Euro trip

So I am excited to say that I am in Europe and here to experience the racing over here.

We left on Tuesday morning to drive to O.R Tambo where after we would climb on a flight to the cycling headquarters of the world " SWITZERLAND". We were then off to Germany for the night and the next morning arrived in Zobing, a beautiful town in Austria where we would spend a few nights and race.

We stayed less than 500 meters from the course, which meant it was an easy trip to the course. Traveling with my coach Johann Wykerd and Willie Pelser and friends Jaco Pelser, Candice Neethling, Savannah Vosloo and Ashleigh Parker-Moffat.

Course was very simple, very little single track with a ridiculous 330 meters of climbing per lap. Very intense and hard

On the start line nerves were high and temperatures were low, very low. With an awesome start I managed to lead the large, testosterone filled juniors in the start loop, all 67 of them. 

I managed to settle in to realize I was in 6th position. I quickly lifted the pace and moved to 5th then 4th then 3rd and was closing the leaders in. 


On the last lap I put in a huge effort and managed to bring the leaders back and take the lead, 300 plus riders on the course meant I started overtaking the woman riders from their behind. Going down the last downhill one of the woman riders change her lines and cut into mine throwing me off course and leaving me deep in the dry Austrian bush. After another huge effort I caught up to second again and then a “rookie error” occurred when I dropped my chain, which meant I came in as the third junior 30 seconds from the leader.

For my first European race I was very satisfied. Jaco Pelser also having an out of body experience. Racing over here for the locals is simple, ride your bike fast despite the weight/components. We now in Switzerland to race this weekend again in the BMC racer bike cup. Staying in a hotel away from all society high in the mountains with thick snow everywhere, very beautiful place here. Trying to absorb all the experience at once.

Here are a few snaps of this place and this passed weekends racing.

This is a vending machine where you can purchase schwalbe tubes. Amazing

The very narrow roads going through the towns.

Start of the Junior men

Prize giving

That’s all for now. I will keep you posted on twitter

Karkloof falls XCO

This passed weekend was the second of the three momentums international XCO races. Being two weeks before the first round of the World cup in Pietermaritzburg and also have a Cat 2 ranking, it attracted a lot of international athletes. KZN mountain biking and Max Cluer marketing hosted the event and what an event they put on.  Majority of these athletes were U23 or elite, however there was one international junior from the UK based Orange monkey cannondale team. It is always good to have international competition and I looked forward to some fast racing.

With a good start I started out by taking the lead in the first. Less than halfway through the first lap my seat shifted down to the lowest possible position and I was pedaling with my knees against my ears (my fault entirely). I stayed calm and managed to build a +- 20 second lead and stopped in the tech zone to adjust it. In a panic I rushed the job and ended up tightening my seat far to high and quickly rode off again, I lost quite some time and was in about 6^th position going into lap two. I was quickly back in the leading group with Alex Baker (OMC) and Patrick Belton (Jeep). I attacked near the top of the climb and managed to take the lead again.

My back started hurting due to an unfamiliar seat height during the second lap and on the back section of the course I crashed with no apparent reason and quickly got up and began to ride again. I managed to go into the tech zone with a 30 second lead and managed to fix the seat height properly and then I was off again in about 5^th position.

I began chasing hard again and managed to catch and pass the leaders in the first lap so I got the lead AGAIN and from then on I managed to maintain my lead.

I finished in first position and managed to win by 2 minutes.  Good race on the whole and many lessons learnt.

The world cup fever is kicking in and I am beginning to get really excited. Next weekend will be hard and fast and more juniors are expected. Rain is predicted throughout the week so hopefully I will be able to get a few days on the Cascades course

Until next week

Cheers