Continental Champs in Lesotho, as well as the SA Champs in Pietermaritzburg. I want to keep doing my best, having fun and hopefully keep climbing the ladder internationally,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In the Women\u2019s race, Veteran downhiller Rika Olivier took the first place spot ahead of Sub Veteran Simone Futter and Junior rider Sabine Thies. \u201cWhat a track!\u201d said Olivier. \u201cI have to admit though that the top rock garden gave me the heebie jeebies. So much so, that I decided not to ride it and rather use the B-line. I like to call it a choice of experience, some might disagree,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rest was amazing, deep loose dust corners that the fast guys rode like shoulder high berms. I just pretended I was on a snowboard and kept the front light \u2013 it must have worked because I survived the weekend without face planting in the dust. Big thanks to the organisers, track builders and land owners,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n