MEAN MACHINES
Can Nino make a comeback and topple defending champ Jaro? Will Mani and Henri
survive without back-up? How will Sam and Alan’s debut go? Let the team talk begin.
1
INVESTEC-SONGO-
SPECIALIZED 1
2019
280-2
HOWARD
GROTTS
Age: 34
Epics completed: 4
Stage wins: 13 Age: 26
Epics completed: 2
Stage wins: 2
BEST RESULT
1st (2013, 2015, 2018)
2012 Olympic Gold
medallist BEST RESULT
1st (2018)
2018 XCO
USA champion
L
ast year’s route to victory was a bumpy ride
for Kulhavý and Grotts. They kept their fans in
suspense, with Grotts ailing on the loose trail
surfaces in the opening days. But they found their rhythm,
ultimately gaining nearly 10 minutes over their nearest
challengers. Their 2018 win sets them up as favourites, as
does their pedigree: Kulhavý is dubbed the world’s most
complete mountain biker (Olympic, world XCO, world
marathon and Cape Epic champ); Grotts is the current US
XCO champ, who climbs like a mountain goat. There’s no
doubt they gel as a team – with Grotts’ superb ascending
and special ability to dig deep into his anaerobic zone, he
sets the pace on the uphills, and when it comes to the fl at
open sections, the Czech Express fi res up the cylinders
and Grotts tucks in behind. It’s a method that has proved
devastating to their rivals. They have the expert back-up of
multiple world champ Christoph Sauser and Danish champ
Simon Andreassen, so their challengers better have a
solution or they’re set for a repeat of last year’s trouncing.
H O WA R D O N J A R O
“Even though we have different riding
styles, Jaro and I actually work really
well together … we were able to
capitalise on both of our strengths”
42 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
5 M I N U T E S W I T H H O WA R D
You’ve won the world’s
most prestigious mountain
bike race despite cynics
saying you lacked the
horsepower to match Jaro.
What’s your teamwork
and communication plan
riding with a very diff erent
style rider? Even though
we have diff erent riding
styles, Jaro and I actually
work really well together.
Last year we gained most
of our time on the climbs
and then I was able to tuck
in behind him for the fl at
sections; we were actually
able to capitalise on both
of our strengths really
well. Jaro was good about
making sure I wasn’t riding
over my limit and that way
we kept up a sustainable
pace and kept gaining time
as the race went on.
You got stronger as the
race went on and got
steeper, and this year’s
course is the steepest ever,
so you must be confi dent
that you can take on Nino
and defend your title? At
only 26 you have a long
road ahead with no limits.
What’s your long-term
goal? Do you think we’ll
see mountain bike stage
racing grow in the US?
Every year is diff erent.
I think you never really
know what a race like the
Cape Epic is going to throw
at you until you’re actually
out there. The competition
is always tough, but it’s
equally a battle against
the terrain and avoiding
costly mechanicals. It’d be
cool to defend the title, but
right now I’m just focusing
on my preparations. With
the Olympics in 2020, my
focus has shifted a little
more towards XCO racing
and that side of the racing
world, but after that it
could be fun to do more
marathon/adventure/
stage races. It’s really cool
to be able to explore the
world by bike, and stage
racing is a great way to do
that. I think a lot of people
feel the same way, and I
wouldn’t be surprised if we
start seeing more stage
races pop up in the US.
EPIC/SPORTZPICS • SUPPLIED
JAROSLAV
KULHAVÝ