On Wednesday the 9th of November Glacier by Sanlam and Dryland Event Management introduced the mountain bikers of Gauteng to the successful Traverse event format at the launch of the Glacier Cradle Traverse. The three-day mountain bike stage race will take place from the 4th to the 7th of May 2017 and the media and invited guests received an early hint of what to expect.
he Glacier Cradle Traverse launch got underway with a launch ride on Avianto Lifestyle Estate’s trails, led by route director Richard Beswick. The key to the Traverse race format is the non-technical routes which do not require riders to possess superb singletrack skills. The focus is rather on providing a scenic route which showcases the beauty of the area and provides the basis for a weekend to remember. The Glacier Cradle Traverse stages will be 49, 64 and 45 kilometres long and take in some of Avianto, the Cradle of Humankind and the Muldersdrift area’s best loved trails, but also traverse game reserves and private land where mountain bikers are not usually allowed to tread.
The Glacier Cradle Traverse will make use of the trails of Avianto, the Cradle of Humankind and the Muldersdrift area. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.
After getting an idea of the route the Glacier Cradle Traverse will be riding, the guests were treated to a media launch over canapés. Jean Lombard, Head of Business Integration at Glacier by Sanlam, Henco Rademeyer, Dryland Event Management, and Trevor D’Oliveira, owner of Avianto Lifestyle Estate, expanded on the ethos of the Traverse concept and what the Glacier Cradle Traverse will bring to mountain biking in Gauteng.
Federick van Wyk and Peter Duminy were all smiles on completing the Glacier Storms River Traverse, the Glacier Cradle Traverse’s sister event, in August 2016. Photo by Oakpics.com.
As entrants to the Glacier Storms River Traverse will know, the spirit of the event is legendary. Riders are encouraged to bring their families along to the Glacier Cradle Traverse as there is much more to do, like explore the Crocodile Ramble tourist route, visit the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, or enjoy one of Avianto’s many leisure activity options. There will also be a children’s’ activity programme, including short mountain bike races in the afternoons.
The Muldersdrift area is renowned for its rural beauty, just beyond the city limits of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.
Just as at the Glacier Storms River Traverse, the central race village will feature a relaxed atmosphere, complete with chill zone, and title sponsor Glacier by Sanlam will have more exciting initiatives in store too; including entertainment in the afternoons and evenings. From the registration on Thursday the 4th of May, where riders and their families will be treated to a luxury registration process, to the final prize giving on Sunday the 7th of May the entrants to the Glacier Cradle Traverse, and their families, will be immersed in a long weekend of riding, relaxing and socialising with like-minded people.
The Glacier Cradle Traverse boasts a route with flowing but non-technical singletrack. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.
Rolling grasslands set the scene for the Glacier Cradle Traverse. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.
Entries to the Glacier Cradle Traverse open on Thursday the 10th of November on www.cradletraverse.co.za. For the inaugural event entries will be limited to 350 riders, so to avoid disappointment enter today.
Looks like it could be a great event, quite similar to what Route99 by Leverage Corp do, just out from Avianto instead of Thatch Cafe.
but it's quite expensive at 4900 solo and 9500 team without any accommodation... and mostly riding on trails that you can go ride for a few bucks anytime.