Event Name: Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge 2019 When: 2 March 2019 Where: The Purple Windmill, off the R44 Klapmuts, Western Cape Category: MTB It all begins with some mountain bike racing. Saturday, 2 March 2019 sees the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Week kick off in a cloud of dust. In seventeen years, the Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge has become the most desirable one-day event on the South African calendar. And for good reason. With 20km, 40km and 60km routes from Meurant Botha, the legendary Stellenbosch course designer, and the 40-year organisational experience of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, it offers top mountain biking for newbies and world champions alike, as well as the opportunity to earn kudos (and a special medal) for backing up the 60km ride here with the Cycle Tour the following weekend. The three route options, which offer easy, intermediate and technical trail conditions as they get longer, and are a perfect introduction to the rough stuff for all. Entries are limited , so don’t dither. 60km – 1350m ascent – starts at 07h00 ENTRY FEE – R320 (R300 for PPA members) The official MTB Challenge route incorporates all the elements of a proper mountain bike course and will test riders properly. We have kept the same 60km distance as least year, to make sure that this medal is one that is well-deserved. A quality rider can ride a similar Cycle Tour road and MTB ride, so take note that the 60km distance is a proper test. Top riders will have ample opportunity to eliminate their competitors either via extended single-track runs or the big climbs that connect the various properties that make up this route. The 60km is identical to the 40km route up to the 20km mark on Muratie Estate where the 60km riders will veer off to take on the trails at Quoin Rock, Knorhoek and Delheim Estates before heading back to Uitkyk to join the 40km route back to the finish. The 40km/60km split will also act as a cutoff point. Note that cutoff points are strictly enforced to ensure rider safety as heat is always a prevalent factor at this race – There are 5 water points on this route. The 60km route is open to riders aged 15 and older. 40km – 960m ascent – starts at 07h50 ENTRY FEE – R265 (R245 for PPA members) As with the other routes, the 40km route follows the same route up to Delvera where riders will cross over to the Simonsberg section where proper mountain biking awaits. The climbing can get pretty intense and this route is certainly geared towards experienced riders. There are plenty of flowing single-track thanks to significant trail expansion on the Muratie, Delheim and Uitkyk Estates. Riders must be well prepared as it is almost always hot on this weekend. From the forest single-track riders can look forward to a fast return to Uitkyk Estate where the final climb awaits. The routes are hard packed and fast so the only weak spot would be your burning legs. This last ascent is roughly 3km long and climbs 150m before dropping into Warwick Estate and a last blimp to get you across the finish line. There are four waterpoints on route. The 40km route is open to riders aged 15 and older. 20km – 430m ascent – starts at 08h30 ENTRY FEE – R185 (R165 for PPA members) With 430m of vertical ascent, this 20km route (with a diverse route offering) is a well-balanced MTB test. The ride starts out fast and flowing on wide farm roads and tracks with the first single-track section at the 8km mark. From here riders enter the vineyards of the Southern Klapmutskop with several fun and flowing single-tracks and descents to follow. There are two water points on route. (Note: None of the routes access the more technical Delvera trails on Klapmutskop so riders can look forward to a flowing and fun experience.) The 20km route is open to riders aged 8 and older. Go to Event Page
