[Event] The Greyt Escape

[Overberg MTB Events]

Event Name: The Greyt Escape
When: 16 June 2017 - 18 June 2017
Where: Greyton, Western Cape
Category: MTB

The Greyt Escape. Get a wake-up call before entering the winter season and come and challenge yourself by riding the most beautiful and phenomenal variation of trails, the town of Greyton and surrounds will offer you! Greyton is part of the 2017 Cape Epic and it's showing off its beauty and potential to mountain bikers who has never gone there before. The variation in riding The new Premier Winter 3 day Stage race will keep you interested enough to actually enjoy a seriously challenging route prepared for you. This 3 day Stage race will get you sorted for the Knysna Oyster Festival MTB race later in the season, so make sure not to miss this amazing new event!

 

Race date: 16-18 June 2017

 

Place: Greyton Town, Western Cape

 

Entries and registration:

 

Entries will open on the 2nd of November 2016

 

Entry fees for the 3 Day MTB stage race as follows:

 

- Solo including meals R2 900

- Solo without meals R2 100

- Team (2) including meals R5 400

- Team (2) without meals R4 100

 

Route:

Day1:

Approximate distance: 61km. Elevation: 1270m

The longest but perhaps easiest stage to get you warmed up and into the mood.

Roadies will have to secure a proper lead here as things get more technical as the weekend progresses!

 

A start on jeep track opens up onto fast rolling farm roads that lead straight into the beast of the day – the increasingly famous UFO climb. The fame is as much for the great elevation that you gain as for the stunning Middelplaas single track that now stretches all the way from the dizzy heights to the river below. After this there is chance to tuck in again and make up some time before the final singles crossing the old bridge and skirting in front of Genadendal. A final climb up from Boschmanskloof drops you via swooping single track into the race finish at the Uitkyk Primary school.

 

Day 2:

Distance: 60km. Elevation: 1250m

This more punchy route follows the spine of the old Greyton Classic route but cuts a bit of boring distance to give you a killer compact day of fun.

 

A bunch splitting climb up and over into Happy Valley sends you onto an open section before the fun starts. First the Oewerzicht trails followed with a quick connection through a bit of Greyton village singles to the blue hippo climb. This drops you down around the dam and then up another bit before flying down to the tepee village. Another connection brings you to the Oaks singles – saving the best for last so leave something in the legs if you need to accelerate past the Ngunis. The last run past the Nguni fynbos camp and through the Casy is one continuous 200m descent.

Your picnic on the Oaks lawns have been well deserved!

 

Day 3:

Distance: 47km. Elevation 1145m

Short and sharp, and fun! This stage is an action packed selection of the close to home Greyton trails. If you can climb, and know how to descend there is still time to climb a position or two on the GC.

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Maermanskloof (maybe called that because the thin guy has the advantage on this climb!) is the first climb of the day. Get this one in the bag and then blast some of the liaison singles to the beast of Bakenskop switchback climb and single track heaven on Buffalo ridge. Drop down, and catch your breath on your way to Bereaville for Davey’s sprocket and Rocky Horror and your last treat of the weekend that will send you flying into the finish.

Go to Event Page

[Trail Ninja]

This looks nice

 

Only downside is that it will most probably rain in June in that neck of the woods

 

Maybe pop through for the Classic on the Saturday

[GLuvsMtb]

I was one of the lucky riders who participated in the Greyt Escape the past weekend. As a regular visitor to Greyton I was in two minds to pay for a race on trails that I have access to throughout the year as an annual permit holder, but as racing is not just about the route, but the vibe, competing with fellow riders, some awesome goodies etc. I thought that I would give it a go.

Day 1 was a fast, very cold (-4 C on my GPS) start along the old Wreck route, working our way to Water point 1. We crossed the tar road and soon we were doing the UFO climb, which was actually quite pleasant, given that most of it is paved for the service vehicles that need to get to the UFO shaped antenna structure on the hill. The single track that followed was a very pleasant delight. I have not done the climb or the single track on previous visits, so already I was getting some real value for money. The rest of the morning went by in a whirl of more single track, some district roads and an interesting spin on the Boesmanskloof climb back to the finish.

 

The vibe at the finish was awesome. It is always better to have the race village so close to where most of the riders are staying. It makes popping back to the village easier for prize giving, race briefings, massages, etc.

 

Day 2 started with about 2mm of rain at The Oaks. The start was a little wet and cold, but the mood was upbeat and the pace not too hot as we all got ourselves going. The Oewerzight single track was one of the unexpected highlights of the day, and the final 5 km single track after the sweat zone was one of the weekend highlights. The first water point was 35km into the stage, which was perhaps a bit of an oversight (it took me over 2 hours to get there), but apart from this little mishap, the rest of the stage rolled by quickly and without much drama. It dried out nicely after the initial bit of rain and the trails were all very ride-able throughout the day.

 

I preferred the finish in Greyton opposed to at The Oaks. Once I left The Oaks after lunch I was not going to go back for race village for race briefings etc.

 

Day 3 was again a cold start with Maermanskloof to warm up the legs. I was looking forward to the single track on the back of Maermanskloof, but unfortunately we were directed down the Jeep track to the much milder flowy sigle track next to the district road. We seemed to have missed most of the fun in the forest single track too, but I guess for the sake of race flow and to avoid confusion we were directed on a more-or-less straight line through the forest. Bakenskop was the second big climb of the day and it did not disappoint. The sharp switchbacks curving up the Kop had the legs burning and for 2 of the countless switchbacks I had to admit defeat and push the bike for a few metres before riding again. Single track and jeep track took us to the only water point for the day. The district road to Bereaville rolled by quickly and soon we were climbing to the next big section of single track. Fast and flowing... another climb up Rocky Horror and one of my favorite sections of trail to finish up with took us back to the Start in Greyton.

 

The weekend was enjoyed thoroughly in our favourite little village. On the race, I rate it as follow:

1. Organisation 8/10. A few small hiccups like needing to bust open the trailer with the goodie bags on the first morning was dealt with adequately.

2. Timing 10/10. This is either full marks or zero. You either get it right, or you don't.

3. Route 9/10. I consider myself more or less a local in Greyton, so I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of "new" trail I got to ride. I am already getting my mind around getting access to some of the sections done during the race, so getting in touch with the locals to see if they have any pearls of wisdom regarding this is on my agenda.

4. Goodie bag 8/10. All very usable items. Good quality long sleeve runner's shirt (which worked very well as a second skin on the cold mornings) will come in handy going forward

5. Communication 7/10. I received my finish time daily per sms, but some more updates like time of prize givings, my position GC and category etc. could easily be incorporated in the communication plan going forward.

6. Race Village 8/10. This would have been a 10 if all days were in Greyton opposed to The Oaks on day 2. The massages, bike was, food marques etc. was all top notch.

[Skubarra]

Nice race report, GLuvsMTB. good to see when organisers get it right, will definitely add this one to the list.. 

[GLuvsMtb]

Nice race report, GLuvsMTB. good to see when organisers get it right, will definitely add this one to the list.. 

For R2100 (R2900 if you wanted to take the meals package) I found it exceptionally good value.

 

Admittedly it is always a risk with the Cape Winters to enter 3 day events in June, but fortunately the Cape Winter smiled on us with only a little bit of rain on day 2. I did the first 2 days in around 4 hours each (I took it relatively easy) and the last day in 3 hours, so the afternoons was free for family time, which is what makes these weekends so special. The small details like a decent (free) bike wash after stages 1 and 2 well stocked water points, good coffee at the start and cold beer at the finish all adds to an enjoyable experience.