Having ended a close association with Hanco Kachelhoffer, mountain biking professional Pieter Seyffert will be looking to the future when he and Travis Walker tackle the seven-day TransCape mountain bike race from Sunday.
In his first appearance at the TransCape, the 30-year-old said he was looking forward to teaming up for the first time with Walker under the Ellsworth-ASG banner for the 690km journey between Knysna and Franschhoek in the Western Cape.
Seyffert said he and Walker – who recently returned to South Africa after racing in Italy – had both been looking for team-mates.
Mountain biking pro Pieter Seyffert (front) will team up with Travis Walker to ride for Ellsworth-ASG in the seven-day TransCape mountain bike race from Sunday. Photo: Warren Elsom
The 25-year-old Walker, from Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal, has returned home after his three-year overseas stint, while Kachelhoffer retired after partnering Seyffert to victory in the Sanlam MTB Invitational in November last year.
“This is a new combination and we have never raced together,” said Seyffert, who hails from Helderkruin on the West Rand.
“In fact, I don’t think I have even raced against him.
“Travis is from a cross country background and I come from a road cycling background, so it will be interesting to see how we pair up.”
Seyffert said he felt he had made a successful transition to mountain biking, have spent much time brushing up on his technical skills.
Although he will be new to the TransCape, which is presented by ASG Events, Seyffert said he was familiar with the terrain and that their goal was to “definitely go for the overall win”.
He is aware, however, of the pitfalls of a mountain bike stage race and said they would be taking it one day at a time.
“We will try to assess the opposition as soon as we can and then you can try to put them under some sort of pressure, for example on climbs or descents.”
Reflecting on 2016, Seyffert said one of the highlights was winning the Magalies Monster in Rustenburg in May.
He also fondly recalled his last few rides with Kachelhoffer.
“It was great to finish off in a few races with Hanco, who is a good friend of mine. Our very last race was the Sanlam MTB Invitational near Paarl, which we won, so that was special.”
Stage by stage:
Stage 1 – Knysna to Wilderness (80km)
Stage 2 – George to Van Wyksdorp (135km)
Stage 3 – Van Wyksdorp to Riversdal (81km)
Stage 4 – Riversdal to Swellendam (103km)
Stage 5 – Swellendam to Greyton (112km)
Stage 6 – Greyton to Villiersdorp (68km)
Stage 7 – Villiersdorp to Franschhoek (78km)