Mariske Strauss will join the CST Sandd Bafang MTB Racing Team in the Olympic year 2020. Mariske will be the 3rd female rider to complete the CST Sandd Bafang MTB Racing Team , next to Yana Belomoina (UKR) and Anne Tauber (NED).
This makes the team one of the strongest mountain bike teams on the circuit, and that is a good position to be in for an Olympic year.
“We are happy that Mariske will be joining our Team,” said Team Manager and Olympic Gold Medallist Bart Brentjens. “Mariske is an experienced rider with a strong body and mind. She has a very positive mindset and is capable to give an enormous effort to her sport. Mariske is focused and eager to get the best out of herself. Besides that she is a teamplayer. She loves to ride stage races and is willing to work together to get the best result.”
“Mariske is working towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, she is ‘still in the race’ for a qualification. We hope we can support her on her way to Tokyo and to see her ride at the Olympic Games next year for the South African Olympic Team”.
“I actually already feel a part of the team. Everyone has been super welcoming and friendly,” said Strauss. “The prospect of having a new racing family just puts a huge smile on my face and the extra support at races will definitely be the edge I have been lacking”.
This year the CST Sandd Bafang Team Training camp is being held in South Africa, directly after the Tankwa Trek (South Africa). The Team will ride the Tankwa Trek with 3 teams. Mariske will ride together with South African Candice Lill. They will ride together as a special occasional team.