Kevin Evans pleads for team work at MTB World Champs

It would be the largest contingent ever for the host nation taking part in an MTB world champs.

Evans said the team should race together in the search of obtaining the best possible result for the country.

“With so many of us South Africans likely to be on the start line this year, this is definitely our best chance to see a South African on the podium provided everyone, especially those selected for the official SA team, can look to put their individual ambitions aside a little and work together for one, maybe two, riders,” he said.

Apart from the late Burry Stander’s podium finish in 2010, Evans’ eighth in Austria in 2009 was South Africa’s best result at the global marathon showpiece.

The FedGroup ITEC rider believed 2014 presented the country’s best chance to repeat Stander’s remarkable feat with both the number of riders as well as home turf working in the team’s favour.

“I’m sure the selectors will put together the strongest possible team to represent South Africa and will always pick guys who are currently in top form,” said Evans.

“It’s also great that even though some of our top guys might not be selected for the SA team, they will still be able to compete because they’ve earned enough UCI points or achieved certain results at the World Marathon Series events.”

Despite his vast experience on the international circuit, Evans did not expect the help to automatically come his way should the team tactics option become a reality.

“If the team assessed things and said ‘you’re the strongest, we’ll race for you’ then that would be great and I’d give it my all. If it was determined that the best candidate to lead the team was someone else then I’d be just as happy to support them as well.

“It’s all about getting the best possible result for South Africa.”

Evans said local track knowledge was a further aid in the South African’s bid, particularly after this past weekend’s SA National MTB Marathon Championships were staged on exactly the same course.

“You won’t get a better opportunity to see the course, particularly at race pace, as we got at SA Champs.

“The fact that the Europeans have to travel may also help us a little because now instead of being ten or twelve strong per nation, the European teams may well only have six or seven riders each.

“If I could get a top five, that would be fantastic and a podium would obviously be a dream goal for me.”

The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships takes place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday June 29.

– Sapa