York timbers to host first enduro MTB
The weekend’s activities also include a trail run, live music and a thrilling Top Gear style race between a mountain bike and a rally car.
York Timbers will host the first York Enduro Mountain Bike Rally from September 13 to 15.
The testing three-day long rally will take place in the the scenic Sabie countryside.
The weekend’s activities also include a trail run, live music and a thrilling Top Gear style race between a mountain bike and a rally car.
The top-class field will consist of, among others, 20 of South Africa’s leading professional cyclists, including Ariane Kleinhans, Lourens Luus, Erik Kleinhans, Max Knox, Waylon Woolcock and Samantha Sanders, with the steep Mpumalanga terrain testing their skills in one of the finest mountain-biking regions in the world.
The action will get underway on Friday when the pro-riders and corporate teams ride the spectator-friendly 3,2km downhill, and 3km cross-country (XC) course, with downhill seeding runs from 13:00. The finals will be held from 15:45.
As evening sets in, mountain biker Justin Victor will take on rally car driver Shaun Tope in a Top Gear style race off at Klein Spitzkop at 17:15.
An early start awaits the bikers on Saturday when they will participate in a gruelling 58km enduro, with teams setting off at different times, starting from 07:00 and only being timed on the downhill stretches of the course.
It will not all be about bikes, as runners can sign up for the York Adventure 12km trail run, which starts and finishes at Sabie Country Club. It at 08:00 and entry fee is R50.
Sunday offers an opportunity for all mountain-bike enthusiasts to enter the York Adventure Challenge, which starts at 07:30, with a choice of 40km (entry fee R120) or 19km (entry fee R80) routes. Both start and finish at Sabie Country Club.
The serious riding reaches a peak at 11:00 on Sunday when the pro-riders will thrill spectators during an exhibition XCO (cross-country Olympic) lap race on Sabie Golf Course.
The entertainment also includes an invite-only gala dinner on Friday night, with sports commentator Max Cluer hosting an auction, during which corporate teams will bid for a pro-cyclist to join their team for Saturday’s enduro. All funds raised will be donated to charities which will be announced during the course of the event.
Members of the public are encouraged to support the cyclists on the various stages of the race, and can also enjoy some of the activities on offer in the area, including horse riding and fishing or walks through the beautiful rolling hills.
Enquiries: visit www.york.co.za or the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/YorkAdventureClub, follow it on Twitter @YorkAdventure or contact 013-764-9200.
