![\"ccs-41808-0-64917800-1406102731.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-41808-0-64917800-1406102731.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a> Tiaan Odendaal (Green Team) claimed his third consecutive Elite Men’s National Championship title at the 2014 CSA-MTB National Championships held at Thaba Trails, Gauteng, on Sunday 20 July. \/\/ Image credit: Lee Ann Cantrell\/www.csharpphotos.com<\/span>\n<\/div>\nTiaan Odendaal (Green Team) claimed his third consecutive Elite Men’s National Championship title at the 2014 CSA-MTB National Championships held at Thaba Trails, Gauteng, on Sunday 20 July. Photo credit: Lee Ann Cantrell\/www.csharpphotos.com<\/p>\n
For Odendaal, this was his third consecutive Elite Men\u2019s national title, following two consecutive Junior National titles. \u201cI\u2019m really stoked to have claimed this title for the third time,\u201d said Odendaal. \u201cIt was quite a difficult course \u2013 very dry and dusty \u2013 and of course the altitude played its part. There was quite a hard pedal section, which was not as long as the pedal section at Cascades (in Pietermaritzburg), but I couldn\u2019t really get a rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Odendaal posted the fastest seeding run, which meant that he was the last rider to start out of the blocks in the final run. He had flown home to South Africa with compatriot Stefan Garlicki (Investec) from their touring schedule in Europe.<\/p>\n
Stefan Garlicki (Investec) was the silver medallist in the Elite category at the 2014 CSA-MTB National Championships held at Thaba Trails, Gauteng, on Sunday 20 July. Photo credit: Terence Vrugtman\/AdventureLife.co.za<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I heard that Stefan was coming back to race, I was a little worried. He was someone that I was watching closely. Our finishing times were pretty close, but I am happy to take the win,\u201d said Odendaal.<\/p>\n
Odendaal finished with a margin of just over a second to second-placed Garlicki, who posted a time of 01:58.597.<\/p>\n
Garlicki and Odendaal had been touring Europe where they competed in two World Cups, in Fort William (Scotland) and Leogang (Austria). They also competed in the iXS Cup Series in Europe, having raced in Schladming (Austria), Val di Sole (Italy) and Les 2 Alpes (France). They return to Europe this week to compete in the Meribel UCI World Cup race in France, two more iXS Cups and the UCI World Champs in Norway.<\/p>\n
Junior gold medallist, Andrew Martin, finished in third place overall at the 2014 CSA-MTB National Championships held at Thaba Trails, Gauteng, on Sunday 20 July. Photo credit: Terence Vrugtman\/AdventureLife.co.za<\/p>\n
The third place overall went to up-and-coming Junior rider, Andrew Martin, who is currently receiving sponsorship support from Hattons Cycles, International Trade, Isostar ZA and Moveo Safety.<\/p>\n