Tim_Fair

Video: Darren Lill laughs about almost colliding with an Impala. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151522736092659&set=vb.150125061708036&type=2&theater

Did you see the Croc at #MTN|Rooiberg? He did! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151522715422659&set=vb.150125061708036&type=2&theater

A few cool pics

PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release – no embargo DATE: 18-06-2013 "I love it when a plan comes together.” Nico Bell (Westvaal/Bell Cycles) could be forgiven if this phrase from the ever popular television series, the A-Team, crossed his mind as he won the MTN Rooiberg ultra-race (105km) on Saturday (15 June). This victory, his first ever in the MTN series, has been a long time in the making. Bell’s winning time was 4 hours 21 minutes and 21 seconds. Matthys Beukes (Scott) was 2nd in 4:27:34; Gawie Combrinck (Westvaal/Bell Cycles) 3rd in 4:29:59; Darren Lill (Cannondale/Blend Properties) 4th in 4:41:343 and Johann Rabie (NuWater) 5th in 4:41:46. Bell’s name has been mentioned since last year whenever pre-race favourites were discussed, but for a plethora of reasons, he always seemed to run out of luck at crucial moments in almost every race. To his credit he refused to become despondent. In fact, he just became more motivated. It should be mentioned that Bell left nothing to chance. Bell and his trusted sidekick, Gawie Combrinck, sat down and carefully planned the best way to ensure a victory at MTN Rooiberg. “I asked Gawie to put his body on the line to make sure that we keep racing at a fast pace for the duration of the race. In this way we can make sure that a rider who drops back will not be able to join up again. “I want it to be a race of attrition in which only the strongest riders will survive,” said Bell last week when asked about his plans for the MTN Rooiberg race. That was exactly how Saturday’s race played out. For the first approximately 20 kilometres, Beukes was the rider who set the pace that enabled him to win the king of the mountain prime. The moment he started to slow down, Combrinck went to the front to set the pace. He did such a good job that, after 60 kilometres, there were only a few riders left in contention to take the victory. Bell waited for the steepest climb of the day to start playing his cards. He tested the strength of his rivals with short bursts of acceleration, but refrained from any major heroics. On the seven sisters climb after the first tech zone, the real fun began when Bell attacked. Beukes tried for a while to keep up but, realizing that he was fighting a losing battle, he wisely decided to consolidate his second place. The entire event took place in the Rooiberg conservancy and inevitably there was numerous encounters with the resident wildlife. According to Beukes, they had to stop and get off their mountain bikes at one stage during the race to give a herd of Impala and Springbok the right of way. “It was exciting but also slightly scary.” Lill nearly landed up with a Springbok landing on his back while they waited for a herd to pass while Combrinck had a close encounter with a kudu while they were racing down one of the trickiest descents. London Olympic gold rower Matthew Brittain commented after the race "Only in Africa, the front group stopped and waited for the herd to pass without a comment and just continued racing after they passed!" reminding of the famous Paris Roubaix where riders sometimes have to stop for a train to pass mid race, but with African flair. “MTN Rooiberg was definitely a race of a different kind. Not only did you have to watch out for loose rocks all the time, but you also had to be on constant alert for what might jump out of the bush,” said Combrinck. Bell said without hesitation that the MTN Rooiberg was one of the toughest races of the series so far. “I had flash backs of the first stage of the Absa Cape Epic. Riding through the thick loose sandy sections and over the loose rocks were not easy. You really had to keep your wits about you.” Robyn de Groot (Need Sponsor) also achieved a cycling first by winning the MTN Rooiberg women’s 75km race. Yolandi du Toit (Bizhub) was 2nd and Yolanda Speedy (ASG) 3rd. Results Mens (Ultra Marathon) 1st Nico Bell 04:21:21 2nd Matthys Beukes 04:27:34 3rd Gawie Combrinck 04:29:59 4th Darren Lill 04:41:43 5thJohann Rabie 04:41:46 Women (Marathon) 1st Robyn de Groot 03:42:44 2nd Yolandi Du Toit 03:44:21 3rd Yolanda Speedy 03:54:25 Ends. For full results and more info visit www.nationalmtbseries.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalmtbseries Find us on Twitter: @mtnnationalmtb

Hi Guys, Well done to all who completed Rooiberg this weekend! Check out the great event pics here: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.510895705630968.1073741832.150125061708036&type=3 Photomarx - http://www.photomarx.co.za/

This is where the #MTNRooiberg Ultra riders will be facing off this weekend. #SevenSistersClimb

One of the many "Donga Bush Tunnels" at #MNTRooiberg.

