With Olympic Games hype beginning to build, Yolande Speedy will be aiming to keep her name on top of the Beijing 2008 short-list, when she tackles Round 2 of the Mazda MTN Mountain Bike Cup, in Pretoria on Saturday.
South Africa has been awarded two places – one male and one female – for mountain biking at the Beijing Games, and although she’s currently the leading contenders for final selection, Speedy (IMC Racing) will need to maintain her high level of performance, to retain top-of-mind status among the selectors.
Speedy is familiar with the technical course after having raced – and won – the Gauteng Provincial Cup event there last weekend, but she will be keeping a wary eye on her primary rivals, the current South African cross-country champion Amy-Jane Mundy (Jeep), and Western Cape star, Sara Muhl (Jeep).
"The course suits me and my cross-country specific training is coming along well," said Speedy. "But nothing is in certain in mountain biking, so I’ll be on the lookout for Amy-Jane and Sara. Amy-Jane is really fit at the moment and Sara’s technical skills are very good."
All age groups will be in action on Saturday, with racing starting at 08h00, and the Elite women setting off at 09h20.