Varsities gear up for bike challenge
MOUNTAIN bike enthusiasts are gearing up and dusting off their saddles for the upcoming inaugural two-stage mountain bike race, the Varsity MTB Challenge.
The Varsity MTB Challenge hosted by Varsity Sports, which is set to take place on October 1 to 2, will include a race of the top five mountain bike teams from universities across the country.
Trent Key, the race organiser, said the challenge was a “race within a race”.
Key said a part of the race was a head-tohead race between the top five universities including, University of Stellenbosch, UCT, University of Pretoria, North West University Potchefstroom and Nelson Mandela Bay University.
“Mountain biking is the biggest participation sport at the moment. And because of cycling having a massive following in the Western Cape, we felt it best to bring the race here.
“University alumni and the general public will be racing in support of the university they share loyalty with, so apart from the top five universities, other universities have also been listed,” Key said.
“Everybody is participating for pride and passion. It is about reminiscing and rekindling the university spirit.
“Parents will be racing in support of their children’s university,” Keys said.
The first stage of the race starts at the Nederburg in Paarl, a gradual climb for the first 10km.
“The track takes you all the way to the neck of Du Toitskloof Pass,” said Varsity MTB Challenge trail designer Pieter van Wyk.
“From there you can see the whole of the Boland and all the way down the N1 to Table Mountain.
“It goes towards Franschhoek and finishes at La Paris Estate.
“Stage one will be the tougher of the two, with a fair share of climbing. From 134m above sea level, riders will climb as high as 755m above,” said Van Zyl. Stage two will start at La Paris Estate, pass through Drakensberg Prison to the Boschendal Trail, then back to La Paris Estate. Key said they were expecting a maximum of 200 riders.
For more information about the race, see www.varsitymtbchallenge.co.za