[Event] Sondela Mountain Bike Classic, Presented By ASG

[ASG]

Event Name: Sondela Mountain Bike Classic, Presented By ASG
When: 29 June 2013 - 30 June 2013
Where: Sondela Nature Reserve, Warmbaths, North West
Category: MTB

Bushveld mountain-biking at its best!

 

 

The Sondela Mountain Bike Classic hosted almost 1400 riders last year and this year’s event sees a change in format and distances for the popular bushveld ride, which is presented by ASG Events on 29 and 30 June 2013.

 

 

Distances on offer this year are 60km, 40km, 20km and kiddies rides on both days. The 20km and 40km take place on Saturday 29 June and the 60km ride takes place on its own on Sunday, 30 June, affording long distance entrants a user friendly experience without slower riders to contend with on the route.

 

 

Entries for all the rides on the weekend will close one week prior to the event to enable the organisers to properly seed riders according to the SASeeding system.

 

 

Riders will still be able to enter at the registration venues. Riders who enter at registration venues will pay a R50 late entry penalty fee and won’t be seeded.

 

 

NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE MORNING OF ANY EVENT!

 

ASG Events were inundated with requests for a 60km event instead of last year’s 80km and we have obliged with a fast route. Last year’s 80km riders had to do two laps of the circuit and the back-end proved hard work in the sandy bits on the second lap.

 

 

This year the 60km will only do one loop in the sandy section, which will be properly raked, and cyclists will get to ride a fast smooth single track section twice – and a new loop created specifically for the 60km.

 

The 40km and 20km routes are free of thick sand with more single track added into the 40km compared to last year’s 40km ride.

 

Sondela operations manager, Melgard Meyer, has created an absolutely stunning mountain bike course at the well-known nature reserve north of Pretoria, culminating in the advent of the first Sondela Mountain Bike Classic last year.

 

 

Situated only 45 minutes north of Pretoria on the N1 Highway, Sondela Nature Reserve has been a popular bushveld getaway for many years – running on a high occupancy rate - and the mountain bike fraternity is privileged that the resort has made itself available for a mass participation mountain bike event, which is now a major winter stop-over on the local cycling calendar.

 

 

The total ascent on the 60km ride is 266m while the 40km presents 186m of climbing. The 20km ride has a total gain of 100m. It all adds up to fast riding and routes that are suited to all abilities.

 

 

It’s exhilarating on the almost endless flowing single track sections on which you can wiz along at more than 30km/h. It really is an experience to behold and the perfect winter ride to keep the legs going.

 

 

Sondela boasts stunning facilities as well as ample parking right next to the start/finish area.

 

 

The event will start and finish inside the Sondela caravan park, which has been bolstered with almost 40 new stands with their own private ablution facilities.

 

 

Riders will be able to use neat ablution facilities when they attend the event. Numerous vendors will sell all sorts of eats and drinks and a beer garden with live music will provide the necessary post-race hydration for riders after their trip amongst the wonderful bushveld surroundings.

 

 

Riders will spot various game species, including Warthog, Impala, Zebra, Wildebeest, Nyala and Eland and they’ll be hydrated by vibrant staff at the sponsored waterpoints on the route.

 

 

The Classic on Sunday will start at 9:00, which will not only give the day time to warm up before riders set off, but it also affords riders the opportunity to drive to the venue on the N1 highway from Johannesburg or Pretoria on the morning of the event.

 

 

Sondela have reserved the entire lush caravan park for mountain bikers who would like to sleep over for the weekend.

 

 

Because of the high occupancy rate at Sondela, chalet accommodation is open to the general public over the race weekend, which means mountain bikers who’d like to book in these luxury self-catering units have to get cracking as soon as possible.

 

 

After the much publicised veld fire which ravaged through Sondela last year, the first phase of rebuilding the chalets will be complete in May, which means there is ample accommodation for riders, provided you book your spot early.

 

 

Melgard, a self-confessed mountain-bike addict, set out to create a riding culture at Sondela six years ago. In the process he has cut more than 80km of mountain bike tracks on the splendid 4700 hectare farm. He is an absolute perfectionist and it shows in the trails, which have been handcrafted to offer the best possible - quick and flowing – experience on a mountain bike.

 

 

While the Sunday’s event is geared towards those individuals with a racing attitude, Saturday, 29 June offers two distance options for the family and the not-so-serious wheel wobblers.

 

 

Saturday will feature a kiddie’s race for 3-5 year olds on a specially built “trail” with ramps and cool berms while 6-8 year-olds can try their hand at the 5km circular smooth single track MTB course. On Sunday we will host another kids ride before the start of the big race, but only for 6-8 year-olds.

 

The kids will be accompanied by skilled riders who will be spread on the course. There are a few interesting prizes up for grabs in the kids event. Typically a youngster, who crosses the finish line in tears, will receive the award for the toughest rider on the day. And a special surprise awaits the child who finishes last and the youngest competitor.

 

 

The 20km and 40km rides on Saturday afford Sunday’s serious racers the opportunity to do a twirl with their loved ones among the beautiful Sondela surroundings. There is a special deal offered to riders who would like to enter events on both days.

