MTB | Sappi Scottburgh MTB and Trail Run
- Smith the local favourite at Scottburgh
- The Team Bell rider has been the dominant force in women's mountain biking on the South Coast for many years
SCOTTBURGH (KZN) – South Coast local Hayley Smith seems certain to be the rider to beat at the new-look Sappi Scottburgh MTB & Trail Run on Sunday.
South Coast local Hayley Smith is strongly favoured to claim the Sappi Scottburgh title on Sunday.
Smith the local favourite at Scottburgh
The Team Bell rider has been the dominant force in women's mountain biking on the South Coast for many years and it is rare she is beaten on the trails she knows so well in and around the Scottburgh area.
Even though Sunday's event is starting and finishing from a brand new race village at Crocworld Conservation Centre, Smith will be at home on the trails and will start as overwhelming favourite to add another title to her already impressive CV.
A month ago Smith was competing in the Swiss Epic and together with Sanchia Malan finished eighth overall in the elite women's field that contained some strong international riders, so she should find the 45km distance relatively easy compared to the mountainous 341km distance she raced over five days in Switzerland.
In the men's race, Daniel van der Watt (DriveTrain Academy) will start as the rider to beat. He has had a relatively quiet year so far, but his pedigree is such that the tall, strong young rider is always in contention in the local races and when he gets his wheel ahead he is always tough to beat.
The new start venue at Crocworld provides riders and runners with some interesting changes to the routes. The new route for the long 45km MTB event is similar to previous years with the start just at different point on the loop, however, the shorter 12km and 20km routes will give riders something brand new to enjoy.
The 5km and 12km trail runs will also feature almost completely new trails for the runners.
The move to a new race village takes away the parking and logistical issues traditionally associated with the event, and race organisers, Ward Events, are expecting riders and runners to enjoy the improved access to the trails.
Registration and late entries for all events will open at 6am on Sunday with the trail runs starting from 7am and the MTB races setting off from 8.30am.
