On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 March, riders from across the country will descend on Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek for a weekend of family fun and challenging dirt track races.
David Bellairs, CEO of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, says: "The MTB Challenge has become a highlight in the annual cycling calendar and provides a festival of dirt riding for the entire family– there are a couple of great family-oriented fun rides on the Saturday and three challenging routes for more proficient riders on the Sunday."
Family Fun
Saturday 3 March is dedicated to families. The 13km fun ride is perfect for novice riders and families with children and the 29km mountain bike course is ideal for intermediate riders that would like to test their skill. It is also the final day of the Columbia Grape Escape, which finishes at Boschendal, so friends and family members are encouraged to come and enjoy the festive atmosphere and participate in the easy bike routes while they wait for the stage race riders to finish.
Sunday 4 March is dedicated to the more serious competitive riders, with a 32km that was redesigned in 2011 to offer a more strenuous route to riders who want to challenge themselves, and a 52km route that will test skill and endurance of more technically proficient and fitter mountain bike riders.
With a variety of family-oriented activities, five great dirt track rides, and glorious outdoor setting of Boschendal Wine Estate, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay MTB Challenge is the perfect action packed weekend for the whole family.
New Pro Route
For the first time ever, the MTB Challenge will now feature an ultra-distance 65km route designed by trail king Meurant Botha that will pose a serious challenge to even the most experienced rider.
David Bellairs comments: "The aim of this new route is to give the riders competing in the Columbia Grape Escape the opportunity to ride an ultra-distance race the day after their three-day event ends, effectively providing them with a four-day stage race. This new route is very tough, so riders will have to adhere to strict seeding and ability requirements to qualify."
The 65km challenge follows the same route as the 52km route up to the 48km mark, when riders do an additional loop in the north eastern section of Boschendal. While the terrain is not unusually challenging, the high expected temperatures and long distance will test the mettle of even the strongest and fittest riders.
Enter Now
There will once again be a combination medal for those riders that complete either the 52km or 65km mountain bike route as well as the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, which takes place the following weekend.
Riders can enter now by visiting www.mtbchallenge.co.za. Entries are limited so riders are encouraged to enter now to avoid disappointment. No late entries will be accepted on race day for the 29km, 32km, 52km or 65km routes.