 

 

Of course; it’s all accompanied by great entertainment and famous Sondela hospitality. The resort boasts a heated pool and many scheduled activities for kids, which include “kleilat”-throwing, quad bike rides, tug of war and excursions to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and farmyard. Kids who get up early enough can even help milk the cows!

 

 

Proceeds from the Sondela Classic will go to the Sondela Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

 

 

Medals to all finishers and big lucky draw prizes are on offer at the prize giving, sponsored by RCI, Sondela and ASG.

 

 

The resort has won numerous awards for excellence and the mountain bike classic reflects this same culture of excellence.

 

 

Entries and further information on www.asgevents.co.za

 

For bookings at Sondela on 014 736 8900 or email info@sondela.com. Further info on Sondela and directions www.sondela.com

 

 

Sondela MTB Classic – All the Facts:

 

Date: 29 and 30 June 2013

 

Times: Saturday - 40km: 8:00, 20km: 11:00. Sunday: 60km: 9:00. Kiddies Rides: Saturday at 13:00, Sunday at 8:00 (only 6-8 year-olds)

 

Distances: 60km, 40km 20km, kiddie’s rides (500 metres for 3-5 year-olds and 5km for 6-8 year-olds)

 

Entry fees:

 

60km: R170

 

40km: R150

 

20km: R110

 

Kiddies rides: R30

 

Combined entries:

 

20km and 60km: R250

 

40km and 60km: R300

 

On-line entries: www.asgevents.co.za

 

On-line entries close: 23 June 2013

 

Timed by: Spectrum Sport

 

 

Programme:

 

Saturday 29 June:

 

8:00 - 40km start

 

11:00 – 20km start

 

13:00: Kiddies 3-5 year-olds

 

13:20: Kiddies Ride 6-8 year-olds

 

14:00: Prize Giving

 

 

Sunday 30 June:

 

8:00: Kiddies Ride 6-8 year-olds (no ride for 3-5 Year olds on Sunday)

 

9:00: 60km start

 

13:00: Prize Giving

 

 

Registration:

 

Solomons Cycles, Gift Acres Shopping Centre, Lynwood Road Pretoria East: Thursday 27 June 10:00 – 16:00

 

Sondela Caravan Park Pub: Friday 28 June 14:00 – 18:00

 

Sondela Caravan Park Pub: Saturday 29 June 7:00 – 12:00

 

 

For further info on Sondela and directions go to www.sondela.com

 

For race enquiries email eventsupport@asgworld.co.za or phone 076 621 1807

 

Go to Event Page

[ASG]

Sondela organisers have single-track mind

 

Organisers of the Sondela MTB Classic, presented by ASG on June 29 and 30, will be shortening the 2013 feature race by 20km, without short-changing the riders.

 

Route director Melgard Meyer says the main race will now cover 60 km in the picturesque Sondela Game Reserve north of Pretoria. The decision was made after requests from cyclists and the organisers were happy to oblige.

 

Meyer, an avid mountain biker himself, says participants faced some sandy patches last year, which made the route varied but challenging. “This year we got rid of most of the sand, as riders find it a bit hard.”

 

More than 1 400 riders entered for the event last year. For this month’s race, entries were capped at 1 500 to prevent congestion.

 

The participants start at Sondela Caravan Park and after a few kilometres encounter the first single track, which continues for about 22 km.

 

“Riders should brush up on their technical skills for the first half of the race. We don’t keep them working by creating climbs; we make them work by giving them very technical sections,” says Meyer.

 

The outstanding feature of the route is that 80 per cent of it is single track. “We’ve added a new loop of riveting single track that was specifically designed for the race.”

 

After a technical start, participants can look forward to a smooth, fast, flowing second half of the race. “You can pass other riders on our single track. We specifically built it that way so that nothing slows your pace.”

 

Meyer originally launched the race as a fundraising exercise for the African Conservation Trust and now aims to encourage mountain biking as an eco-friendly family sport. Families can book a getaway at the resort any time of the year to ride the trails, which are marked every weekend.

 

Meyer says all three races are suitable for riders of varying degrees of fitness, as long as they have the technical chops.

 

Aside from the feature race, which takes place on the Sunday, there are also 20km and 40km options on the Saturday for weekend warriors who would rather take in the scenery than put the pedal down.

 

The two shorter events feature more single track than last year and. The 20km has around 100m of vertical climbing and the 40km sports a total ascent of only 186m.

 

Children between three and five years can take part in a 500m ride on the first day and those from six to eight year can try their hand at the 5km races on either the Saturday or Sunday.

 

Along with fantastic routes, the reserve will be rolling out the red carpet for riders staying over within its boundaries. The entire caravan park will be dedicated to participants, which also means clean ablution facilities and ample parking for supporters.

 

In addition, there will be vendors offering eats and drinks. A beer garden with live music rounds out the relaxed atmosphere.

 

The Sondela MTB Classic provides the perfect weekend outing for the whole family and is nothing short of a bargain.

 

Registration is at Solomon’s Cycles in Pretoria East on Thursday June 27, and at the Sondela Caravan Park pub on the Friday and Saturday.

 

Visit www.asgevents.co.za