COX MAKES HIS COMEBACK

The rider set off into the Maluti Mountains not only with the OR3 Championship lead, but with a solid shot at taking the overall victory that day. After just kilometres into the first lap, the orange camp was gutted as Cox returned to the pits with a broken collarbone.

Less than a month later, and Cox is blazing down a comeback path. Taking most competitors by surprise, he was crowned KwaZulu-Natal’s 2019 Cross Country champion last weekend.

We catch up with the multi-disciplined star about his speedy return to racing ahead of the next round of the National Enduro Championship in Robertson:

What is the latest update on your collarbone?

My collarbone is doing well. I was really lucky that I got surgery the day after my crash and was back on an indoor bicycle just two days later. I some time off riding my bike for three weeks, and then went to race the last round of the KZN Cross Country Championship and managed to win my class and take the overall! I think I surprised a lot of people by bouncing back so quickly – at top speed!

How did pulling out of the race in Lesotho impact your Cross Country Championship standings?

After the accident happened I actually jumped back on the bike and tried to finish the race. I quickly realised that wasn’t going to be possible and had to pull out. No one wants to get a DNF and zero points to their name – especially because I was leading the championship. I have to win both of the last two rounds to take the lead again, and the rider who is in second at the moment has to come at least third. I’m confident in my riding abilities and just hope that everything else will fall into my favour.

How did the injury affect the way you’re approaching the rest of the season?

I’m taking it one race at a time – so first up is the enduro race in Robertson this weekend. I’m feeling good about my form, but enduro riding is quite demanding on your shoulders so we’ll see how it goes. I’m obviously going into it with a little bit less time on the bike than I’d liked, but when I couldn’t ride, I put 1100km’s into keeping up my fitness on my bicycle.

What are your ambitions for the rest of the enduro season?

I just want to end the enduro season on a high and carry that confidence into the Roof of Africa. There’s a three-way battle going on for third at the moment – so if I could get onto the box that would be awesome.