Big 5 the ultimate challenge
Knysna to host gruelling event
Cyclists, runners and swimmers are gearing up for the ultimate multisport event of the year as the Momentum Big 5 Challenge kicks off this Friday.
Tailored for both avid and beginner multisport enthusiasts, the challenge, to be held in Knysna, with the famous Knysna Oyster festival as its backdrop, will see runners, cyclists and swimmers go toe to toe in pursuit of the top step of the podium.
Athletes will be able to choose either the full-distance event or Lite version.
Over 150km will be covered in the main contest, starting with a brutal 80km mountain bike ride to finishing with a half marathon in the forest and all the running, swimming and cycling in between.
The Lite version also consists of five events, but is staged across shorter distances.
Local triathlete Keegan Cooke will be making his third appearance at the challenge, and will be hoping he can better the second-place finish he achieved last year.
Cooke first participated in the Lite event in 2016 and finished second before making the jump to the main event a year later, also finishing second, this time behind Bradley Weiss, the reigning Xterra world champion.
“I was stoked to finish second behind Brad.
“Obviously doing triathlon ties in with the whole event, even though you are not doing an actual triathlon event,” Cooke said.
“Preparation for the Big 5 still encompasses triathlontype training and racing. Throwing in the off-road aspect is quite cool.”
For the overall win, athletes must complete [in] all five events, Cooke said.
“This makes it quite a complex event and you have to make sure you cover all your bases in terms of each aspect.”
Cooke said his training had not changed much, with most of his preparation still revolving around triathlon disciplines, with the addition of a trail run or mountain bike trail in between.
Cooke said the running and swimming disciplines were areas where he could excel, despite not knowing who else will compete because the challenge usually attracts some of the country’s top athletes.
Stellenbosch-based law graduate-turned triathlon coach Vicky van der Merwe, who took the overall win at last year’s challenge, will be looking to defend her title.
Returning for a third year, she claimed second place overall in 2016.
“I have been doing triathlon since I was 15. I have raced in over 40 countries and started mountain biking about two years ago, so it was something new,” Van der Merwe said.
She believes the format favours cyclists, with the event being contested over 10 days.
“I run the Stellenbosch Triathlon Squad – an academy which trains more than 200 athletes of all skill levels – so I am always out either running, swimming or cycling, “Van der Merwe said.
“I didn’t do any specific training, only adding in a few trails runs or MTB rides,” she said.
For more information, or to register for the epic event, visit the website at: www.big5sportchallenge.com