If mountain biking were to be part of his matric course, James Reid (Specialized/Mr Price) would have been assured of at least one distinction at the end of the year.

He has basically scored 100%  every time he got onto his bike to compete in a mountain bike race. On Saturday, 27 February, in Sabie he achieved a hat trick in the MiWay half-marathon series. In doing so, he also claimed the title of South African champion for 2010.

Reid also won the MiWay Attakwas and Barberton races, as well as the first junior race of the MTN National Cross-country Series.

During Saturday’s race, Reid once again made his intentions clear right from the start when he took off like a ‘rocket’ at the boom of  the starter’s gun. His challenge to the rest of the riders was crystal clear – ‘catch me if you can’.

Reid’s fast pace turned the race into one of elimination, with one rider after another dropping off on the first steep climb. Only Travis Walker (DCM) managed to stay with Reid for a while, but eventually even he had to throw in the proverbial towel of defeat.

Understandably, Reid thoroughly enjoyed his race.

“I slipped and slid through some of the corners and at times nearly crashed, but luckily I managed to stay upright.”

According to Reid he might have had a slight advantage over the other riders.

“I had trained in Sabie for four days, which meant that I got to know the route quite well. I just loved the climb and the technical sections. For me it was almost like a longish cross-country race with two serious climbs.  That is why I decided to make the racing hard right from the beginning.”

Walker finished 2nd and Brendon Davids was 3rd.

Ten days ago, at the South African Road Championship in Klerksdorp, Reid also rode an impressive race.  He finished 6th in the junior road race.

In typical mountain-biking style, he took the race by the scruff of the neck, getting mixed up in plenty of action right from the start. With two laps to go he was still 4th overall.

“My problem is that, as a mountain biker, I am used to racing 150 minutes flat-out and not 210 minutes. I really suffered during those last two laps.  I was broken.  It was certainly the hardest race of my life, but I am glad that I was able to prove to myself that I can be competitive in road races that matter.”

Reid started his cycling career as a road cyclist before switching to mountain biking.

When asked whether he might in future also race in the individual time trial and try to emulate the victory of Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade) as a mountain biker in the senior individual time trial, Reid’s answer was that the time trial has always fascinated him.

“Yes, I will definitely compete in the time trial. My most important cycling hero, and that of most of my peers, is Fabian Cancellara, the Swiss Olympic and World time-trial champion.”

Candice Neethling (DCM) completed Saturday’s MiWay ‘love match’ by winning the women’s race in Sabie.

She and Reid are an ’item’. When not racing, Reid doubles up as Neethling’s personal PRO by handing out all sorts of interesting statistics about Neethling’s race. For example that Neethling finished 12th overall, which meant that she had beaten more than 200 boys and men.

As with Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade), the biggest frustration for Neethling is that she has no real competition at the moment. She would have loved to have raced the 75km event, which would have meant that she could resume her rivalry with the two 19 year-olds, Mariska Strauss (MTN-Energade) and Caitlin de Wet (Specialized/MR Price). The three of them are considered to be the future stars of South African women’s mountain biking.

Unfortunately Neethling still has to race the shorter distances for the duration of this year.

Emily Clark finished 2nd on Saturday and Sandra-Leigh Prinsloo was 3rd.