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Entries for popular Wines2Wales bike race open this month

Entries to the Western Cape’s largest mountain bike stage race, the Wine2Wales, open on Valentine’s Day.

The Wines2Whales mountain bike race, set on some of the most challenging routes in the Western Cape, has set its dates for 2019.

These superb trails from Lourensford to Hermanus remain the biggest draw for new and returning riders and the 2019 events will again feature continued route refinement, as is the Wines2Whales tradition.

One of the key traditions of Wines2Whales is the opening of entries on Valentine’s Day.

Riders who took part in any of the 2018 events will have 24 hours to beat the rush though, as entries open for them at 09:00 on Wednesday the 13th of February. General entries open the following day, on the 14th, also at 09:00.

Wines2Whales was born out of the desire to establish a world-class 3-day stage race in the Western Cape, South Africa. Since its inception in 2009 it has become a premier event on the mountain bike calendar, with riders from all of over South Africa and the world queuing for the chance to ride it.

Three events spread over 10 days – the Chardonnay, Pinotage and Shiraz – ensure there is something for all skillsets with the focus clearly stamped on celebrating the love of mountain biking and the culture that accompanies it.

Three events are:

25-27 October:  W2W Chardonnay

29-31 October:  W2W Pinotage

1-3 November:  W2W Shiraz

Given the popularity of the race and limited entries, participants are encouraged to enter as soon as possible to avoid the disappointment of missing out. This is especially key for the 2019 race as the organising team at Grandstand Management have big plans to continue to improve the rider experience.

“2018 was a baptism by heat, wind and protest action for us as the new owners of Wines2Whales” said Michael Flinn, the Managing Director of Grandstand Management.

According to Flinn riders can expect them to continue to refine and evolve the events, with the riding and post-stage experiences their key focus.

Entrants can choose from three entry options. The standard tent entry includes a two-person tent per rider, while for those requiring more comfort there is a luxury tent option. Riders wishing to stay off-site in one of the Elgin Valley’s many bed and breakfasts can select the ‘meals only’ entry option without a tent in the race village.

For more information, visit www.wines2whales.com

 

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Koos Venter

Koos Venter is an experienced journalist who started his career 35 years ago, before the days of cellphones, modern computer systems, the internet and digital cameras, as a correspondent for Nexus, the former national magazine of the Department of Correctional Services. He has since worked for various other publications in all aspects of news coverage, as a columnist and in the production side of newspapers and online publications. Since 2007 he has specialized as a sports writer, while he is also regularly used as an analyst and commentator by several radio stations.
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