Neethling Wins South Africa DH Title!

South African downhill racer Andrew Neethling of the Giant Factory Off-Road Team won the national title Sunday at the South African Downhill Championships near Cape Town. Neethling, a recent signing to the team, clocked a time of 2:14.92 on his Giant Glory to beat second-place finisher Johann Potgieter by 3.01 seconds. The race was held on a new course in Contermans Kloof, where racers faced hot temperatures and dry, dusty conditions. Neethling finished second in the qualifier run, conserving some energy for the finals. "I found my flow after a stall in the second turn," Neethling said after his winning run. "I attacked hard at the bottom and managed to come away with the title." It was Neethling's second major win since joining the Giant Factory team. He also won the African Continental Championships in February. The 26-year-old will now turn his attention to the upcoming World Cup series, which kicks off in late April in Neethling's home nation with a round in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. www.giant-bicycles.com