Last year’s champion Andrew Mclean tipped MTN-DoItNow’s Adrien Niyonshuti and Max Knox for overall honours in the 900-kilometre Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c that starts on Friday and ends nine days later.

He said the young Rwandan mountain biker was currently in winning form after securing the African jersey with Namibian team-mate Mannie Heymans at the recent Absa Cape Epic.

Mission accomplished is the best way to describe Adrien Niyonshuti and Mannie Heymans (Garmin-adidas/MTN) overall victory in the Absa Cape Epic’s African Jersey competition.

Moments after finishing the last stage on Sunday at Lourensford Heymans made it clear that finishing ninth overall in the Epic and winning the African Jersey with Niyonshuti is a definite highlight in his already illustrious mountain biking career.

Mannie Heymans (Garmin-adidas) and Adrien Niyonshuti (MTN/Qhubeka) will team up to contest next month’s Absa Cape Epic.

This might develop into one of the most exciting combinations during the world famous stage race. One thing is for certain they will be contesting the category ‘Best African Team of the Tour’.

Karl Platt (Team Bulls) proved on Saturday by winning the MTN Sabie ultra-marathon that patience is a virtue.

Despite the South African and Namibian riders trying their utmost to put him under pressure the German rider refused to be intimidated. He just kept on riding at his own pace biding his time for the right moment to dish out his own punishment.

A dress rehearsal for the Absa Cape Epic is what Saturday’s (26 February) MTN Sabie ultra-marathon might just boil down to.

Germany’s Karl Platt (Team Bulls) who has perfected winning the Epic into a fine art has, indicated that he will race at the MTN Sabie.

The MTN Clarens Ultra-marathon that will take place on Saturday (19 February) will in all probability boil down to a battle of wits and brawn between the riders from Garmin-adidas and DCM.

When it comes to racing ultra-marathons, Max Knox (DCM) is certainly the in-form rider at the moment. He finished fourth in the Attakwas and fulfilled the role of destroyer in Barberton when he simply ‘killed off’ his competitors on the last climb of the race to achieve a third consecutive victory.

Crank attended the UCI African Continental Champs in Jonkershoek on Saturday. The riders were met with stifling hot conditions and a super technical 4km course designed by Chris Nixon. There was some great racing to be seen with Yolande Speedy, Burry Stander and James Reid securing African titles.