Awesome section of #MTNRooiberg singletrack.

MTN Rooiberg Marathon profile

MTN Rooiberg Ultra Marathon profile

MTN Rooiberg Half Marathon profile

Fancy a free trip to Mauritius? Awesome prizes at MTN Rooiberg... Press Release: Exotic incentive for veteran mountain bikers for MTN Rooiberg PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release – no embargo DATE: 05-06-2013 Veteran mountain bikers with a taste for the exotic and a sense for adventure must make sure that they don’t miss the MTN Rooiberg event on 15 June. The reward for a few hours of intense hard cycling could be something really special. The first two riders at the MTN Marathon 75km Vets Men’s race will jointly receive a team entry to the Mauritian Omnicane Southern Tropical MTB Challenge over four days during the first weekend of December 2013. This is Mauritius’ premier annual international mountain biking event and it attracts riders from Mauritius, France, Reunion, rest of Europe and South Africa. The organizer is Yannick Lincoln, himself a well-known Mauritian rider on the SA pro circuit. The prize includes return airfares from Johannesburg, entry fees plus food and accommodation in the race village. The Omnicane Southern Tropical was featured this year on SuperCycling in a half an hour slot. It is hailed as a great event, far tougher than the daily distances suggest because of the pristine mountainous terrain that it covers. Participants have to enter as a two man team. Teams register in one of four different categories that include Men, Ladies, Mixed and Masters (both riders must be 40 years or older on race day). The minimum age of participation is 15 on race day. The riders in a team must remain together at all times during the race and are expected to reach the finish line by 17h00 daily. At each stage, the winners of the day receive prizes and the leaders in the overall classification are awarded their leader jerseys. All riders and race crew sleep in the tented race villages. •Prologue 6.5km •Stage 1 : 65km •Stage 2 : 85km •Stage 3 : 45km The prize is sponsored jointly by Omnicane Southern Tropical MTB Challenge and Maitland Group, a Mauritian Trust Services company. The MTN Rooiberg event will replace the MTN Mabalingwe event that took place in the same region last year. According to Fritz Pienaar from Advendurance the riding at Rooiberg offers very a similar bushveld experience as Mabalingwe but with the added benefit of purpose built single track to spoil riders. Rudolph Pretorius, the owner of the Welgedacht Estate in the Elandsberg Nature Reserve, where most of the race will take place said that he has been building mountain bike single track in the area since 2004. “It is the best thing I could have done because it enabled me to get on my mountain bike to parts of my farm which I previously thought was totally inaccessible.” Pretorius and his team of workers have built a total 75 kilometers of single track in the last few years. “It feels like I have a totally new farm.” Welgedacht is located between Bela Bela and Thabazimbi in the Limpopo Province. It is nestled between Mabula Private Game Reserve and Meletse Golf Estate on the Waterberg Plateau, about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the town of Rooiberg. For full results and more info visit www.nationalmtbseries.com Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalmtbseries Find us on Twitter: @mtnnationalmtb Ends.

MTN Tour of Legends Press Release - https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/mtb/sa-mtb-events/the-exclusive-mtn-tour-of-legends-opens-limited-entries-to-the-public-r703

Rooiberg Press Release - https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/mtb/sa-mtb-events/mtn-national-mtb-series-set-to-wow-riders-with-the-addition-of-new-venue-rooiberg-r706

The race takes place on Sunday 28th July! So all distances take place on the same day!

Reminder: Early Bird entries for Nissan TrailSeeker #2 Cullinan close on Sunday. Enter now to take advantage of the Early Bird discount...http://advendurance.com/trailseekerseries/trailseeker2

