Early Season UCI Points on Offer at SA XCO MTB Start

South Africa’s national mountain biking cross-country (XCO) and downhill (DHI) season kicks off this weekend in the Western Cape in Durbanville on Saturday 9 February, and in Stellenbosch on Sunday 10 February, respectively.

The SA XCO and DHI Series gives riders around the country the opportunity to compete against one another in these disciplines, and provides SA Mountain Biking the chance to see the best of the best in action, and how they handle the competition on the different courses in varying conditions.

This process assists SA MTB in selecting the best possible team to represent SA at the UCI MTB World Championships.

It will be game on as the UCI Category 2 Elite event will attract South Africa’s top Elite women performers of this Olympic mountain biking discipline, providing participants a chance to better their UCI world ranking by earning XCO points at home early in the season.

For the second consecutive year, the Slammer track at Willowbridge Mall will host the XCO discipline. Downhill riders will be racing at the popular Jonkershoek track in Stellenbosch.

The organisers are expecting a large turnout, especially in the age group categories from 30 years and above. This can largely be attributed to the UCI MTB Masters World Championships being staged in Pietermaritzburg later this year in August. The veteran and masters categories will be eager to test the waters to see who their challengers will be come August.

It must be noted that participants wanting to race in the UCI MTB Masters World Championships must not enter this Western Cape national as an elite category cyclist, but they must enter in their correct age group category. Masters will not be allowed to race in the world championship event if they have earned UCI points this year.

The Willowbridge venue appeals to the supporters as they will be able to view approximately 95% of the course from the restaurant decks at the mall.

Advance entries have closed, but late entries will be accepted at registration at the respective venues on Friday 8 February (09:00-16:00 for XCO and DHI) and Saturday 9 February (09:00-14:00 for DHI only).

A cross-country eliminator (XCE) race will be held on Friday evening, 8 February at 17:00. The XCE format is not yet an official part of the National series, however it will provide great entertainment for participants and spectators alike, and will be an excellent way for the athletes to loosen their legs ahead of Saturday’s racing.