We’re stoked to share the story of our Dirt Addict member, Annelize van Zyl, who recently took on her first XCM at the Vines & Views MTB Classic. This wasn’t just any race—it was a true test of grit, determination, and a little bit of crazy.
Annelize rolled up to the start line with mixed emotions. On one hand, she was pumped to be there, especially since she was shaking off a head cold. But as she looked around and realized she was surrounded by some of the elite riders, reality hit: this was going to hurt.
“The vibe was amazing,” she said, recalling the Friday night briefing where everyone gathered for registration, pizza, and drinks. The camaraderie was real, and it helped calm some of those pre-race jitters.
Race day brought a sandy and rocky terrain, throwing some technical challenges and sketchy downhills her way. Despite feeling under the weather, Annelize was determined to test herself against the best. Her goal? Simply to finish and have fun doing it.
And finish she did—placing an impressive 6th in the women’s 55km category! It wasn’t easy—this race pushed her to her limits. But even though she was exhausted at the end, Annelize was filled with gratitude for the experience. She proved to herself that she could dig deep and push through, even when the going got tough.
We’re beyond proud of Annelize for taking on this challenge and crushing it. Here’s to many more races, more lessons learned, and a whole lot of fun along the way! Keep riding, keep pushing, and stay dirty, Annelize!