Saturday 19 July was the date set for the SA XCO Champs showdown. Thaba Trails in Alberton JHB was the host for the event and the venue was a hive of activity all week with riders popping in to to practice the course.
The event, and particularly the course, had been a hot topic preceding the race with the rumor-mill churning out stories about the difficulty of the course.
I was fortunate enough to get to ride the course a few weeks back and also to practice it for a few days before the race. It was definitely a worthy SA Champs course with plenty of climbing and plenty of rocks, drops and more rocks to test the technical skills of each competitor.
I found it to be a very fun course but I am good on the brakes and so riding rocky & sandy trails doesn't phase me. The course did however prove too much for many riders with some spectacular falls and even tears.
My race lasted a whole of 2.5km. The start sprint was intense and I knew I wanted to be first into the single track because I wanted to have a clear line over the gap jump and through the rock garden. This much of the race went very smoothly for me. But a sidewall cut to my tire after the first climb ended it all very abruptly. I bombed it to no avail. By the time I had got back to the tech zone I had lost too much time. My Tech team put in a new wheel and I went back out and just enjoyed the fun course. The title was claimed by Mariske Strauss and in the men's race Rourke Croeser clinched the win convincingly.
Full results here: http://www.cyclingsa.com/
Losing out on a chance to compete is not easy and I was bitterly disappointed. A lot of hard work and preparations go into these events, not only by the riders themselves but also the team behind the riders. The sponsors, the coaches, parents and crew all come out to support us at these events so it is never pleasant when you cannot give them the result that you all came out to achieve. But, it is the nature of the sport we love, so on a positive note, I am super Proud to say that the V team is definitely on the up and coming. With the help and guidance of Bosseau Boshoff from Infinita Academy and the support of Valencia Cycles, our little team has become a well oiled machine.
We had a kitted out set-up with Turbo trainers & rollers available to warm up on. A fully equipped toolbox and a feeding station for the riders. All these small amenties are what it takes to produce top results and I would like to thank all those involved in generating a professional and positive atmosphere for the team to thrive on. Most importantly Bosseau who gives his time endlessly to his athletes and the riders of the province in their pursuit of gold. Valencia Cycles not only supports the growth and development of the sport but also supports the individuals of the sport.
With the National XCO season wrapped up, my focus will now shift to a short rest and then you can look out for the V team dominating your local race scene and especially The Isuzu 3 Towers!
Peace Out.
Sam
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