Secunda rider to face world’s best at Val di Sole, seeks community support
Hoërskool Secunda learner Lu‑Mari du Plessis (18) has been selected to represent Team South Africa at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy, where she will contest the junior women’s U17 and U18 Cross‑Country Olympic (XCO) race on 27 August. The learner is due to travel on 22 August to acclimatise and prepare for the technical Italian terrain.
Du Plessis, who has been cycling since the age of 10, has built a strong competitive record over the past two years. Her results include winning the South African Junior Women’s Championship in Gauteng, victories at Thaba Trails 2025 and Happy Valley 2026, and a silver medal at the African Championships in 2025. These performances helped secure her place on the national team for the world championships.
“I practice at least once a day, while on most days I have two training sessions. It has been difficult juggling school and training, but it takes discipline,”
The learner is in the midst of her matric year, balancing schooling with intensive training. She acknowledged that competing at the world championships will be a new experience: "This is my first time competing in the World Championships. I have no idea what to expect," she said. While her long‑term aim is to bring home a world title, she remains realistic about the step up to international competition.
Costs and community appeal
Du Plessis has appealed to the Secunda community for financial assistance. The estimated cost of attending the championships is about R80 000, which organisers say will cover visa fees, flights, accommodation and daily living expenses while in Italy. At this stage the family and school are seeking sponsors and donations to ensure she can take up the opportunity.
- Event: UCI Mountain Bike World Championships — junior women’s U17/U18 XCO
- Race date: 27 August
- Planned departure: 22 August
- Estimated cost: R80 000
The local community has in recent years shown strong support for school sport, and Du Plessis’s selection underlines the role of local clubs and schools in developing riders who can compete nationally and internationally. Her achievements also raise Secunda’s profile in mountain biking circles — a potential attractor for sport tourism in the region if riders from the area continue to perform on international stages.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Athlete | Lu‑Mari du Plessis (18), Hoërskool Secunda |
| Competition | UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, Val di Sole, Italy |
| Event | Junior women’s U17/U18 Cross‑Country Olympic (XCO) |
| Race date | 27 August |
| Estimated cost | R80 000 |
Local businesses, fellow athletes and residents who are able to assist are encouraged to contact Hoërskool Secunda or any organisers supporting Du Plessis’s campaign. Contributions would help cover logistical costs and allow her time on course to familiarise with the demanding jumps and climbs of Val di Sole.
This selection adds to a lineage of young riders from the region who have leveraged local trails and coaching to reach national teams. For Secunda, supporting Du Plessis is both an investment in a promising athlete’s future and a reminder of the broader benefits of nurturing school sport: personal discipline, local pride and the possibility of attracting visitors for training and events.
As she prepares to balance final matric assessments with international competition, Du Plessis will carry Secunda’s flag on a world stage — a prospect that has drawn attention from fellow learners, coaches and the wider community who are now looking at ways to help her pedal towards her world championship dream.
