Scenic trails and strong legs at Mooketsi MTB Challenge
Mountain bikers gathered in Mooketsi for the 13th MTB Challenge, enjoying challenging routes, community spirit, and stunning scenery.
TZANEEN – Mountain biking enthusiasts flocked to Mooketsi this past weekend for the much-anticipated Mooketsi MTB Challenge, an event celebrated for its community spirit, tough terrain, and scenic routes.
Clive Garrett of ZZ2, one of the event organisers, said the popular race has become a local tradition.
“This was our 13th race; it would have been the 14th, but we missed a year due to Covid-19,” he explained. “As part of ZZ2’s social responsibility programme, the goal is to give back to the community. It’s a wonderful event that brings people together, riders, families, and spectators. With a variety of distances to choose from, there’s something for everyone.”
The race is a qualifying event for Limpopo colours and is an official Cycling SA-sanctioned event.
Garrett added that the organisers carefully design the routes using their knowledge of the local farm roads.
“We tweak the course a bit every year to keep things fresh and exciting, especially for returning riders,” he said.
A standout feature of the race is the 1km bridge built over a farm dam, a popular challenge among riders. “We’ve had the bridge for the past three years now, it’s become something riders look forward to,” Garrett added.
Professional cyclist Phillip Buys participated in the event for the first time this year and was impressed by both the race and the landscape.
“It’s my first time here, and it was worth the trip,” he said. “Each year, our team gets an invite, but it usually clashes with other events. This time, our calendar was open, so we came, and the scenery is stunning.” Buys took on the longest route of the day, the 70km course, completing it in 02:40:00.
“The race starts on well-graded roads, but at around the 30km mark, we hit a rocky climb, which was tough. At the top, there’s a short breather before a super rocky and technical descent. It was a great challenge,” he said.
The organisers extended their gratitude to sponsors ZZ2, Corruseal, PPS, Smit & Kie, and VW Lannie Motors for their continued support in making the event a success.
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