![\"ccs-62657-0-34872700-1432291651.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-34872700-1432291651.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nKargo Pro MTB Team rider, Alan Hatherly is fully prepared to race in the first round of the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup (XCO) presented by Shimano, taking place this weekend in Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic) on 23 and 24 May 2015. \/\/ Photo credit: craigdutton.com<\/span><\/p>\n Kargo Pro MTB Team rider, Alan Hatherly, is feeling good about the amount of training he had done before leaving for Europe. He said: \u201cMy international experience isn’t massive, but I feel that I have raced enough internationally to know what to expect. The biggest curve ball is just being first year u23 and without having raced a World Cup in this category yet, it does sort of allow for more of the unexpected.<\/p>\n \u201cI have done quite a bit of extra single track work as well as speed sessions just to fine-tune both myself and my bike setup, but on the whole I feel I’m pretty spot-on leading into these World Cups and I’m really looking forward to it!\u201d<\/p>\n In a conversation about racing in Europe, the U23 rider described it as \u201ca completely different ball game compared to local racing in South Africa\u201d. \u201cI find that racing internationally exposes you to a whole new level of riding both competition wise as well as the difficulty of the courses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then there\u2019s also learning to deal with traffic and passing. Racing internationally is vital for any XCO specialist that wants to take their riding to the next level! With having teammates Brendon Davids and Emil Lindgren alongside me in Europe, I feel that they will definitely give me the extra edge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n On the topic of teamwork, Scott Factory Pro Team rider, Gert Heyns, chatted about the importance of having his team together in Europe. \u201cThis will be my first trip to Europe with a professional team structure that makes it a lot easier to perform your best without having to worry about anything. Having my best friends as teammates makes a huge difference in morale and puts one in the right headspace to perform at these highly competitive World Cups.\u201d<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Elite rider, Cherie Vale (26) has been thoroughly enjoying her time in Europe despite the weather, alongside team member and friend Mariske Strauss. \u201cMariske and I took part in the third round of the British XC Series at Forest Farm, Llandrindod Wells in Wales. I Really enjoyed the course with some steep climbing and fast descending. Mariske took 3rd and I finished fifth,\u201d said Vale.<\/p>\n<\/a>Cherie Vale (Novus OMX Pro Team) will be riding the Czech track for her second year at the 2015 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup (XCO) presented by Shimano, taking place this weekend in Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic) on 23 and 24 May 2015. \/\/ Photo credit: craigdutton.com.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n