Defending champions return to Knysna Bull
The defending champions, Matt Beers and Samantha Sanders, have confirmed their return to the Knysna Bull, made personal by Constantia, in 2020.
The race is set to take place from 19 to 22 February in the spectacular Garden
Route forests.
It will once again boast a massive, winnertakes-all prize of R100 000 for the elite men's and elite women's winner.
The pair will face tough competition though, especially from local hero Robyn de Groot, who must be one of the hot favourites to secure a healthy early season bonus.
In 2019 Beers held off his friend and training partner Alan Hatherly by 27 seconds to secure the title. In the women's race Sanders bested Jennie Stenerhag by four minutes, after Sabine Spitz's challenge for race victory evaporated in a cloud of tyre sealant when she suffered a significant sidewall puncture.
Though the prize money for the elite riders is offered in a winner-takes-all lump sum, the Young Bulls are financially rewarded down to fifth place. The organisers have offered discounted entries to riders under the age of 23 and will pay R60 000 in total prize money to the younger men and women in the race.
The category winners will each ride away with R10 000, while the R3 500 prize money paid to fifth place exceeds the R2 500 Young Bull entry fee.
One lucky Bull will ride away with a brandnew Santa Cruz Tallboy worth R102 000.
Entries to South Africa's individual stage race remain open until 14 February. Categories include Young Bulls (u.23), Bulls, Pro Bulls (UCI riders), Old Bull(ets) (55+) and Four Bull entries for herds of riders. The standard Bull entry fee is R4 950 per rider. which includes an Ou Meul Bakery pie and cappuccino en route to Knysna, post-stage lunches, a finishers' dinner, cappuccinos at the stage starts and rider gifts.
To secure a spot in the 2020 race, visit www. knysnabull.bike.