The legendary Barberton XCM Mountain Bike race is back on January 25 and brings with it brand new routes for the 20 kilometres and 30 kilometres riders. These two routes will give riders the opportunity to cycle through the exclusive Greenstone Wildlife Estate, where they can enjoy incredible scenery and wildlife.

Riders who dare to take on the longer distances, such as the grueling 110-kilometre ultramarathon or the 77-kilometre and 50-kilometre marathons, will have to put in a bit more effort and dig a bit deeper to get to the top of the Makhonjwa Mountains.

Those who are willing to take a well-deserved break along the route, even if it is just to catch your breath, will enjoy incredible scenery and views reaching up to Swaziland. These riders will cycle through a Unesco World Heritage site as well as the Mountainlands Nature Reserve, Greenstone Wildlife Estate, 14 streams, pine plantations and the macadamia orchards of Sappi and Danroc. These routes will give riders a taste of different terrains without getting too technical.

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What makes this race so unique is not only the long climbs and breathtaking scenery, but great organisation, excellent route markings and water points as well as the variety of terrains which will test the rider’s skill and fitness levels. Professional riders, such as Nico Bell of Team NAD and ex-pro riders such as Gawie Combrink and Timo Cooper, will make their return to Barberton this year. Some of the riders make use of the Barberton XCM as a barometer, testing their fitness levels and stamina prior to the Cape Epic.

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The day in Barberton is fun for everyone, with music, stalls and a beer garden at the finish line.
For the past 24 years the Rotary Club of Barberton has organised this race and played a significant role in the development of mountain biking as sport. The Rotary hosts this event in order to raise funds for projects they are involved with in and around Barberton. Some of these projects include food supplies for an old age home, wheelchairs and looking after the needs of schoolchildren who do not have the necessary support.

“This year we are taking it even further by asking everyone who visits Barberton to donate non-perishable food and bottled water at the registration or the finish line,” the organisers said.

How to Enter:

Online entries for the race are open. You can enter at: www.cycleevents.co.za. The online entries will close on 21 January at 23:00, but you will still be able to enter on Friday, January 24 from 15:00 to 21:00 and at the race from 05:30 at the Hoërskool Barberton.

For more information regarding the race or how to get involved, visit www.barbertonxcm.co.za or like the race on Facebook at BarbertonXCM