Reid, Strauss lead from start at Olympic qualifier in Settlers nature reserve
JAMES Reid (Team Spur) and Mariske Strauss (Novus OMX Pro Team) displayed their athletic dominance when they raced against some of the country’s top mountain bike enthusiasts in the fourth round of the Stihl SA XCO Cup Series in Settlers Park Nature Reserve on Saturday .
Amid perfect weather conditions and energised crowds, riders faced 4.2km laps with an elevation of 170m, suiting those with the strongest legs on the day and giving the contenders one last chance to score valuable points in this Olympic year.
Elite women’s winner Strauss, who had led the bunch from the beginning, said: “I had an absolute blast,”
“It was a crazy track, but an awesome track. We need more of these in South Africa. There aren’t many tracks like these with a steep technical section – it’s great preparation for racing in Europe,” she said.
After a series of unfortunate race meetings, Strauss has seemed to rid herself of her bad luck and minor setbacks to produce exceptional results of late.
She also said how happy she was to share the podium with Novus OMX Pro MTB teammate and 2016 national champion Cherie Redecker, who was strong throughout.
“I’m so happy, it’s all just awesome: an awesome track, awesome ride and an awesome day out. But next for me is an exam [tomorrow], and then I fly to Europe for the next UCI World Cup XCO in Germany next weekend,” Strauss said.
The recent winner of the African Continental Marathon, Amy Beth McDougall (Valencia), who claimed the bronze medal, said: “I have just come off the joBerg2c so had no idea what my legs would do.
“I am not primarily a cross-country racer, I just do it to sharpen my skills and mix up the season with some fun and intensity, and so I was happy with third place.
“It was a tough course, with two massive loose climbs, which were painful, but it was all rewarded with some fun descents. I felt pretty consistent despite a tuck-androll down the first technical section and I kept third place until the end.”
Elite men’s winner Reid also led the charge from the get-go.
“What a race out there – superchallenging,” he said.
“The back story to this race was that Alan Hatherly [Kargo Pro MTB Team], Philip Buys [Scott Factory Racing powered by LCB] and I are fighting for Olympic spots.
“So from the gun the three of us really fed it to each other. It really was no holds barred.”
Reid had taken part in the Eastern Cape Provincial XCO last weekend in much wetter conditions, but had felt he had done his homework on the track.
The Team Spur rider touched on Olympic selection: “I really hope the selectors can see that when the three of us line up, it’s the same result as the last time the three of us lined up and that we had a fair, clean race in proper conditions.
“I hope this bodes well for my Olympic dream – it is the last selection race in a series of seven of them that are competitive, so I’m really happy [with] the win.”
The junior competition, which formed part of the UCI Junior World Series, saw Tim Meier and Danielle Strydom take top honours in the men’s and women’s races.
Reinhard Zellhuber and Wessel Botha rounded out the podium in second and third places respectively for the men’s race.
Strydom’s dominance in junior women’s racing continued with her win. Kristen Louw finished in second place more than three minutes behind the young star.
The fifth round of the South African National Downhill Cup Series will take place in the Free State on Saturday June 18.