Calling all mountain bikers! The 2016 Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge is taking place over the weekend of 27 and 28 February 2016 at Stellenbosch’s Le Bonheur Wine Estate, and entries are open and being snapped up at a pace.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and annually kicks off the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Week. Each year the event can be counted on to deliver loads of outdoor fun for families as well as the more serious technical off-road riders.
“Mountain bike enthusiasts are probably also very keen to hear to what extent the devastating fires that raged through the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy recently, have affected this years’ routes. We can confirm that only about 600m of the actual trail of the 55km route has been deemed unusable” says Renee Jordaan, Operations Director for the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, “And that the trail building team managed to find an alternative loop to make up the distance. While riders will pass through some very solemn and charred landscapes at times, it is interspersed with the usual stunning vistas that the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy offers.”
David Bellairs, a Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust says, “This year we have created a series of trails that will entice and challenge all riders. We remain continually aware of the variety of ages and athletic abilities among the MTB entrants, and we are confident that we’ve created routes to cater for everyone”.
Each route boasts varying degrees of intensity designed by Dirtopia’s trail-building expert Meurant Botha. On Saturday, 27 February, riders can have fun with the 14km, 20km and newly added 30km trails. These three distances are shorter than Sunday’s routes and perfect for families and those still honing their MTB skills. Be warned that they are still challenging, so be prepared to work up a sweat.
Sunday, 28 February, is aimed at more experienced riders who are looking to put their skills to the test. Cyclists can choose either the 40km or the 55km route and both distances promise participants a technically challenging ride.
For entries and further information on the Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge, visit http://www.capetowncycletour.com/cape-town-mtb-challenge/. Entry fees range from R80 (for PPA members) to R300 depending on the distance chosen.
To keep informed on any developments like our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/cycletour or follow us on Twitter: @TheMTBChallenge.
