Competition is heating up in preparation for the final stage of the Stihl 2015 SA MTB Cup Series as the current points log in the Elite Men category after the first three rounds reveals a tie between Kargo Pro MTB Rider Alan Hatherly, Matthys Beukes (Scott Factory Racing Team powered by LCB), and Team RECM’s James Reid, each with 455 points. The Stihl 2015 SA MTB Cup Series draws to a close when the fourth and final round of both XCO and DHI disciplines take place at Cascades MTB Park, Pietermaritzburg from 27-28 June.
Some of the country’s finest mountain bike stars will come together for the last time in the 2015 series, to witness the crowning of the MTB Cup Series Champions. Riders will once again get the chance to compete for all-important UCI points at a World Cup and World Championship venue.
Beukes feels that it’s great for the sport to have competitive points like these. “I think it’s the first time ever that we’ve had three riders go into a final with the exact same amount of points – it makes for an exciting last round,” he said.
Although not entirely unfamiliar with a series victory, Beukes feels that a win this year would prove to be even more important. “I won the series in 2010, but this year I feel will be even more exciting because XCO is very healthy right now and there are a lot of guys competing. It’s super because we are all competing but also pushing each other to do better at the same time,” he said. “I absolutely love racing in Pietermaritzburg and I’m excited to see what they do in terms of the track,” he concluded.
Stihl 2015 SA MTB Cup Series Results Co-ordinator, Grevile Ruddock, says: “The stage is now set for a genuine humdinger at the final race. While many category podiums will depend on the results achieved in the fourth race, none are more so than the Elite Men. It has never been so close before in the history of the SA National Series!”
Cascades MTB Park never disappoints with regard to track excitement for the riders and spectators alike, and the course designers are always itching to pull out new tricks. The route profiles and description for the final XCO and DHI Cup rounds will be revealed next week.
Junior XCO riders will be competing for UCI points, as rounds two, three and four of the Stihl 2015 SA MTB Cup Series form part of the 2015 UCI Junior World Series.
Please be advised of the minor changes to the 2015 Standard National Programme of Events. The amendment applies to the Youth Men category only, which starts at 12:05 and not 14:00. The updated Standard Programme of Events can be downloaded here.
Online pre-entries are open, and close on Tuesday 23 June. Click here to enter. Late entries will be accepted at registration, with a nominal charge of R50 in addition to the entry fee.
To view the points series log after three events, click here. For more information about the last round of the 2015 Stihl SA MTB Cup Series XCO and DHI, click here.
