With less than 48 hours to go to the 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race on Sunday, a cloud of uncertainty still looms over the participation of men’s defending champion, Brendon Davids.
The popular annual event – race three of the inaugural South Coast MTB Series – starts and finishes at the picturesque Scottburgh Main Beach and sees participants tackle the 45km Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, 28km Dash & Splash or 10km Family Fun Ride.
Brendon Davids remains undecided as to whether he will look to defend his Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race at Sunday’s third leg of the inaugural South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Having charged home ahead of 2016 Rio Olympian, Alan Hatherly last year, Davids remains unsure if he will be on this year’s start line to defend his title.
Should he opt to race this Sunday, Davids – currently competing as an unsupported rider – will challenge for the rare record of becoming the event’s first ever multiple winner of the men’s title.
Coming off a frustrating yet beneficial two month racing stint in Europe, the 23 year-old raced to second place in a four-rider end-sprint at last weekend’s 60km Illovo Eston Marathon and so will bring good form into this weekend’s Sappi Scottburgh battle – should he compete.
The talented former Maritzburg College pupil will however have to overcome the challenge of three regular top ten performers on the KZN circuit – ROAG Racing’s Jedson Tooms, Leigh’s Cycle’s Leeroy Emslie and RMB Change a Life MTB Academy’s Mboneni Ngcobo.
Local challengers Darryn Purtell and Wesley Parker-Dennison will also tackle Sunday’s 45km event and will undoubtedly be eyeing a top five finish in their own backyard.
Defending women’s champ, Candice Parker-Dennison will compete in Sunday’s 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, race three of the inaugural South Coast MTB Series. Finish Line Photos/ Gameplan Media
Unlike Davids, women’s defending champion, Candice Parker-Dennison has already confirmed her participation as she looks to become just the second ever female competitor to claim more than one Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race crown.
In order to achieve this though, Parker-Dennison will need to overcome the stiff challenge of the current holder of that record, Kargo Pro Cycling Team’s Hayley Smith.
Kargo Pro Cycling Team’s Hayley Smith hopes to become the first competitor to claim three Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race titles at Sunday’s third leg of the inaugural South Coast MTB Series. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Smith, who finished fifth in a strong women’s field in Eston last weekend, hopes to add the 2016 title to her 2013 and 2014 victories as she builds towards the gruelling 100km Sunday Tribune Compendium Hill2Hill event in September.
Flooding that ravaged much of the province, and the South Coast in particular, a month ago left a bitter-sweet taste in race organiser, Flavio Scarpa’s mouth.
While celebrating the rain’s much needed compacting effect on the previously bone-dry course, Scarpa was also confronted with washed down rivers and heavily rutted paths.
Many man hours later, Scarpa and his team of volunteers have restored the 45km Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race, 28km Dash & Splash and 10km Family Fun Ride routes to their traditional ‘raw and untamed’ stature, paving the way for participants to enjoy another true mountain biking challenge this weekend.
With spectacular mountain biking action and KZN’s idyllic winter weather, participants are also encouraged to make a weekend of their South Coast trip by taking advantage of Blue Marlin Hotel’s ‘pay for two nights, get the third night free’ accommodation special.
In celebration of the recent National Women’s Day, the same venue will also be hosting an acoustic music festival on Saturday afternoon at 13h00 with local acts The Kickstands, Gus Brown Band and The Subway Run set to entertain the crowd.
The 2016 Sappi Scottburgh MTB Race is the third and ‘sea’ leg of the inaugural South Coast MTB Series and takes place on Sunday 14 August. More information can be found on Facebook.
