![\"ccs-62657-0-50227900-1429634889.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-50227900-1429634889.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nElite Men’s rider Tim Bentley (far right) is keen to better his results from round two of the 2015 Stihl SA MTB Cup Series DHI which took place at Cascades, Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 5 April. Pictured with Tiaan Odendaal (left) and Samuel Bull (centre). \/\/ Photo credit: craigdutton.com.<\/span><\/p>\n Bentley, sponsored by Greg Minnaar Cycles and Fox Head Clothing, finished in third place behind Tiaan Odendaal (second) and Sam Bull (first) at the second DHI round of the MTB Cup earlier this month. \u201cLook, the PMB course is not my ultimate-ultimate favourite track, because it\u2019s quite pedally for my liking, but it was still a really good day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He is fond of the area, and enjoys the course a lot because of its technical sections. \u201cI\u2019ve always been a fan of that track. It\u2019s steep and technical and a lot like the international tracks that we\u2019re used to riding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Looking ahead to the racing, Bentley is confident, and hopes to keep the crowds watching in anticipation as they did at the last DHI round of the series that was held in Pietermaritzburg. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to this weekend and hopefully to put down some better results,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n Bentley is hoping to go to Europe in June to race some of the UCI World Cups.<\/p>\n Vets rider Grant Dekker chats about the mixed emotions felt during a downhill race and the pure enjoyment of the discipline. \u201cSince I was a little kid I\u2019ve always loved riding. I was just in it for the skids and the wheelies. I still am. I think that\u2019s why I enjoy mountain biking \u2013 because of the skids and the wheelies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Dekker was placed second in his category at round two of the DHI Cup Series, which took place at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 5 April.<\/p>\n When asked about his interest in downhill racing and where it stemmed from, he had this to say: \u201cI think my downhill interest was inspired by Enduro racing. It\u2019s a natural progression from Enduro into downhill. I think riding a mountain bike through single track as fast as you can against your mates, having a jol, is a great idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Veteran Men’s rider Grant Dekker is taking part in round three of the 2015 Stihl SA MTB Cup Series DHI at Mankele Bike Park, Mpumalanga on Sunday 26th April. \/\/ Photo credit: craigdutton.com.<\/span><\/p>\n Dekker mentioned that if he had to find a unique selling point of DHI, it would be \u201cthat you get to practice as much as you want, race with your friends, and there is always an easy way around something (chicken runs).\u201d<\/p>\n He believes that there was no greater feeling than being on a DHI bike. \u201cYou go through every single possible type of emotion, just at the start. I get to the start and I physically shake and think to myself\u2026 why am I doing this? And then the gun goes off and there\u2019s no turning back. And then I just think to myself: every metre that I go down is one less metre to fall off on,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n Dekker takes part in round 3 of the DHI Cup, but is not too sure how he feels about the Mankele course and this weekend\u2019s event. \u201cTo be honest \u2013 I\u2019m nervous as hell. I haven\u2019t ridden that track before. And everybody is scaring me when they talk about it because they say that it\u2019s the most legit track and so close to international standards. At my age now, I can\u2019t risk breaking myself. If I get to the bottom alive and smiling then that\u2019s all I ask for. That would be great,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n Entries for the 2015 Stihl SA MTB Cup DHI\/XCO #3 close at midnight tonight. Click here to enter: https:\/\/csams.cyclingsa.com\/online-entries.aspx?eventid=3789<\/a>. Late entries will be accepted at registration with a R50 nominal fee.<\/p>\n For more information about the event, click here: http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/2015-sa-mtb-cup-series<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n