Tim_Fair Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Event Name: MTN National XCM #7 Hilton Driven By NISSANWhen: 23 September 2012Where: Hilton College, Hilton, Kwa-Zulu, Kwazulu-NatalCategory: MTBDate: 23 September 2012 (Possible swap with Gravel Travel TBA)Venue: Hilton College, Hilton, Kwa-Zulu 29°32'17.71"S 30°17'51.50"ETerrain: Plantations | Escarpment | Sugar Cane Farms | Game FarmsElevation: 341m | Ascent: 2600m (ultra) 1650m (75km)Participants: 1200+Features: Single tracks | Dams | Forests | Rifts | Stunning ViewsRegistration: Sun 30th Sept, 06h30 - 08h00Entries: ONLINE ENTRIES OPEN SOON! Early Bird Close: TBA. (Save up to R50! by entering before)Pre-Entries Close: Wednesday 19 September 2012 Midnight Sunday06h30-16h00: Registration & Line Entries23/09 07h45: Riders Briefing / Leaders Jersey Handover23/09 07h30: Start MTN ULTRA UCI PRO/Elite 105km Race23/09 07h35: Start MTN Marathon 75km Ladies23/09 07h45: Start MTN Marathon 75km "A". Batches +5min intervals23/09 08h30: Start NISSAN 1/2 Marathon 45km "A". Batches +5min intervals23/09 09h15: Start aQuelle 20km Fun Race23/09 09h30: Start 10km Fun Ride23/09 10h15: Winner of the aQuelle 20km Fun Race Expected23/09 10h45: Winner of the NISSAN 1/2 marathon 45km Expected23/09 11h00: Winner of MTN Marathon 75km Expected23/09 12h00: Winner of MTN Ultra 105km expected23/09 13h00: Prize Giving 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. New date over long weekend with racing on Saturday and Sunday. 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 ice cold aQuelle water 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.aQuellé Farm Ride (20km). Guaranteed, all who ride this race will enjoy it. Interesting scenery and lots of fun. New fast single track section Hilton College Fun Ride (5km). Put a smile on the kids’ faces. Medals and sweat packs for all finishers.Bring your family along and make them all experience the excitement of mountain biking! Entries:Early Bird Fees TBA. MTN Ultra Marathon R200MTN Marathon R170NIssan Half Marathon R140aQuelle Fun Ride R70Hilton College Fun Ride R50 Normal Entry Fees MTN Ultra Marathon R250MTN Marathon R200Nissan Half Marathon R170aQuelle Fun Ride R80Hilton College Fun Ride R50Closing date for online entries is 19th September 2011 All marshals will be cleared from the course after 15h30 and all direction markers removed. The cut off at the finish line for the 105km route is 15h30 we will also have a cut off at approximately 75km, time to be confirmed soon... Prize Money*:Prize money & Points will be calculated for the UCI PRO/Elite Men in this distance only.PRO/Elite ladies will earn points & prize money in the usual 75km marathon distance only.All other categories will only be eligible for points and prize money in the usual distance. Approximate riding times:105km: 5 – 8 hours75km: 3 – 6 hours40km: 2 – 4 hoursCut-off Waterpoint (TBA)105km has a cut-off at the finish of 9hours. Directions :From Pietermaritzburg: Head North on N3 for 6km. Take Hilton Turning (exit 94). At T-junction take a right turn at Hilton Ave and follow road (M80) for 6km and arrive at Hilton College.From Howick: Head South on N3 for 16km. Take Hilton turning (exit 94). At T-junction take a left turn at Hilton Ave. and follow road for 6km and arrive at Hilton College Shuttle / Transport:There are no official shuttle services on offer, public transport is available from Durban International airport, and this is the quickest way of getting to the venue. Hilton College is situated about 60 min drive from Durban International. Accommodation:http://www.accommodationsa.co.za/town/hiltonhttp://www.hiltoncollege.com/fleur-de-lys-club/85-b-a-b-accommodation-pietermaritzburg-area.htmlhttp://www.wheretostay.co.za/kzn/mi/accommodation/hilton.phphttp://businessaccommodation.co.za/index/hilton-college-self-catering.htm Important Pointers:As this event is held in Spring, the cyclist may experience hot or rainy to cool weather and should be prepared to cope with these conditions.First Aid Services will be provided to the cyclists on the routes and at the finish.The organisers may, at their discretion, shorten, lengthen or change the course if the weather, or safety of the cyclist, deem this necessary.Bike wash facilities will be available at the finish area Bike Wash Bay: Take advantage of the great service from Powasol, the official Bike Wash partner to the MTN National MTB Series. Wash only R30Wash, Polish and Lube R50 Pre book your Bike wash at http://www.powasol.co.za/ and save R10. Location of Amenities:Teams / Riders / Public Parking LocationTeams have access to the Event Venue, and setup in the teams designated area next to the finish area. Riders will park just adjacent to the race venue next to the venue, and the public at the designated public parking zones, outside the riders parking zone, just off the start finish venue. Nearest Hospital and Medical InformationA wide range of professional medical services are available, including:Ambulance +27 10177Medi-Cross (Cleland Rd) +27 33 3869208Medi-Clinic (90 Payne Str) +27 33 8453700Netcare St Annes (331 Burger Str) +27 33 8975000Howick Private Hospital (107 Main Str) +27 33 3302650Police (Hilton) +27 33 8456521Go to Event Page
