Forged in France: South Africa’s Next Generation of Downhill Talent Takes on Europe
For a group of South Africa’s brightest young downhill mountain bikers, this European summer is about far more than race results.
Competing in the iXS Downhill Cup series in France marks their first taste of racing on the continent where the sport’s highest level is built – and it’s an eye-opening introduction. From steeper, rougher tracks to deeper fields packed with talent, the challenge is unlike anything they’ve encountered back home. South Africa has produced world-class downhill riders, but opportunities to race consistently against Europe’s best remain limited. That makes trips like these invaluable. Exposure to demanding terrain, relentless competition and the intensity of international racing provides an education that simply can’t be replicated at home.
For riders still in their teens, gaining this experience early could prove to be the foundation of future World Cup ambitions. While there are no guarantees in a sport as demanding as downhill mountain biking, this group represents a promising generation of South African talent taking the first steps towards competing on the world’s biggest stage. Earlier this week, we caught up with four of them for a few words on their progress and experience, so far.
Sven Etsebeth
“I am 15 years old. I’m focusing more on XCO racing, but being good at Downhill comes with benefits. My expectations of racing at the IXS with the worlds best Youth Men – what the Euros call U17 – was to try be in the top half of the field and to get used to the steeper slopes while racing. Wow what an eye opener...
…The Frenchies and other top riders really impressed me with their skill level and aggressive all-out racing. They are faster than a bat outa hell. I’ll need to spend more time in Europe and race on more World Cup tracks to be able to keep up with these guys. I’m happy overall with my 57th place out of more than 100 riders. Got work to do.” – Sven
Luc Rossouw
“I’m 15 years old and as this was my first overseas race, I didn’t have any specific expectations. My main goal was to put together a clean run and see where I finish in such a strong and competitive field. So far, being here in France, I’ve learnt to ride with more precision and to be much more calculated on the bike. The trails here are steeper, more technical, and far more challenging than what I’m used to, and the experience has already taught me a lot as a rider..
..In the IXS Race at Les Orres, I had a really clean run with no mistakes, but I wish I’d pushed a bit harder in a few places. I’d definitely say this is the hardest track I’ve ever ridden. It was super blown out with big impacts all the way down and was really demanding on my body. I’m happy I made it to the bottom safely and got a solid run in. I ended the day 70th in the U17 Pro category. There’s still a lot to learn, but I’m stoked with the experience and looking forward to the next one.” – Luc
Joubert van Niekerk
“I’m 15 years old. Going into the iXS race in Les Orres, I wasn’t expecting a big result. My goal was simply to have a smooth run and perform to the best of my ability. Unfortunately, I had a few big crashes and didn’t ride as well as I had hoped..
..I learned a lot about racing in Europe, handling pressure, and the importance of consistency. The experience has motivated me to work harder and ride more.” – Joubert
Joshua Ord
“Competing in Les Orres has been unforgettable for me, in so many ways. Building friendships with the rest of the South African crew has been a real highlight, along with the opportunity to meet so many riders from around the world. I came over to Europe to test myself against some of the world’s top junior riders and to get a clear idea of where I stand after what’s been a disappointing National DH season for me. Racing at this level showed me the speed, commitment and self-belief required to compete internationally..
..The IXS track itself was incredibly demanding, both technically and physically. While finishing 38th from 66 riders in the U19 Cat was a decent result, I felt I may have raced a little cautiously on the day. Hoping to put the hammer down a bit more at the French Cup DH, up next.” – Joshua Ord