The best is yet to come for Sanders

The 32-year-old put down a dominant charge to claim the elite cross-country titles at the 2013 Cycling SA-MTB National Championships, powered by Frontier Events near Port Elizabeth. “Next year is very much goal-orientated. It is pretty much to be on form, race hard and win. It is going to be very structured and quite regimental, but I am in a good mind frame and totally motivated. Holding down a job and managing the training will ultimately be my biggest challenge, but the rewards will be worth it.”

She only took on cycling at the age of 21 and started competing seriously in 2006. “My cycling career was actually rather accidental. I grew up racing motorbikes. My dad is a real petrol head. While studying at the University of Pretoria, I bought an entry-level MTB to keep fit. I was convinced by the guys at my local bike shop to do a race at Fountains in Pretoria. All it took was one cross-country race and I was totally in love with the sport.”

To exclude some of her best moments on the bike so far, is impossible. “There have been so many. I have been privileged enough to travel the world racing my bike and to represent my country at world champs. But winning the worlds in 2013 was certainly a fond moment. Working for something and attaining a goal was a super proud moment for me and beyond rewarding.”

The Valencia team rider was in action during the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and was happy to finish the race after coming back from a three-month injury. “In terms of the overall result, I finished in the top 20, which is not impressive but as a personal achievement I am quite happy with the result. Pitching yourself against the best in the world was daunting, but all in all it was an unbelievable experience. I believe that what the Woman’s Road Commission and 94.7 race organisers achieved was monumental for woman’s road racing in South Africa. I was happy to be a part of it.”

Sam Sander’s three tips in life:
Make time for people who matter, give without expecting and follow your dreams.

Results
2013
• UCI XCO World Champs – 39th
• South African National Champs – first
• SA XCO Cup Series – first

2014
• SA MTB National Champs – sixth
• UCI MTB Marathon Wold Champs – 20th
• SA XCO/DHI Cup series, Port Elizabeth – third
• SA MTB Marathon National Champs – third
• SA XCO/DHI Cup series, Mankele – first
• UCI MTB Marathon Series, Clarens – ninth
• African Continental Champs – second

2015
• Mpumalanga Road Champs – second
• Joberg2C – second (mixed team)
• Sani2C – third
• SA Marathon Champs – second
• Sappi MTB Mankele – first
• Mankele Avalanche – first.