moment for me. I’ ve struggled a lot since I won World Championships in XCO in 2018. And so to come back seven years later, to be racing in a discipline I hadn’ t planned to race in, and to have another shot at a rainbow jersey and to be able to hang on and get that done in front of my family and friends, was a really full circle moment for me. It restored my faith in my ability to set really big goals and do hard things and will continue to serve me in this next chapter.”
There’ s no doubt that this powerful faith in herself is going to pay dividends when she’ s once again in the battle that is the Absa Cape Epic, but what cemented the decision to return after eight years away from the world’ s premier stage race?
“ My decision to race in the Cape Epic this year was in huge part motivated by the ability to bring the rainbow jersey to such an event,” she says.“ Being in the rainbow jersey for a year is not only a huge honour, but a responsibility to represent the discipline at the highest level, and there’ s no better place to do that than at the Cape Epic.
“ I’ m especially excited to be competing in an all-American team with Melisa Rollins, who I met at Leadville last year, and who played a big role in my rediscovering my love for the top level of sport and this new discipline.”
She says of her Leadville rival, and now teammate and friend,“ Melisa is a total joy
“ MELISA IS A TOTAL JOY TO COMPETE WITH. SHE IS GRITTY AND STRONG AND TOTALLY WILLING TO TAKE RISKS AND SEND IT”
to compete with. She is gritty and strong and totally willing to take risks and send it, but she is also someone who really values competition and sport in the same way that I do and who brings a lot of joy to the bike, which is really important in a partnership, but also in a race that’ s so so challenging. I think we are going to be an incredible team, not just because we are a good matchup physically, but because I think we both have an ability to fight relentlessly, stay positive, and also enjoy the journey of trying to push ourselves to the limit and see what we’ re capable of achieving. I could not be more excited that she is racing as my partner!”
You don’ t enjoy a career in mountain biking as long as Kate Courtney has without being robust and adaptable, knowing how to deal efficiently with setbacks and keep moving forward. This trait is one of the most valuable you’ ll find when the Untamed African MTB Stage Race starts throwing you the inevitable curveballs. Kate and Melisa may have limited experience racing side-by-side, but they’ ve been putting in some big miles in preparation for the event – and you can bet that they will be a duo to watch.
the untamed african mtb race | MTB | 29