Barberton XCM will test cyclists to the max
The first official mountain-bike race in the country, the Barberton Mountain Bike Classic, was launched 19 years ago by the Barberton Rotary Club, which makes it one of the oldest races in South Africa.
This tradition will continue with the next Barberton XCM MTB Challenge on January 31. Pre-entries are open and you can enter at www.cycleevents.co.za or www.barbertonxcm.co.za
Barberton is known for the Barberton daisy, the world’s first stock exchange, and the newly launched geotrail which is a very interesting route that explains the over 3,5 billion-year-old rocks – believed to be the oldest in the world.
Don’t let the beauty of Barberton fool you. The Barberton XCM is not as delicate as a daisy.
Following the feedback received from some of the cyclists the decision was made to amend some of the routes and to add an additional one.
The race boosts five different categories
• The “very delicate” 20km fun ride
• The “delicate” 30km half-marathon
• The “not so delicate” 48km half- marathon
• The “not so delicate” 77km full marathon and
• The “not so delicate” 110km ultra- marathon.
The route is one of the toughest in the country and rubs shoulders with races such as the Cape Epic and even the Tour de France. The ultramarathon cyclists will peak their 110km route at just under 1,800m above sea-level, while the 20km fun-ride cyclists will peak at just under 700m.
All events will start and end at the Hoërskool Barberton sports fields. With a festival-like atmosphere, there is much for the fans and supporters to do while waiting for the cyclists to return.
This incredibly scenic route takes you up the Makhonjwa Mountains with majestic views over the De Kaap Valley, through nature reserves, dams and very close to the Swaziland border.
According to Nic Eksteen, president of the Barberton Rotary Club, this race is the perfect opportunity for people to test their fitness and skill. Eksteen is very excited about the changes to the current routes which include single tracks, guaranteed to make the race more exciting and challenging.
For more information regarding the routes and profiles, the Rotary, stalls, sponsorships, accommodation in town and tourist attractions, visit www.barbertonxcm.co.za. To stay updated with the latest news and updates follow us on Twitter @BarbertonXCM and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BarbertonXCM
