Photo: Supplied/Gameplan Media
Maritzburg-based cycling team target Wartburg Classic
Tipping Point/Brink Cycling Academy will shift their focus to the first one-day event this weekend at the Illovo Wartburg MTB Classic
Photo: Supplied/Gameplan Media
Following an exciting weekend of stage racing at the Drak Descent, the Pietermaritzburg-based Tipping Point/Brink Cycling Academy will shift their focus to the first one-day event this weekend at the Illovo Wartburg MTB Classic.
The academy delivered a solid set of results at the two-day race in the Southern Drakensberg last weekend. After that, they now have little time to recuperate. They get into the racing season with the sixth event on the Quattro ROAG Series this weekend.
Wartburg is a farming community 30 km or so outside of Pietermaritzburg, nestled in the sugar belt.
Tipping Point focused on Wartburg Classic
A close to full complement of riders will be tackling either the 65km or the shorter 45km races in Wartburg.
In the full 65km race Ryan Taylor, Keegan Tullis and Dean Wortmann will be gunning for glory. Also in the field will be academy coach David Low and master rider Casper Badenhorst.
In the 45km, junior riders, Sven Van Zuydam, Blake Frodsham, Colby Zeiler, Nicholas Burczak and Luke Newlands will be taking to the field alongside, youth rider, Mitchell Boik and sub-vet lady Tanith Van Druten.
The highly competitive ROAG Series and the crucial points on offer were the perfect temptation for the academy to get out to Wartburg. And coach Low knows that this weekend has significance from an academy perspective.
“It is going to be a competitive weekend of racing as our riders are all looking to improve on their current ROAG Series standing,” Low said.
“We have a select few athletes, racing this weekend, in the top 15 on the MTB log.
“In the senior male category, Keegan Tullis is neck and neck with Ryan Taylor. They sit in fourth and fifth place respectively.
“In the junior male category, Nicholas Burczak and Sven Van Zuydam are currently lying in first and third place respectively.
“We are excited to see our Academy riders in action at the first Mountain Biking Classic of the 2022 racing season.”
Local classics a big part of development
Taking on the local classics forms an important part of growing the academy. Giving the riders the competitive environments that they need to improve. Being able to use the ROAG Series for this is a great opportunity for the Tipping Point/Brink Academy.
“We want to see our riders taking on the best they can. With guys like Stuart Marias and Tyronne White out there every race of the series it’s great for us to always gauge ourselves on them.
“We have so many exciting, young riders coming through our ranks. [They] are looking to continually improve and battle it out with the best it’s brilliant to see.
“This weekend is the first one day classic of the year. It will also be a good opportunity to measure where we are going into another exciting year of racing.” .
