![\"ccs-41808-0-25218000-1401437744.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-41808-0-25218000-1401437744.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a> Image credit: Gamplan Media<\/span>\n<\/div>\nWith one world title under his belt already after his victorious effort in 2010 and one month to go until this year\u2019s marathon mountain biking pinnacle event, the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team ace believes he is close to peak condition and is relishing the opportunity to challenge for gold once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe World Champs are my primary focus each and every year and this year I\u2019m especially determined because my last world title feels so far away now!\u201d said the 35-year-old title hopeful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will still be happy if I can win a medal but I hope to fly home from South Africa with the rainbow jersey in my suitcase.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy form at the moment is already pretty good and with a few more races in my legs before Worlds, I will be ready for action!\u201d he added confidently.<\/p>\n
It hasn\u2019t all been smooth sailing for the 2013 runner-up in the build-up to this year\u2019s major though after he suffered an untimely ruptured Achilles tendon in December.<\/p>\n
The setback was, however, only temporary and upon returning to action Lakata has been as determined as ever to return to full fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy injury interrupted my long term preparation and, when I did get back on the bike, I could only increase the intensity of my training slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting back into race shape was huge motivation for me though and, to my surprise, time went by quite fast and my form came back quickly!<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I think I\u2019m probably even fresher and more rested than some of the other riders which will hopefully work in my favour come the big showdown in June!\u201d added Lakata.<\/p>\n
Nine South African visits later, Lakata is looking forward to returning to a place he knows well, albeit having never ridden any of the Pietermaritzburg based course beyond the Cascades MTB Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have ridden in a couple of Cape Epics, sani2cs as well as the MTB World Cup in Pietermaritzburg.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first came to South Africa I found it quite a strange place but now it is an absolute pleasure to come back!<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a calmness to the country, the people are so friendly, the food is good and the nature is awesome!<\/p>\n
\u201cI have only seen a map and profile of the course but I expect it will be a very fast race, obviously depending on weather the surface is dry or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
With defending champ Christoph Sauser (Specialized Racing) everyone\u2019s primary concern, Lakata points to cross-country wizard Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Racing), Topeak-Ergon team mate Kristian Hynek, Team Bulls\u2019 Urs Huber as other medal potentials.<\/p>\n
With sound knowledge of the local riders, Lakata believes there may well be a dark horse or two lying in the South African ranks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the MTB scene in South Africa quite well and there are definitely some big talents there.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn their day then I\u2019d say for sure that a couple of them may be good for a surprise, especially with them being extra motivated to do well in their own country!\u201d said Lakata.<\/p>\n
Robert Mennen, currently ranked twenty third in the world, is another Topeak-Ergon star set to make the journey to South Africa in a month\u2019s time.<\/p>\n
The man whose name became entrenched in cycling enthusiasts\u2019 minds throughout South Africa earlier this year after he and team mate Hynek stormed to victory in the 2014 ABSA Cape Epic, has a slightly different goal to Lakata though.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ABSA Cape Epic was the primary event for me this year however next after that is definitely Marathon Worlds!\u201d said Mennen.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though Epic was tough, I would really like to improve on my best Worlds result \u2013 ninth \u2013in Pietermaritzburg in June.<\/p>\n
Judging by the map and profile of the route, Mennen is relieved as he feels he is far better suited to this year\u2019s course than the one he tackled at last year\u2019s Worlds in Austria.<\/p>\n
The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships takes place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 29 June 2014. More information can be found at www.mtbworldchamps.co.za<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Current world number three Alban Lakata is a vastly experienced campaigner on South African soil and the Austrian star is firmly focused on making the coveted rainbow striped world champion\u2019s jersey his own when he heads to Pietermaritzburg for the UCI MTB Marathon World Championships on Sunday 29 June. Image credit: Gamplan Media With one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":51811,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[482,4884],"featured_location":[],"class_list":["post-21099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","tag-alban-lakata","tag-uci-mtb-marathon-world-champs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21099"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=21099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}