Grape Escape a foretaste of 35th Argus cycle tour

MORE than 300 mountain bikers raced through local vineyards yesterday to kick-start the week leading up to the 35th Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour.

Riders in the second Columbia Grape Escape are expected to leave from the Boland Agricultural High School for Diemersfontein Wine Estate today for the second stage of the three-day race.

It will cover 208km of spectacular Boland terrain, including more than 4 700m of climbing.

The race will finish at Boshchendal Wine Estate tomorrow.

“We have some of the world’s best mountain bikers – even an ex-world champion is participating, which makes this one of the most high-profile short-distance mountain bike races,” said David Bellairs, Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust director.

Yesterday, racers started at the Durbanville Race Course at 7am and finished 74km later at Boland Agricultural High School.

Winning team Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser managed 2 hours 42 minutes and 28 seconds, followed a second later by defending champions Kevin Evans and David George.

“The weather was perfect for the race – not too hot or cold. Last year many of the racers became dehydrated because of the extreme temperatures. Water stations have been situated along the route, as well as medical staff to assist,” he said.

Bellairs said this year’s route catered for more serious trail riders as it incorporated diverse terrain elements.

“We have made a few changes from last year’s course, which was designed for social riders. This year they can expect a more technical course,” he said.

“Three days of hard racing takes the riders through parts of the Cape that a mountain bike race has never gone. They will be going through private farms and estates with beautiful terrain, as well as strenuous inclines to test the riders’ technical abilities,” said Bellairs.

The Columbia Grape Escape was aimed at a group of experi- enced bikers training for the major forthcoming mountain biking and cycling races.

“It is the ideal yet affordable preparation for mountain bikers participating in the Cape Epic coming up. The entry fee for this race was R2 450, which included meals and a shuttle service from start to finish,” he said.

In addition to the Columbia Grape Escape race, there are many Lifecycle events for social and professional riders of ages this month:

The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge at Boschendal on Sunday.

The 11th Cape Argus Mountain Bike Challenge takes place tomorrow and on Sunday.

The Cape Argus Lifecycle Expo is the largest of its kind, along with the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, where registration takes place from March 8-10.

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The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Tricycle for children aged between two and six, as well as the Junior race designed for children between the ages of six and 11, on March 10.

The 35th Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, the largest timed cycling event in the world, on March 11.

The Absa Cape Epic, from March 25 to April 1.