North Coast riders impress at SA XCO Cup in Pietermaritzburg
It was the final outing before the SA National Championships in Bloemfontein in mid-July.
North Coast mountain bikers powered to four golds and a series of further podium finishes at a national cross country race in Maritzburg last weekend.
The third round of the SA National XCO/XCC Mountain Biking Championship at Cascades MTB Trails on Saturday and Sunday was the final outing before the SA National Championships in Bloemfontein in mid-July.
Racing began on Saturday with the fast-paced Short Track Cross Country (XCC), where riders competed over a shortened lap for 20 minutes.
READ: Junior North Coast cyclists shine at SA cross country cup | North Coast Courier
The event also determined the top 15 starters for Sunday’s Cross Country Olympic (XCO), where competitors faced multiple laps of a demanding 4.5km course featuring 135 metres of climbing per lap.
Madison Bateson (16) claimed her third consecutive gold medal in the junior women’s XCO following victories in Paarl and Johannesburg. She added a silver in the XCC.
“I was super excited to get between the tape again after a couple weeks away from racing,” said Madison, who cites Cascades as both her favourite track and the one she finds the toughest.
“I definitely wanted to do a double win, but I walked away with second in the XCC.”
Elite women’s rider Errin Mackridge (19) also impressed. She narrowly missed victory in the XCC, finishing second after a sprint. Determined to capitalise in the XCO, Errin attacked early and her aggressive approach saw her secure the win by over a minute and a half.
READ MORE: North Coast cyclists make up the bulk of KZN schools team | North Coast Courier
Josh Paul (17) delivered a tactically astute XCC performance, making the decisive break and executing a long-range move on the final lap to claim victory. He finished fourth the next day in the XCO.
Photo: Andrew Mc Fadden/Boogs Photography.
“Winning the SA Cup #3 short course means everything,” he said.
“The KZN ”gees” pushed me on every lap. I gave everything in the XCO, but a lingering injury and Cody’s (Maidman) extra pace was too much on the day.”
Cody Maidman (17) judged his XCO race perfectly to claim gold in the junior men’s division after finishing fourth in the short track.
Daniel van der Watt (23) and Cameron Mackridge (17) rounded out the local medallists, with a silver in the elite men’s XCC and bronze in the junior men’s short track respectively.
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