​​Mountain-biking now forms part of Maties Sport's High Performance programme at Stellenbosch University (SU) and will become part of the exciting Varsity Sports series this year.

The Varsity MTB Challenge comprises two multi-day stage races. Varsity MTB Challenge will see the two races take place in the Sondela Nature Reserve in Bela Bela between 9 and 10 July and on La Paris in Franschhoek between 1 and 2 October 2016. The Varsity MTB Challenge will have a unique university flavour. The races are open to the general public, who will be able to race for their university of choice.

The past weekend Maties Cycling dominated the Intervarsity clash against UCT and the local cyclists showed that they are ready to be competitive in the Varsity MTB Challenge.

Mariske Strauss, African and South African mountain bike champion and Sports Science student at SU is very excited about the impact the HP program will have on the sport in Stellenbosch.

"It's definitely a step in the right direction. This means our sport is growing. It also gives the Maties cyclists access to a vast array of resources, all of which will help to promote their sports careers," said Strauss.

Strauss is hoping to go to the Olympic Games in Rio. She represented her country at the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

"Thanks to the support of the HP programme I not only have access to world-class facilities, but I also have the opportunity to work with the administration and give them the best possible idea of what exactly is happening in our sport. This is a great opportunity and hopefully we can get more participation and interest in the sport."

According to Strauss the HP programme will help to make the sport of mountain biking more accessible at university level. "We can now engage more students in the sport and offer an opportunity to those who might not have been able to afford all the extras – which we now have access to – themselves. We can therefore give people a better idea of what the sport is about and in this way we can grow much faster and become better."

For more Varsity MTB Challenge information visit www.varsitymtbchallenge.co.za. Social media platforms are Facebook: Varsity MTB Challenge; Twitter: @VarsityMTB and Instagram: @varsitymtb.

Photo caption: Cyclists participate in the intervarsity competition against UCT. Photo credit: Outsider Communications