Minnaar set for World Cup action in PMB

He achieved a career highlight of winning the men's downhill world championship title in his own backyard last year, the third of his lengthy career.

However, disaster struck in training at the final leg of the UCI MTB World Cup in Austria as Minnaar went crashing out of the competition, severely injuring his knee in the process.

"Just two weeks after World Champs I came off my bike in Leogang and tore my anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee and I had a lateral tear in my medial meniscus," Minnaar said.

"I had an operation in mid-October where they used grafts from my hamstring to repair my ACL. "Since then I've been in rehab where I've been working pretty hard with my physiotherapists and biokineticists."

The first leg of the SA MTB Cup Series, held at Cascades MTB Park over the weekend, was a good opportunity for Minnaar to take to the trails of his hometown.

He made his return on his downhill bike for the first time two weeks ago while in the United States.

The South African cycling icon soon looked to get as much out of the event as possible with the Pietermaritzburg-leg of the World Cup less than a month away and he was satisfied with his victory.

"I always try take part in a couple [of] nationals throughout the year. It's been a while since I last rode one so it was nice to ride again," said Minnaar.

"The SA Cup Series race was more of an experiment for me though and a chance to see where I am and how the body is feeling. "While I'm not 100 percent just yet, I'm not too far off and I don't think it will be too much longer before I'm back up to full pace again."

While upbeat about his return to racing, Minnaar was quick to point out that the World Cup season opener in his hometown was not far away and he still had some work to do before then.

"I'm really looking forward to the Pietermaritzburg World Cup, but unfortunately I don't expect to be too competitive. "It's obviously disappointing that I won't quite be 100 percent, especially because it's always great racing at home in front of my home crowd."

(File photo:Gallo Images)