Race the perfect opportunity to test legs
The Nkomazi MTB Challenge is a fairly new mountain-bike race on the South African calendar and will be presented for the second consecutive year this Saturday.
The event is sponsored by Malalane Toyota and hosted by Laerskool Malelane. The starting and finishing point will be at the school.
With a large prize purse on offer, it is sure to attract some of the big names in the local racing scene. Situated in the semi-tropical climate of the Nkomazi Valley, the event will be a welcome escape from the cold highveld winter offering some spectacular riding and different terrain from the usual forests and plantations in most races.
Also, being at the end of winter, it marks the start of the new season so the event is ideally positioned to get some early training or test those legs prior to heading off for the spring stage races.
Mountain biking is the fastest-growing sport in South Africa, its beauty lies in the opportunity for whole families to get out and enjoy our fantastic landscape while getting fit and healthy.
It is an extreme sport that anyone can get into regardless of age, and is fun and safe and there are many clubs and events to cater for all abilities.
The Nkomazi Challenge MTB race is designed with this in mind, there’s a distance for everyone from the smallest kids to the seasoned pro.
Laerskool Malelane will host the event and is planning a family fun day with activities and attractions for all, making this race a must-do on the local calendar.
Desiland Kleuterskool will present a fun ride for children under the age of six. This will start at 09:00 and finish at about 09:30 and will also take place at Laerskool Malelane.
A separate entry form must be completed for this ride and the fees are R10 per child. The pro-riders can challenge themselves to a 35 and 65-kilometre route.
Registration takes place Friday from 16:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 06:00 to 07:30.
Route description
65 kilometres
Following the same trail as the 35-kilometre race, the track starts at Laerskool Malelane and continues to the farm roads on the northern side of the N4. After about seven kilmetres it passes underneath the N4 and meanders on farm roads among papaya and citrus orchards, through sugar-cane fields, continuing through cattle camps and along the game fence. It follows the canal and then the route continues into the mountains with several serious and challenging climbs and about five kilos of single track.
There are technical areas and places where you can pick up speed and race hard. From the top of the mountain it runs down towards Malelane Stene and returns towards town, passing underneath the N4 again and finishing at Laerskool Malelane.
