Triple header weekend for the a[s]g MTB Academy

The a[s]g MTB Academy have had their hands full of what they do best: Race their Mountain bikes! On Thursday evening, a[s]g held their monthly Night Rider Series. The 21km race starts at 19:00, a light is mandatory and a fun time is guaranteed!

In the men’s race, Arno du Toit took 3^rd place in a sprint finish against Adolf Krige, Byron Ferreira taking the win by 10 seconds. Marcel Marais came in 4^th, Kyle Wood 6^th, Jacques Pretorius 7^th and Edwill O’Niell 9^th.

Amy McDougall won the ladies race and came 10^thoverall, Andrea de Boer came 2^nd and Petru Ebersohn 3^rd, completing the all-a[s]g Academy ladies podium. “I absolutely love riding at night, with the racing element added, it just made it so much more exciting!” ~Amy McDougall. “Night racing gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘fun’” ~Andrea de Boer.

On Saturday, the USN MTB Cup #3 was held at a new venue in Broederstroom situated in Hartbeespoort. Contrary to the course of usual USN Cup races, this venue offered riders a challenge, with a decent amount of climbing and technical rocky descents and miles of single track! There was a strong field and it was hard racing in both the men’s and ladies categories.
Arno Du Toit came 3^rd overall with Paul Cordes a few seconds behind him in 4^th overall and 1^st Sub Vet men. Paul and Arno are showing good form and will prove to be a formidable force in the upcoming Joburg2C. . “I made a move early on and only Ben-Melt jumped across. We worked together nicely, but eventually with 10km to go, his diesel engine warmed up and I just didn’t have the legs to stay in contact” ~Arno Du Toit.

Francois Ebersohn came 1^st Vet Men and 10^th Overall

In the ladies race Amy McDougall came second to Yolandi Du Toit in a hard race by 28 seconds. “I lead the race for most of the way, but Yolandi passed me up the big climb about 35km in. I chased hard but just didn’t make it!” Jacques Pretorius had an excellent race, winning the 30km in a sprint with Raymond Wagener. Half marathon podiums are becoming a common occurrence for this talented youngster! “I raced hard from the start, Raymond was the only one who could stick with me. We raced together for the whole race, luckily I had the legs near the end to win the sprint.” ~Jacques Pretorius

 

Danielle Rheeder also becoming a regular on the half marathon podiums, won the 30km overall in the ladies category. Two of the newest, and youngest editions to the Academy, brothers Michael and James Moore each achieved a podium in their respective age groups. Michael came 3^rd Youth and 8^th overall in the 30km and James came 1^st Sprog and 5^th overall in the 10km.

On Sunday, many of the Academy members who had raced the Night race and USN Cup, pushed through to compete in the Provincial XCO #3 held at Fountains. A lot of effort was put into planning out the course; there was a fair amount of climbing, a big drop and some brand new sections built especially.

Arno Du Toit cleaned up the Elite / U23 race, winning with a huge margin. “I never rode the track before the race, so I planned to take the first lap easy to see what it’s all about. However, I had a good start and as we hit the first single track I went into race mode and was soon out of sight. I kept it steady and managed to take the overall win.” 

Nicholas Popich had a killer of a race winning the Junior race against a very tough field! “The new sections of single track definitely provided some new challenges. Extra power climbs and dusty, tight corners. Hard and hot describes every aspect of the race.”

Paul Cordes won the Sub Vet category; he was in the top 3 and kept it conservative for the first two laps, but then pulled a gap that grew with each lap. “It was good to get in a double header of racing building up to the J2C. Nice to blow off the cobwebs and enjoy some positive and exciting racing on some super courses!”

In the ladies race Amy McDougall won the Elite category overall convincingly, and Michelle Benson, although sick with the flu, still managed 2^nd in the junior ladies with Danielle Rheeder in 3^rd

The young James Moore showed huge potential when he achieved his second gold for the weekend in the Sprog category. 

It is great to see new enthusiastic faces, and academy members in the lower tiers shining. As well as the top tier leading by good example by working hard at their goals and achieving consistently as a result.