Tim_Fair Posted February 13, 2012 Author Posted February 13, 2012 <p>A quick teaser of what was experienced last year and what 2012 holds in store...<a href=" Hilton MTB Dirt Fest 2011</a></p>
Tim_Fair Posted September 7, 2012 Author Posted September 7, 2012 Marathon route map and profile - MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN Ultra route map and profile - MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN
jcza Posted September 7, 2012 Posted September 7, 2012 (edited) Yes please! Edited September 7, 2012 by jcza
Tim_Fair Posted September 10, 2012 Author Posted September 10, 2012 PRESS RELEASE: For immediate release – no embargoDATE: 10-09-2012 It does not often happen that Max Knox (Specialized) has the luxury of going into a race with absolutely no pressure on him to win. When he lines up to start the MTN Hilton Ultra Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal on 23 September, he will be in that privileged position. With his dominant performance at the MTN Gravel Travel and SA Championship, which enabled him to finish nearly 12 minutes ahead of David George (Nedbank360Life) and 23 minutes ahead of Kevin Evans (Nedbank360Life), Knox had basically secured an overall victory in the MTN National MTB Series. George was last year’s overall winner and Evans had won it on numerous previous occasions. One of the key aspects of the series is that every minute counts. In other words, the larger the time gap between opponents, the more points it counts for an overall victory. Knox has been the most consistent rider so far in the series. Apart from winning the MTN Gravel Travel, he was victorious at MTN Clarens, finished second at MTN Sabie, as well as second at MTN Mabalingwe. If Knox should finish among the top five in the MTN Hilton ultra-marathon, it would mean that the series would be done and dusted. This race could be the most exciting of the series because it will be the last race of importance before the World Marathon Championship takes place in France on 7 October. It is almost certain that the ‘who’s who’ of South African mountain biking will be competing. Tim Fair, race organizer for Advendurance, describes the race as ‘challenging, but also fun’. “This is a must-do ride for riders from Gauteng because they will experience typical KwaZulu-Natal racing. “They will race through indigenous thorn veld, pine forests, and the Midlands sugar cane plantations, as well as a game reserve where there will be an excellent chance that some of the animals might come out to inspect the ‘funny creatures’ on two wheels. “The ultra-marathon and marathon will offer some never-before-ridden areas with fast descents, challenging climbs and exciting sections of single track.” After last year’s race the riders were full of praise for the single-track sections, calling it one big adrenaline rush from beginning to end. Tom Cottrell, author of the Cyclist Guide, calls it one of the most scenic routes available. Riders will be able to see KwaZulu-Natal’s capital, the Albert Falls Dam and the Umgeni Valley. On a clear day it is even possible to see all the way to Durban.
Tim_Fair Posted September 10, 2012 Author Posted September 10, 2012 Something to wet your appetite for the upcoming MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN.
Tim_Fair Posted September 13, 2012 Author Posted September 13, 2012 The first 500 entries to MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN receive a freeMTN National MTB Series Driven by Nissan T-Shirt!
Mike Bike Posted September 13, 2012 Posted September 13, 2012 Tim, can you put up a profile of the half marathon..
Tim_Fair Posted September 13, 2012 Author Posted September 13, 2012 (edited) Updated MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN route map and profile - Ultra Marathon Updated MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN route map and profile - Marathon Updated MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN route map and profile - Half Marathon Updated MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN route map and profile - 20km Fun Race Updated MTN National MTB Series #7 Hilton MTB Dirt Fest Driven by NISSAN route map and profile - 10km Fun Race Edited September 13, 2012 by Tim_Fair
Tim_Fair Posted September 13, 2012 Author Posted September 13, 2012 Hey guys, As you will notice the routes have changed slightly. The Ultra has the biggest change as it is about 15km longer then last years route but with the exclusion of the long portage section into the Umgeni Valley. Total distance is 116km. Still lots of fun single track and challenging climbs. Enjoy
jcza Posted September 17, 2012 Posted September 17, 2012 Keeping a close eye on the forecast - 10% chance of rain for Sunday. Can't wait!
Percyzn Posted September 17, 2012 Posted September 17, 2012 Any SS riding the 75kms, before SSWC the weekend after?
Tim_Fair Posted September 18, 2012 Author Posted September 18, 2012 Hi guys, here are some updated route maps and profiles. Ultra Marathon Marathon Half Marathon 20km Fun Race 10km Fun Race
yeboabe Posted September 20, 2012 Posted September 20, 2012 Any SS riding the 75kms, before SSWC the weekend after? Yes, will be there - what ratio you gonna ride?
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