![\"Kia](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-90014400-1373439289.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nHardly a weekend has gone by without Bell achieving a top-ten finish in some race. A definite highlight for the rider from Nelspruit was when he won the MTN Rooiberg ultra-marathon. This was his first ever victory in what is known as the \u2018hard men\u2019s series\u2019.<\/p>\n
He also won the three-day Sani2C stage race (with Max Knox (EAI Solutions\/Specialized) as his partner) and was victorious in the Nissan TrailSeeker Hazeldean marathon. In both the South African Marathon Championship at Hazyview and the MTN Sabie ultra-race Bell came \u2018oh-so-close\u2019 to winning. He finished second in both races, but with a little bit of luck he could have won both.<\/p>\n
It is, of course, no surprise that Knox is currently the second-best rider on the KIA Rankings. During the month of May he totally dominated the series by achieving four consecutive victories in four consecutive weekends.<\/p>\n
His victory streak started when he won the MTN Clarens ultra-race. He continued by winning the MTN Gravel Travel, which was followed by victories in the Sani2C (with Bell as partner) and the national cross-country race at Rietvlei, just outside Johannesburg. Knox also won the MTN Barberton ultra-race.<\/p>\n
The third ranked rider on the KIA rankings, Lourens Luus (RE:CM), can only be described as impressive. At 22 he is by far the youngest rider this season to achieve a top-three finish in a MTN National MTB Series ultra-race.<\/p>\n
Luus came second at Tulbach and Wellington, as well as in the Attakwas ultra-race. In June he and Waylon Woolcock won the three-day RE:CM Knysna 200. Another good result for Luus was when he finished second overall in the Joburg2C.<\/p>\n
The rest of the top-ten riders on the KIA Rankings are:<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Charles Keey (Cannondale\/Blend Properties);<\/p>\n 5. Matthys Beukes (Scott);<\/p>\n 6. Waylon Woolcock (RE:CM);<\/p>\n 7. Gawie Combrinck (Westvaal\/Bell Cycles);<\/p>\n 8. Darren Lill (Cannondale\/Blend Properties);<\/p>\n 9. Neil MacDonald (FedGroup-Itec);<\/p>\n 10. Brandon Stewart (FedGroup-Itec).<\/p>\n The top-five ranked women riders are:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Ariane Kleinhans (RE:CM);<\/p>\n 2. Robyn de Groot (Need Sponsor);<\/p>\n 3. Samantha Sanders (Valencia);<\/p>\n 4. Ischen Stopforth (Bizhub);<\/p>\n 5. Yolandi du Toit (Bizhub).<\/p>\n For the complete rankings go to www.kiarankings.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n The organizers of all mountain bike races are encouraged to register their respective events for the KIA rankings.<\/p>\n Find us online: www.kiarankings.co.za<\/a> <\/p>\n Follow us on twitter: @KiaRankings<\/p>\n