2013 Teaser http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veH9xHZ5GEw

Stage 2 - Qhubeka Stage 2 - Columbia Stage 2 - recap

Stage 2 - You are LEGENDS Stage 2 - Ranger Nick

Stage 1 - Ranger Nick Stage 1 - TGT Stage 1 - Qhubeka Stage 1 - recap

A look back at Tour of Legends 2012... Introduction Stage 1

Event Name: 2013 MTN Tour Of Legends When: 15 August 2013 - 18 August 2013 Where: Entabeni Nature Conservancy, Limpopo Category: MTB The MTN Tour of Legends takes place every year around the middle August at the end of the winter season in Southern Africa. The race is held over 3 days. The tour leads aspiring amateur MTN Prestige customers and corporates with a passion for mountain biking from around Southern Africa through approximately 33 000 Hectares of unspoilt nature. The MTN Tour of Legends takes place in and around the Entabeni Private Nature reserve in the Waterberg Mountains deep in the Limpopo province. The participants take on the wild side of Africa in Big 5 territory, traversing some of the most magnificent areas only Africa can offer. Participate in Teams of Two All riders must enter as a two-rider team. Teams register in one of threedifferent categories that include Men, Ladies, Mixed. The minimum age of participation is 18 on race day. The riders in a team must remain together at all times during the race and are expected to reach the finish line by 13h00 daily. At each stage, the winners of the day receive prizes and the leaders in the overall classification are awarded their leader jerseys. Special prizes will be awarded to the first CEO / MD, Best captured footage of the day, and best team spirit. Rider hospitality out of this world! The MTN Tour of Legends is organised and presented with all participants as the main focal point of the event. The participants' satisfaction, well-being and enjoyment of the race are the organisers' primary goals. We aim to deliver a legendary and unforgettable mountain bike and Raw-African experience. Therefore, we offer full service facilities during the race, including luxury 5 star accommodations at the Legend Golf & Safari Resort, top class breakfasts, lunches and dinners, race nutrition and different dazzling African entertainment every evening before dinner. Eat as much as you want! Here at the MTN Tour of Legends event you eat as much as you like from the wide selection of food available in at the buffet. Keep some space for the delicious desserts! ... this is a tour afterall! Brief Route Characteristics The route of the MTN Tour of Legends is a secret every year! Riders can expect wide open African plains, majestic mountains, deep ravines, indigenous forests and spectacular views, not to mention a rare Big 5 or other wildlife encounter. The route is characterized by dusty and riveting jeep tracks, challenging rocky outcrops, fast flowing downhill’s, meandering river crossings and stunning bush veld single tracks. Riders can expect to ride between 50 – 60km each day. Full Service Tour The MTN Tour of Legends is the most luxurious full-service mountain bike tour in the world. Rider’s nutrition, water, isotonic carbohydrate drinks and snacks are available at the feed points to spoil and motivate riders during the event. Full servicing is available halfway on each day, and we’ll replace any broken parts at their retail value. We’ll have your bike washed, lubed and serviced ready to go after lunch while you enjoy a relaxing rubdown from one of the qualified masseurs. Go to Event Page

Hilton Dirt Fest 2013 http://advendurance.com/nationalmtbseries/hilton

Event Name: MTN National XCM #7 Hilton Driven By NISSAN When: 28 July 2013 Where: Hilton College, Hilton, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Kwazulu-Natal Category: MTB Event Summery: One of KZN’s favourite races plays host to SA’s top riders fighting it out for honours in the MTN National Marathon Series once again. Variety is the name of the game with spectacular views over the Albert-Falls Dam and the Umgeni Valley. The Spectacular Hilton College serves as the Start/ Finish venue, offering huge trees with open grass for spectators to relax under while waiting for their winners to race through the finish. For riders there are hot and cold showers at the Sports Centre and medals for finishers.. The route comprises of 55% forests, 15% sugar-cane, 20% farmland, 5% Thorn-veld, with less than1% on public roads. As always there is an abundance of single track! The complete range of MTB riders will be indulged with rides to suit their fitness and ability: MTN National Ultra-Marathon (100km). Longest individual MTB race in KZN. A really tough course to test elite riders. Flowing single track, rugged hills, plantations, farmland and bush-veld. Unique new technical descent into Umngeni Valley added this year.MTN National Marathon (75km). Less total ascent than ultra, but still a good challenge for fit riders. One of the most scenic rides in the country!NISSAN National Half-Marathon (40km). Course this year, avoiding the big climb with flowing sections in Hilton College. This ride has a bit of every-thing…bits of the pro-course but easy bits too.Buycycle Farm Ride (20km). Guaranteed, all who ride this race will enjoy it. Interesting scenery and lots of fun. New fast single track sectionAdvendurance Fun Ride (10km). Put a smile on the kids’ faces. Medals and a sweet for all finishers.Bring your family along and make them all experience the excitement of mountain biking! Go to Event Page