Gearing up to go!

Well this last week since the last update has been an interesting time. Since it is impossible to get any fitter, the riding consists of mostly spinning your legs to keep the jeg lag at bay and finalise your specific race. Tim Bently, the only downhiller staying with the rest of us who are all cross country riders has found this entire week very boring as the downhill track is closed and he is not allowed to practice. Mariska Strauss, Candice Neethling, Rourke Croeser and myself head daily down to the track to practice lines and get the feel of the race.

Besides training and getting lines, we have all been busy getting in contract with family and satisfying various different needs. Today was the first day that it rained, but even so it is not too bad. The city is filled with many foreign cyclists, all very professional looking. The other day Rourke and I were riding a climb in the course and this junior looking cyclist came flying past us, seriously fast. We were both very impressed, and then we discovered that it was a girl! We were shocked, but it was very funny.

With less that a week to go, it's a very nervous and serious camp, but with it's quirks and laughs. Should be a good time:)

Till next time!
J

Chilling in Australia

Well I'm sitting in a small internet cafe in one of the hugest shopping centers in Australia. Seriously, it could rival Gateway. The trip over was memorable, filled with laughter and fun. Tim Bentley, Mariska Strauss, Rourke Croeser, Candice Neethling and I made the trip over to compete in the 2009 World XC Champs. Jet lag was not as bad as expected, but I suppose all the numerous pills that were taken by all of us to counter the effect did their job.

Today we went to check out the course. All I can say is that it is nothing like what is in South Africa. IT IS HUGE!!! Some of the rock drops appear unrideable. The singletrack is super technical, and the mix of sharp corners and rocks and big drop offs make for some interesting equipment choices. It has a good mix of climbing and single track, with a lot of jumps. Today we saw some of the Swiss team, as well as Burry's competition, Lukas or Mattais Funkliger (can't remember who is who). Tomorrow we're all going back to check it out again and get lines right. I am so glad that we got here this early because we need the time. The girls are doing really well in the tough sections. There are some super cool dual tracks for overtaking. The entire course seems to be carved out beautifully. I'm in a super hurry because the internet here is really expensive, but quick. Will load pics sometime, but keep checking to keep up to date with our adventures.

Till next time!
J

Ready, set, GO!

Well I'm sitting at home with about ten minutes to go till I leave for the airport and begin a long series of flights which will take me to Canberra, Australia for the 2009 World XC Championships. Bubbling over with excitement is a good way to describe my mood right now!

Last weekend I took part in the Cowan House Classic, a local race that has turned out to be bigger than many other races I've ever been to. Brandon Stewart, Max Knox, Rourke Croeser, Craig Paul, Pete Smith and Burry Stander as well as many others were all present for a tough 40kms of racing. I started hard, and managed to surprise many with a good speed out of the blocks. Very quickly I worked myself into a break with Stewart, Knox and Stander and felt super strong. Then a quick error in one of the many technical pieces saw me loose a few seconds and I found myself in no mans land, in 4th position. I held this till about the half way point, where things quickly went pear-shaped. Travis Walker and Pete Smith had caught up, and I went down hard a few times due to a front wheel puncture. I stopped numerous times and used a total of 5 bombs, but it just was not sealing. Rather irritated and 'over-it' I headed slowly into the finish, not too phased with the lack of result. Well done to Burry for doing what he does best...

Then disaster struck, as a few days ago I discovered a crack in my Scott Scale, my pride and joy. Many thanks to the Standers for quickly organizing a Specialized, which I will ride for the World Champs. So I have a bike box that says Merida, I'm wearing a kit that says Scott, and I'm on board a Specialized:)

Will keep the blog up to date over the next few days, so keep checking up!

J

SA Marathon Champs - Dirty Harry

It's been a good few tough weeks since my last update. All I have been doing is building up for World Championships in 2 weeks time, but in the process I made the trip up to Harrismith for the annual Dirty Harry which was a SA Marathon Cup race, and also the championship. I decided to travel up on the morning of the race, as it is only about 2 and a half hours away. Candice Neethling (DCM Chrome) and Michael Hughes made the trip up with us, and we had an amusing road trip. Since the junior distance is limited to 45km, the race was likely to be fast and hard...

There was a long neutral zone to begin with, allowing ample time for the legs to warm up. I stayed near the front, and as soon as the cars moved, Arno du Toit (teammate on Mr Price/Scott) and I made the pace hard to get rid of as many as possible. Attacking at every slight rise, we succeeded in getting the group down to 4 as we hit the main climb of the day, which was also the KOM. We sat on the pace of Ruan du Toit (Cycle for Diabetes, and no relation to Arno) and then about 300m in, I attacked and gapped both of them. Passing back markers in large herds, I put my head down and did some hard work. It worked!

As I approached the top of the climb (it was about 4km) nearly everyone was walking. I dodged and weaved my way through them and did not look back once. Towards half way I realised that I need to be careful to preserve my lead and not to puncture. I rode hard to the finish, just over 2mins ahead of teammate Arno du Toit. I was a super quick race, and afterwards me and a few friends did another lap of the course for training.

All in all it was a good experience, but I guess I'm frustrated that they do not let juniors ride the 75km as that is true marathon racing. Really good and positive for world champs. This weekend I'm off to Cowan House for some single track heaven, join us, its an awesome route!

Till next time!

Eston Illovo 40km Race...

This last weekend I competed in the 40km Illovo Eston MTB Race, and what a race it turned out to be. I won this race last year, and I only have good memories of the stunning area. In normal conditions, this race is super flat and fast, comprising of mostly fast district roads mixed with some fast flowing singletrack and grassy tracks. But this year the conditions were far from ideal. After a brisk, intense warm up on a trainer (it was far too muddy to go anywhere), I went through my usual pre-race routine. I was shivering on the start line waiting in freezing temperatures which had scared away a lot of this years entries, but there was still a brave turnout.

Then the racing started and the planned neutral zone abruptly ended as the lead motorbike crashed in the first few meters. All the usual snakes were there, including ex-teammate Travis Walker (DCM Chrome), Brendon Davids (Jeep) and Luke Roberts (Maverick) and it was clear that it was going to be a good race. Nothing happened until the King of the Mountains at 5kms in, where Travis jumped me to win on the line. Travis and I then created a small gap to the rest of the bunch, and I urged him to keep the pace high, to stop a fast flying Brendon Davids from joining us. At about 10kms in, we reached wattle climb and at the base, I attacked and got a good gap...

From there I pinned my ears back and hit the accelerator. For about 8 or 9kms I stayed out in front, but Trav was slowly clawing his way back in the muddiest sections. We reached the split and he had caught me and we entered the second half together. From there we just marked various attacks until about 5 kms to go where I put in a serious effort to shake him. It was going well, but I crashed in a river bed to watch my minuscule gap diminish before my eyes.

Into the last km, and I was in front by a few meters. As we descended the final section, I hit the last corner first and began the sprint. With mud flying and gears jumping, I managed to win be a wheel's length or so. Well done to Trav for an awesome race, and to Brendon for a well deserved 3rd.

I was happy with my result as it bodes well for World Championships in Australia in 3 weeks! This weekend I am off to Harrismith for the National Half Marathon Champs... should be a blast...

Till next week,