Big names gather for PE-Plett race
Cyclists ready for four tough days along scenic route
ASTAR-STUDDED field will fight it out for honours when the Fedgroup PEPlett 4-Day Mountain Bike Stage Race starts at Woodridge College tomorrow.
With total prize money exceeding R200 000, the organisers have managed to attract some big names to the event, including Swiss rider Connie Looser, who teams up with Matt Beers, Brandon Stewart and Till Schenk.
Professional Andrew Hill, British rider Cathryn Williamson, Namibian Michelle Voster and Carmen Buchacher are also in the lineup and Yolandi du Toit and Ben Meldt Swanepoel will contest the mixed team event.
Now in its fifth year, the event has been moved to March, from September. Event organiser Mike Glover says there are two reasons for the move.
“September is typically a very wet month in the region, leaving cyclists battling mud and rain, making the event exceptionally challenging, and the March date will also cater for a larger pool of riders who are coming out of summer fitter and more race ready,” Glover said yesterday.
“The event takes full advantage of the mountain bike heaven that is the coastline between Port Elizabeth and Plettenberg Bay, which includes great single-track, winding, gravel roads, forest track, 4x4 track and some man-made bike park trails.
“Despite its popularity with Cape Epic riders, it is by no means aimed exclusively at the Epic fraternity. The two event options mean it is suited to both serious and weekend mountain bikers.”
“The Tough One” will cover a total of 320km, with stages ranging in distance from 65km to 95km, while “The Lite One” is 240km, with stages between 45km and 75km.
“The rides offer arguably the most scenic and diverse route on the South African calendar, possibly the world, and partic- ipants can expect challenging and stimulating regions including the Three-rivers Trail, the Suuranys mountains, Cape pine forests, Storms River, Bloukrans, Tsitsikamma mountains, Nature’s Valley and the Otter Trail.
The event will end at Kurland at The Crags in Plettenberg Bay on Sunday.
What to expect from the PEPlett route: Day 1: Woodridge School to Hankey; Three-rivers Trail, Longmore Forest and the orange orchards of the Gamtoos and Hankey Day 2: Hankey to Kareedouw; Private jeep track, deserted farm houses and the magic and remoteness of the Suuranys mountains Day 3: Kareedouw to Storms River; Climb over the Tsitiskamma range and into the forests of Cape pine and the hiking trails of SANParks Day 4: Storms River to The Crags. Meandering route through Bloukrans, Grootrivier and Nature’s Valley.
The March date will cater for a larger pool of riders who are coming out of summer fitter