Hayley Smith eyes consecutive sani2c podiums
It has been a busy start to the year for the 24 year-old who has hit the ground running in the first four months of 2019.
Following a third place finish with Andrea de Boer at the 2018 KAP sani2c, South Coast raised Hayley Smith will team up with Desiree Verwey in 2019 as they gun for a podium finish at the iconic three-day shootout from the Southern Drakensberg to the South Coast from May 16-18.
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The final day of the race takes riders from Jolivet Farm in Highflats to the Scottburgh main beach with trails that Smith is familiar with having grown up in Margate. She has relocated to Durban but she remains familiar with the trails.
“I don’t get down there are often as I would like anymore but I have been riding on those trails for many years,” the Bell Equipment rider said.
“I probably head down there every few months which is nice as I get a feel for the conditions and trails again.”
Verwey is based in Richards Bay which means that the pair aren’t able to put in the training that they would like together but Smith isn’t too concerned by this.
“I ride a lot against Desiree and we rode the iSimangaliso race together a few years ago so we are familiar with each other’s strengths.”
It has been a busy start to the year for the 24 year-old who has hit the ground running in the first four months of 2019.
With a solid training block behind her, she is looking forward to another crack at the sani2c.
She recently rode to a second place finish at the Kamberg Classic.
It’s going to be another interesting year for the ladies race with 2018 champions, Team Dormakaba’s Sam Sanders and Amy-Beth McDougall expected back on the start line. Smith knows that they will be the duo to beat.
“We will go into the race ready to give it our all and we hope that we can get ourselves onto the podium when we reach the sea!”
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