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<\/a>Eventual 40km Half Marathon MTB winner Alan Hatherly (front) leads Kargo Pro MTB team mate Brendon Davids (back) during Sunday’s STIHL Sharks Trail Adventure at Summerveld Estate, Shongweni.Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n
Despite the testing, muddy conditions the competitive men\u2019s field shot out of the blocks, catching Hatherly somewhat unaware and forcing the rapidly emerging young star to dig deep early on after a tough week of off-season base training.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a cross country style 40km course and with it being December and us all being in our base training phase, we just had no leg speed at all, myself especially as I took a break a week earlier than others in preparation for Rio,\u201d explained the young 2016 Olympic Games hopeful.<\/p>\n
Hatherly and Kargo Pro MTB team mate Brendon Davids looked to work together early on to shake triple defending champion Andrew Hill however the resolute TIB Insurance competitor dug in and a colossal tussle ensued until the dying stages of the clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrendon (Davids) and I put in a bit of an attack after the first 10km but we couldn\u2019t really extend the gap on Andrew (Hill) and then, with about 10km to go, there was a very steep hill that we couldn\u2019t get up because it was so sloshy so we ran up and that allowed him to close in on us,\u201d said Hatherly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrew then got past Brendon and I knew he was catching me too so I backed off.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce he caught me the two of us rode together until the last climb up the dual track to the finish where I attacked with about 2km to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hill\u2019s second place comes as the first time in the event\u2019s four year history that he hasn\u2019t stood aloft the top step of the podium however the TIB Insurance star still enjoyed every moment of his day in the saddle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t mind handing over the reins to an up and coming youngster who is such a talented rider and definitely South Africa\u2019s next big name in mountain biking!\u201d said Hill gracefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was another wonderful race, the rain was a welcome relief as we continue to go through a serious drought and to get 1100 pre-entries is one of the biggest increases in entries at any race on the calendar, just going to show that guys want to come and do a race at this time of the year!\u201d<\/p>\n