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Event Name: Western Cape XCO 2017 Series # 4 (Rhebokskloof) When: 27 April 2017 Where: Rhebokskloof, Western Cape Category: MTB The series has been a huge success thus far, with an overwhelming positive response from riders, their families and other supporters, as well as spectators in general. The last event in the series of 4, before the Champs at the end of May, will take place at Rheboskloof, which has recently also hosted a VERY successful SA Cup event. Racing thus far, has been tough, but exhilarating, and most riders feel that their fitness improved quite a bit, as a result. Lets get the word out and contribute to another fun day of racing. Go to Event Page

Some lekker pics Donovan, and congrats on a very good result ! LETS SUPPORT OUR LOCAL (VERY TALENTED) PHOTOGRAPHERS - these guys and gals, were out there climbing rocks, and rolling in the dry ground next to the single track, to achieve these awesome shots - 50 bucks for a quality pic is nothing for all the effort that goes into a photographer's day. I always maintain that these images captures more than just a moment on the bike, most of these images tell a story and allows one to reflect back later, on the emotions (pain, exhilaration, etc) of a wonderful day.

Another stellar day out with fellow participants, families and friends. From the first events of the day, the nippers & sprogs, it was clear that that racing was going to be a good spectacle, made possible by a very well laid out course, with multiple good viewing points. Shaun Peters was in charge of the tunes and commentary, making all riders feel welcome and full of praise of each riders' efforts, as he / she passed his commentary gazebo. Record entries in the Vet and Sub Vets category, with the start chute being filled with very close to 50 riders, proving just how much the "older" riders still want to challenge and test themselves against their mates. The Vets category being particularly competitive this year with some incredibly fast lap times among the top 10. Big shout out to the WP MTB commission, consisting only out of volunteers and parents, for yet again putting up VERY successful event, and a day which ticked all the boxes, and then some. Looking forward to race #4 later in the month. Well done to all who took part on the day, it was a tough course - I personally ride Bloemendal often, but was surprised by how much elevation they squeezed into the laps, and as always, the intensity makes it tough going in anyones book. XCO racing in WP has made huge strides over the last year, and we have such great potential for the future, and a great foundation to work from - lets keep on spreading the word and get more of our friends and children to participate. Remember the suffering is temporarily, but the elation and memories of racing last forever.

We arranged "nice and cool" for tomorrow - trust everyone will be okay with that ?

By all accounts, it should be another cracker of an event ! After what we have seen this week at the Cape Epic, we should all be stage-race fit, after this xco series

Goon on ya !! Don't know what things were like back in the day of V-brakes, but can assure you things are run very professionally and the events are of high quality, in all departments. Spread the word, and get your family / friends to join for the day......perhaps even abuse them to hand you some rooi-ambulansies (#cola) at the feeding zones !

....please in much detail, short of supplying Sports Science data, explain what your very chilled pace would be - I might just invite myself along. I am prepared to buy coffee, if we can remain in sub 80 % zones !

From what I understand, the role players met at Bloemendal yesterday - I would imagine that the course will incorporate most of the same route / trail used last year. As said per M above, the route will include sections which is not permitted to ride on any other day - official practice day and race day only. Looking forward to another suffer session !!

ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN !!

Entries are now open !!

Morning. Not sure if I follow correctly, but you mention that there were adults in on the track when the nippers & sprogs were racing ?? - this I assure you was not the case. They have their own designated start times, and also a shortened course, which only the Nippers and Sprogs use - they start bright and early (8 am), and the other events only follow after these two age categories, on the main course. One of the challenges we have, and there are many, is to try and fit the whole day into a program allowing only a few hours. There are so many age categories and the day is already so squeezed in. A simple thing like price giving becomes an issue, as parents were not prepared to wait till 16h00 in the afternoon for the price giving and simply left after their kids events......then they tried to make the price giving earlier in the morning, and some parents can not attend the prize giving, as they are either working as volunteers on the course (event), or taking part themselves. I refer to this only to illustrate just how complicated these events become. Thanks again for your comments - always welcomed. Regards

Morning Mark Yes, it is quite a step-up from a Spur event, with reference to Nippers. My own son, and many of our other children was faced with the same challenge, BUT, I assure you, the kids are a lot more astute than what we sometimes think, and give credit for. A new rule has been implemented that all nippers and sprogs must do a practice lap before the event, to see where they might be challenged and rather opt for the b-line, or to simply walk the "obstacle". We have found that the children (nippers and sprogs) who do more regular off road rides at the various trails, find it a very simple transition, compared to the child who only does a Spur event the odd weekend. Thanks for your comments, I can assure you the committee is constantly looking at ways to assist.

there are B lines at the "technical" sections - note, no such privileges up the climbs though !!

Some say it is apparently nothing more than riding off a pavement.......I'm not one of them though. But to answer your question, YES, that is on the Lombards Terra section.

