LW Mag LW Magazine
Related Articles
We’re just a few days away from the opening round of the 2014 UCI Downhill MTB World Cup season taking place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on the 11th and 12th April. One of the star riders and one who probably has the most support at this race is hometown hero and current Downhill MTB World Champion, Greg Minnaar. Greg has been using the off season to recover from an injury sustained at the last World Cup of 2013 and at the same time getting ready for the 2014 season.
We hooked up an interview with the champ to discuss the injury, the recovery, his preparation for this opening race and the 2014 season. See what he had to say.
You have taken to off-season as a recovery period for your knee injury sustained at the last Wold Cup race in 2013. Tell us about the injury and how has the recovery period gone?
I had an ACL replacement and a lateral tear through my meniscus. Rehab has been long, and I’m not quite finished yet. If it wasn’t for the guys at Ossur / CTI for making me a knee brace, I think this World Cup would have been out of reach.
How has the time off effected your preparation for the 2014 season?
My fitness is there, so my preparation has been good. What’s not all there is my left leg, it will come with time. Unfortunately you can’t speed up the natural course of healing that much.
What have you had to change up in your training schedule in order to be ready for the 2014 season?
I’ve had to add in 2 sessions of Physio and Bio 3 times a week. My knee has taken up a lot of time in the off season.
“I have had a good run of support at the South African World Cups, thank you to all who have made the effort to come down. Lets hold thumbs that this event will continue in the years to come”
The opening round of the World Cup is taking place on your home track. What are your feeling on this and how much of an advantage does it give you?
It doesn’t give me any advantage, we will all get the same amount of time in on the track. I love racing at home, there is no better feeling, I just hope to pull off decent result this year.
Surely this home race couldn’t have come at a better time giving the injury, recovery and opening 2014 race. What other benefits does it have?
No benefits at all, it’s a physical track and I have a leg that’s nowhere near 100%. I would have preferred to be on the technical tracks of Europe and come back to this world cup in August, when I’m 100%.
What do the next few days leading up to the World Cup hold for you?
Stress [laughs]. It’s very stressful for me leading up to this event, media pull me in all different directions leading up to this race. It’s the one thing that I have to be on top of if I want this weekend to go well.
Who do you think is going to be your main competition at the opening round and for the 2014 season?
I’m not going in to this race as a favourite, if I was I could pick a hand full of riders, but I’m entering this race not knowing where I stand in terms of competitiveness. On Friday I’ll know more.
There will be some changes made to the Pietermaritzburg Downhill World Cup Track. What’s your take on the changes? And do you think it if for the better?
I know there have been some changes, but I haven’t been up to see what they have done. I know there has been a lot of rock added up top. I’ll get to see it on Wednesday.
What are you looking forward to most at this opening round of the 2014 season?
New kit, new bike and just to be back racing. I miss racing.
Any words for you fans that will be track-side supporting?
I have had a good run of support at the South African World Cups, thank you to all who have made the effort to come down. Lets hold thumbs that this event will continue in the years to come.
