Travis’s pedal power secures him a win
With a new format to keep things fresh, riders are looking forward to the next race in the series.
ONE of Kloof’s top MTB riders, Travis Stedman, was the first youth rider in Batch A across the finish line at the first KZNMTB Provincial XCO Cup of the Series in Hilton at the weekend.
Dozens of spectators arrived in force from around the province to support their friends and family on the day.
The new batching format proved to be a challenge for some as riders no longer raced against their age group, but also against those with similar strength and riding ability. This format also proved to be an exciting challenge for others as it offered fresh new competition to those used to winning their respective age groups.
The 6,6km lap race started and finished in Elizabeth Drive, directly across from the Hilton Christian Fellowship Church and continued with single track sections through the forest. The tech zone was easily accessible from the road, which made for great spectator viewing.
The winner of the first batch of the day, Batch C (four laps), was Junior Angus McLeod. He claimed the victory ahead of many sub veterans, veterans, U23, master and grand master riders in his batch to finish in a time of 49 minutes and 42 seconds.
Batch B’s (seven laps) victor was marathon enthusiast, Brennon Anderson. He beat RMB Change a Life Academy rider, Mboneni Ncobo to the post, with Cheri Redecker, the 2015 SA National elite women’s champion, in third.
Batch A (also seven laps) was won by Stuart Marais in 1:19:07 – the fastest time recorded from both A and B Batches on the day. The first youth rider across the line in Batch A, and with the quickest youth rider time in both batches, was Travis Stedman.
“This year was a lot harder, because of the new format where we were now racing the upper age groups,” said Travis. “I went out pretty hard on it, got to the first corner in fourth place, I gave everything on the first lap but tried my hardest to hold in for the rest.”
Travis is not new to the sport of MTB racing as he is the 2017 provincial time trial and road race champion in his age group.
With countless races and experience under his belt, he said he prefers the new format. “In the national cross-country series we are getting blown off the back, but this is definitely showing us what it’s going to be like with the speed and how to push ourselves for the national cups and championship,” he concluded.
