Fit-again Andrew McLean is thrilled to return to the KAP sani2c in 2016 after injury forced him out of last year’s event as he looks to add a sixth finishers’ medal to his collection and enjoy the occasion with friends along the way when he takes on the event’s Race from 12-14 May.
The legendary South African cycling and TV personality borders on having done it all as far as local and even international races go yet the three days from the base of Sani Pass to Scottburgh still holds a fond place in Mclean’s heart.
South African cycling and TV personality Andrew Mclean (Cycle Lab) relishes his return to the 2016 KAP sani2c which takes place from Glencairn Farm outside Himeville to Scottburgh Main Beach from 12-14 May 2016. Darren Goddard/ Gameplan Media.
“The combination of the fantastic track, the wonderful community involvement and the opportunity to catch up with good mates and sit and shoot the breeze with them in a beautiful setting at the end of each day makes the sani2c just such a special race” said Mclean.
“Farmer Glen certainly set the standard for multistage events in mountain biking in South Africa and it is an event I thoroughly enjoy going back to each year,” he added.
While in the saddle, Mclean laps up the fast, flowing nature of the course while the sights and sounds riders experience throughout their journey is unrivalled.
“The track is intentionally very well manicured which has beautiful, sweeping single track and is a flowing, smooth ride from the mountains down to the sea.
“The Umko drop is obviously the signature of the event and is a difficult one for any other events to compete with.
“The route takes riders through a number of different environments as they traverse their way down and all in all it is just a magnificent three days that has a little bit of everything!”
An eleventh hour injury forced Mclean out of the 2015 event however he and Cycle Lab partner William Wertheim Aymes return again this year, eager to tackle their first race as a pair.
“William is a 50+ Vet cycling mate of mine from Jo’burg and we’ve never actually ridden together before.
“We planned to do sani2c together last year until I unfortunately hit a buffalo and had an accident and so we said to each other this year ‘Let’s just try make sure we at least make it to the start line together!’
“So far we’ve done that and while we’ll look to race in our category and go as hard as we can, it is far more about the experience and the unique camaraderie of the event that we’re really looking forward to the most,” explain Mclean.
The Trail, Adventure and Race events of the 2016 KAP sani2c take place from Glencairn in Underberg to Scottburgh on KZN’s South Coast from 10-12, 11-13 and 12-14 May respectively. For more information visit www.sani2c.co.za.
