![\"ccs-62657-0-64767400-1425226458.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-64767400-1425226458.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhilip Buys (Scott Factory Racing powered by LCB) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Andre Hugo.<\/span><\/p>\n Buys and James Reid (Team RECM) were the only riders to post a sub 16-minute first lap when they leapt off the start to get an early lead in the Elite Men race. The end of lap one saw Buys ahead followed by Reid, Gert Heyns (Scott Factory Racing powered by LCB), Brendon Davids and Alan Hatherly (both Kargo Pro MTB Team), Rourke Croeser (Team Full Dynamix), Swedish National Champion Emil Lindgren (Kargo Pro MTB Team), Matthys Beukes and Arno du Toit (both Scott Factory Racing powered by LCB) and German Martin Frey (Bulls).<\/p>\n The penultimate lap saw Buys still ahead, but Davids and Hatherly were closing in fast, posting lap times that were 14 seconds fasters than Buys\u2019. Davids\u2019 teammate, Lindgren, also put the hammer down and gained substantial ground to move up to third place, passing teammate Hatherly in the process.<\/p>\n Brendon Davids (Kargo Pro MTB Team) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Evan Rothman.<\/span><\/p>\n In the end, Davids caught Buys but couldn\u2019t close the 1.1-second gap just metres to the finish line as he chased hard, with world ranked number 9 Lindgren finishing in third place 26 seconds off the winning time.<\/p>\n The technical rocky track suited Buys as he continued increasing the pressure to extend his lead, stretching his lead to almost a minute at one point in the race. \u201cI wanted to go hard from the start to test the legs,\u201d said Buys. \u201cI knew the contenders were close on my wheel and I had to increase the pressure, but I could see the guys coming back strong. I then had to slow a bit to keep something in reserve for the last punches if they caught up to me towards the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Swedish National Champion Emil Lindgren (Kargo Pro MTB Team) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Evan Rothman.<\/span><\/p>\n Buys, racing for the UCI registered MTB Team SCOTT Factory Racing powered by LCB, was dubious prior to the race as he had been busy with his team launch ahead of the Cape Epic over the past two weeks, and was worried about his shape for the National Cup event.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve worked really hard these past few months, so the race was good confirmation that my shape is there, especially ahead of \u2019Epic. Our primary team goal is to earn UCI points this year, and the Cape Epic is also a big goal for us. We bounce back from \u2019Epic pretty well, but the next two weekends straight after might be a struggle. But we will be back on track to top form around the World Champs dates later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n Candice Neethling (Freewheel Cycology\/Pam Golding) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Andre Hugo.<\/span><\/p>\n The Elite women\u2019s race saw Candice Neethling take full command on the demanding course, leading from the start on the five-lap race. Neethling\u2019s closest rival, Cherie Vale, finished the race six-and-a-half minutes back. Noticeable absence came from Mariske Strauss who is still dealing with a niggling injury that she sustained during a big crash in the Commonwealth Games last year.<\/p>\n Neethling\u2019s victory came despite a big crash on the second lap, where it appeared that a branch had pierced her leg. \u201cThe course was quite technical and I was going down a very steep descent with a sharp right turn at the bottom, which was quite powdery,\u201d said the London 2012 Olympian.<\/p>\n Cherie Vale (Paarl Media) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Evan Rothman.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI could see that I wasn\u2019t going to make the turn and I fell down. I really don\u2019t know what happened, but I must\u2019ve fallen on some branches. I didn\u2019t know anything bad had happened until I looked down at my leg later on and saw a hole there.\u201d She received five stitches after the race.<\/p>\n Neethling said that the course was tough to race on. \u201cI think everybody felt the same way, it was a really technical track. And it was so hot and humid in the valley that I couldn\u2019t wait to get to the windy sections to cool down.<\/p>\n Alan Hatherly (Kargo Pro MTB Team) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Evan Rothman.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t much room to overtake, and I gave that much thought beforehand, which is why it was important for me to get a good start. I managed to keep the gap open and just put the hammer down the whole way. I\u2019m very happy with a first place. I could feel that I was losing concentration on the obstacles in the last laps, and I was super impressed with the level of riding from the junior and youth girls!\u201d<\/p>\n Focussing well in the build up to the National Cup race, Neethling had been racing some marathon events and carrying out some short and sharp training for XCO-style racing. \u201cThe XCO training has definitely helped and I could feel it on Saturday, and the endurance from the marathon racing kicked in on the last laps. I think I\u2019m getting the balance right. I\u2019m racing on my own this year, with support from some sponsors, Pam Golding and Freewheel Cycology; so I don\u2019t have a team set up,\u201d said Neethling.<\/p>\n Marco Joubert (Kargo Pro MTB team) at the opening round of the Stihl 2015 SA National XCO Cup Series in the Baakens Valley in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 28 February \u00a9 Andre Hugo.<\/span><\/p>\n The Junior Men\u2019s race was a tussle between local rider Marco Joubert (Kargo Pro MTB Team) and Julian Jessop (Specialized Concept Cyclery). Joubert, who spent a lot of time building the top-class course in PE with his father, Charl, won by a large margin of 2 minutes 51 seconds ahead of Namibian Tristan de Lange. Jessop finished in third place without a saddle, which would\u2019ve been most taxing on his legs on the demanding course.<\/p>\n Genevieve van Coller took the title in the Junior Women\u2019s covering three laps of the 4.7km track ahead of Christine Roda (2nd) and Saffron Vosloo (3rd).<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss round 2 of the Stihl 2015 National Cup Series, taking place at the Voortrekker Monument in Gauteng on 28 March. More details of the Stihl 2015 National Cup Series can be found here: http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/2015-sa-mtb-cup-series<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n