Pietermaritzburg – Songo.info sensation Sipho Madolo has had his dream come true by being included in the South African team to represent the host nation at the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships which take place in Pietermaritzburg this Sunday, 29 June.
The 23-year-old from Kayamandi just outside Stellenbosch, eager to quench his thirst for adventure, steered away from the region’s passion for soccer in November 2009 and began cycling.
The emerging rider’s career has grown exponentially since then and the young star now braces himself for the biggest event of his life this weekend at Cascades MTB Park where he will not only represent himself, his family and his nation but the popular Western Cape organization who began .
“I am so happy to have been selected for the South African team for the World Champs!” enthused Madolo. “It is a dream for me!”
Photo: Martin Bissig/Gameplan Media
“I like a challenge and mountain biking is that. You have to work very hard in training and the racing is just as tough.
“My selection is really big and my family is very proud of me but my selection is not just big for me, it’s big for the whole of songo.info as well!
“The youngsters need someone they can look up to and hopefully now I can be a bit of a role model to them,” he added.
Madolo’s passion for cycling was furthered tremendously when he met current Marathon World Champion Christoph Sauser (Specialized Racing) in 2010 and the Swiss star’s influence was immediately visible.
“After I met Christoph we then trained together in 2011,” explained Madolo. “That didn’t only change things for my life in cycling, it just my whole life!”
“I told Christoph last year that I wanted to try be selected for the World Champs this year and he told me I had to work really hard.
“I never thought I’d ever end up racing with Christoph, which I did at Wine2Whales, and now I’m even going to be racing in exactly the same race as him!”
The young star wants to make sure he doesn’t simply make up the numbers at this year’s World Champs despite it being his first ever appearance at the global showcase.
“I really want to race, not just ride, the World Champs. I want to do well and so I have tried my best to make sure I have prepared properly over the past few months.
“Sometimes it’s even hard just to sleep because I want to get out there and go train!
“I’m very excited to represent South Africa!” added Madolo passionately.
The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships takes place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 29 June 2014. More information can be found at www.mtbworldchamps.co.za
Source: Gameplan Media
