Kleinhans and Bell return for rematch
Cycling duo ready for Nedbank sani2c clash.
DOUBLE mixed title winner Erik Kleinhans and 2013 men’s race winner Nico Bell are looking forward to returning to the trails of the Nedbank sani2c come the start of the race from 14 to 16 May as they look to right the ‘wrongs’ of last year’s contest.
Towards the back end of last year’s race’s second stage Kleinhans and Bell were just a few seconds back from race leaders Kevin Evans and Max Knox when a high speed crash saw Kleinhans take a nasty fall that left him out of action for three months after tearing all the ligaments in his shoulder.
A year on though and Kleinhans’ injury is a thing of the past however the duo are eager to return to the popular race and challenge for the overall spoils once more.
“There is definitely a bit of unfinished business for us, me in particular, after last year” confirmed Kleinhans. “The motivation levels are always high for a race like sani and you don’t really need extra motivation at all but we’re definitely coming back looking for a win this year.”
“Erik’s crash last year not only ended our race but it put him out of another six races so it will be great to get back out there and hopefully we can get a good result this year,” adds Bell. “I’ve also been struggling a bit to get results recently so it would be great to do well at sani from that point of view as well!”
Since riding as eventual winners Jaroslav Kulhavy and Christoph Sauser’s support crew in this year’s Absa Cape Epic, Bell and Kleinhans have enjoyed some time off the bike in recent months.
Last weekend’s Clarens leg of the Ashburton National MTB Series however sent them hurtling back into full swing as this year’s sani2c and the South African Marathon Championships loom on the horizon.
“I struggled a bit at Clarens but that was the start of a big three week block for me ahead of sani and then I’ve got another three week block of training before SA Marathon Champs which is the next big assignment after sani,” said Kleinhans. “I’m really looking forward to this year’s sani2c; I’ve won the mixed doubles title but never the men’s so I’d love to do that.”
For more information visit www.sani2c.co.za