What If I told you I had a hand to play in both the above incidents ????.....

Expecting to see another great turnout, and with the venue of Bloemendal, we really hope to see more youngsters taking part - by all accounts, this will be the case. I agree with you, a believe there will be a few boys and gals licking their lips at this course, being in their backyard. However, as with WP Champs last year, the man with the whip will ensure the legs get a beating with bucket loads of climbing, crumbed up per lap ! You've been getting closer and closer to the prestigious 3 step-wooden-crate, and I suspect you will go find yourself listening to your name being called out at price giving - so in the words of Rob Schneider : "You can doooo iiiiiit !"

Nice Read - thanks for putting the hammer pen down

Event Name: Subaru Cape Town Western Cape XCO #3 - Bloemendal Wine Estate When: 1 April 2017 Where: Bloemendal Wine Estate, Western Cape Category: MTB Two races down in the series, and we have had overwhelming positive feedback and replies, both from riders, as well as supporters (friends and families). The WPMTB commission, with all its parents and volunteers, have taken XCO racing to a new level, with an increase in entrants seen in most categories - it is especially pleasing to see a revival in the Vets and Sub-Vets categories, with very healthy and competitive racing. We want to still encourage the very young to come and join, and ask parents to expose their kids to this wonderful form of cycling. Next race takes place at Bloemendal, with many local riders licking their lips, in anticipation - as we have seen with the first two legs, the route designers will most surely leave nothing to the imagination in the elevation / climbing department, and one can expect to be thoroughly tested. The venue is known for hosting many MTB events, and is very spectator friendly - an ideal opportunity for the whole family to have a lovely day out, enjoy the racing, and enjoying all the delicacies and wine the farm has to offer. A big thank you to all who have participated thus far - please continue to help us in getting the word out : XCO racing is thriving in the Western Cape !!! Go to Event Page

Seems a few of us had a day at the office, different to what we expected, for various reasons. STILL, the euphoria of the day, and one's race, still supersedes any emotion of disappointment in your performance. Towards the latter part of the race, I encountered a fellow Vets rider, who was taking shots, as we all were, but he pushed his bike up on the singletrack switchback climbs towards the end of the course - I gave him a few words of encouragement, although I was broken myself, but just realised at that point, that we are all on the same battlefield, facing our own demons, and for a brief moment, I actually felt his pain as well. There is such a lot of potential with these events, and we need to grow this discipline by getting more of our mates to join, as there still remains a perception that these events only cater for the "pro" athletes, or perhaps the "better" athletes - which is not the case. The experience is there for all to enjoy and I for one am quite excited to see the strides being made thus far, and for what the future holds.

Yeah, as said, some basic turning and cornering became challenging due to the sand badly rutted areas. Many kids out there today - awesome to see. Each one in their own right deserving of big kudos for their effort, it was tough as nails out there.

Here is a short video clip of elites making things look very easy :

PROPER test out there today - few very sketchy patches, with a lot of loose sand, which made the simplest of riding, a technical challenge. Well done to all who took part and managed to get of the course unscathed, I believe a few was not that lucky. Hats of the organisers (WP MTB COMMISSION), compromising of all the volunteers and parents. Again putting on a stunning event, and making sure that all visitors had a day out to remember. Good seeing all our international pro athletes there as well - a saw a lot of young boys and girls cheering them on, and running for autographs earlier in the day. I suffered for the most, so I guess it is back to the drawing board before the next one.

Besides various South African champs and top contenders, confirmation of some international visitors in the elites-field for Saturday : Elite Men Simon Andreassen DenmarkElite Men Komborero Bere ZimbabweElite Men Frazer Clacherty Great BritainElite Men Tristan de Lange NamibiaElite Men Vinzent Dorn GermanyElite Men Ryan Ellis ZambiaElite Men Manuel Fumic GermanyElite Men Sam Gaze New ZealandElite Men Martin Gluth GermanyElite Men Marcel Guerrini SwitzerlandElite Men Lars Koch GermanyElite Men Mark Mcguire Great BritainElite Men Nicola Rohrbach Switzerland Elite Women Marianne Bergli NorwayElite Women Helen Grobert GermanyElite Women Annie Last Great BritainElite Women Ariane Lüthi SwitzerlandElite Women Nora Richards United StatesElite Women Kathrin Stirnemann Switzerland Bring on the races !!!

Donovan, if you stay upright this time, you will waive at us from the podium afterwards - climbers course, for sure (as they pretty much all are)....and we all know, when it comes to the climbing department, you tick that box with a thick black permanent marker !! See you out there !

Must be a problem that occurred afterwards - as I entered, vets category, and my son in his required category, and proceeded with full process, including payment, with only our CSA Memberships, no racing license. As you say, maybe a glitch in the system / web, that occurred recently. Looking forward to the weekend though - should be another cracker of a race, and great day out with the family.