[Event] Thys Du Toit Memorial MTB Challenge

[GS Sport]

Is it only 550m Total climbing for 72km route?

[-cK-]

That is right GS Sport. This is a rather "flat" and fast race vs your normal 1500m variant of MTB races if the weather plays along. I just did the long route this Sunday and going at max race pace for the full distance will cost some endurance .

Edited August 18, 2014 by -cK-

[Johny Bravo]

That is right GS Sport. This is a rather "flat" and fast race vs your normal 1500m variant of MTB races if the weather plays along. I just did the long route this Sunday and going at max race pace for the full distance will cost some endurance .

Its a welcome change, thanks. Not every race has to be 25km with 1500metres of climbing.

[GS Sport]

That is right GS Sport. This is a rather "flat" and fast race vs your normal 1500m variant of MTB races if the weather plays along. I just did the long route this Sunday and going at max race pace for the full distance will cost some endurance .

What time did you do it in this Sunday if I may ask?

[-cK-]

What time did you do it in this Sunday if I may ask?

Not at all. The first 22km however I rode with a group of riders doing the 50km route as a social ride so the pace was not at max until I split off for my solo ride on the long route.

 

Distance:72.87km

Time: 3:10:02 (this is the moving time and not the elapse time as there were some stop and goes with the social group)

Avg Speed: 23.0 km/h

Elevation Gain: 559 m (deduct about 11m for looping one section of the single track twice)

Avg Temperature: 29.9 °C

[GS Sport]

Not at all. The first 22km however I rode with a group of riders doing the 50km route as a social ride so the pace was not at max until I split off for my solo ride on the long route.

 

Distance:72.87km

Time: 3:10:02 (this is the moving time and not the elapse time as there were some stop and goes with the social group)

Avg Speed: 23.0 km/h

Elevation Gain: 559 m (deduct about 11m for looping one section of the single track twice)

Avg Temperature: 29.9 °C

Its going to be a fast one!

[-cK-]

Here is a track preview of our whole single track, bar the supertube section.

Edited August 20, 2014 by -cK-

[-cK-]

Notice from organizers:

 

23/8/2014

 

This one is for the race-snakes! We have decided that we will be giving a 1st place prizes for each of the 1st male & female finishers of the 72km & 50km races.

 

72km prizes will be a R 1 000.00 Sportsman's Warehouse Voucher & a bottle of champagne

50km prizes will be a R 500.00 Sportsman's Warehouse Voucher & a bottle of champagne

 

We might also have more surprises in-store

[Berry]

Anyone from stellenbosch going?

[boristheblade]

rain predicted for Wednesday and Thursday this week - can we expect the terrain to clear up by Saturday?

 

 

[GS Sport]

How does seeding and timing work?

[-cK-]

Can I be an eeejit and please ask for good directions (as opposed to bad ones). I get lost easily so the more detailed they are that would be smashing!! Thanks.

 

Route will be properly marked, I've requested this myself even though I know the route I know how it feels when the route markings are lacking.

 

Points of importance:

 

After the single track you will turn left to join up on the farm road again. This will be a straight stretch that will end up here:

 

The route goes to the right

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h46m05s228.jpg

 

The route will then take you past the a farm entrance (the road turn naturally to the right)

 

At about 22km in you will find this:

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h49m23s230.jpg

 

The route split will follow and the 1ste water point will be here:

 

72km route to the left 50km route to the right

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h50m15s244.jpg

 

The 50km route is then straight onwards until you hit the Kopperfontein road (you can only go either left/right). Turn Right you will now start heading in the direction of the "wind farm".

 

For the 72km guys and gals:

 

The route will also end up at the Kopperfontein road here:

 

Also turn right

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h48m21s122.jpg

 

This will take you on a straight road and the next water point will be at the turn off which will be to the left here:

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h48m52s179.jpg

 

This will take you through some farm lands and you will end up with a descent to this section where you have to turn right after the low water bridge otherwise you will end up in Moorreesburg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h54m30s231.jpg

 

This will end up here and it will be the gate as below:

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h55m06s80.jpg

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h55m50s7.jpg

 

The next turn off will be at the below farm house (you will turn right here)

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h50m59s167.jpg

 

Following the road will then lead you to this section where you need to turn right again:

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h51m38s49.jpg

 

Keep heading straight until you hit the Kopperfontein road again. You will only be able to go right/left. You will now turn left and see the "wind farm". This is a couple of hundred meters from the link up of the 50km route.

 

Here you guys and gals will head to the Kopperfontein Silo's which will require crossing the tar road. You will head straight here and go to the railway line and after the building and before the railway lines turn right.

 

Follow the road and near the "wind farm" you will swerve off to the left and cross over the railway line and then it is about 6km along the railway line till you get to the starting/finishing area.

[-cK-]

rain predicted for Wednesday and Thursday this week - can we expect the terrain to clear up by Saturday?

 

I rode the long route on Saturday and we also had some rain earlier in that week. The route had it wet and muddy parts but for the most part it can be negotiated and avoided. Unless we have a rainstorm like last year that was abnormal the track should be in good shape. Have a look see.

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h46m44s182.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h47m18s7.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h47m27s94.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h46m50s245.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/vlcsnap-2014-08-25-18h47m13s219.jpg

How does seeding and timing work?

 

It will be self seeding and we will be doing manual timing (no timing agents involved). We do ask that the guys and gals will seed them according to their ability as the single track is within the first 6 km of the race and there wont be a whole lot of thinning out of the field yet. So if you don't feel confident in single track please move to mid/back pack so not to cause congestion in the single track.

[-cK-]

My bad!

 

Head out on the N7 to Malmesbury.

 

Just after Malmesbury on top of the hill there is a turn off to the left (R45 Hopefield & Vredenburg).

 

Follow the R45 for about 53km and you will find the first Hopefield turn off to the left (it is the one at the top before you get the dip to the Soutriver)

 

The turn off to the sports grounds are the first road on your left before the railroad crossing.

 

The sports grounds are just a couple of hundred meters further down that road to the right. I believe the parking will be to the left or on the side of the road outside the sports grounds.

 

https://www.google.c...5!1m0!3e0?hl=en

 

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/wacza/Misc/Forum%20Posts/Hopefieldlocation.jpg

[Justin2]

with all this rain should make for an interesting morning on the bike!

[GS Sport]

How much rain have you had in Hopefield?