Sappi Karkloof Classic to host SA Marathon Champs
The popular Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival on May 28 and 29, has been given an added boost by being awarded the Cycling SA Marathon Championships for 2022.
The legendary trails through the Sappi plantations of the Karkloof are a popular choice for trail runners and mountain bikers, and the annual trail festival is expected to see the Karkloof Club a hive of activity on the last weekend in May.
Serious senior MTB athletes keen to challenge for the SA medals will need to train for a tough 85 kilometres in the saddle, as the signature event will decide the national marathon titles for elite, sub-veteran and veteran men and the elite women for 2022.
The top junior boys and women age groups riders will do battle for the SA medals over the 60km layout, the junior girls and female masters will contest the 40km race and the sprogs and nippers and sub-juniors will ride the 20km race.
The event usually attracts the cream of the country's MTB marathon specialists, which will make the 30th anniversary of what has become one of the country's benchmark events a red letter weekend on the national racing calendar.
"We are going to make sure that it is a really special occasion to get back to racing and a full event," said Karkloof chair Andrew Nicholson.
"We are going to put on a big show with a focus on great value, great atmosphere and getting back to having fun on the best trails in the country.
"There is a lot of interest in the events so we expect a big turnout," added Nicholson.
"Riders and runners can expect amazing water tables and amazing trails. The committee and the trail building team have been putting in a huge effort for some time now and it is looking good for a special weekend at the Marriott Karkloof Country Club."
"And being SA Champs is just going to add to the weekend," he added.
In a change from previous years, the Enduro Festival has been moved to a stand-alone event on the weekend of June 11 and 12.
The Sappi Karkloof Classic
Trail Festival 2022 will take place over the weekend of May 28 and 29. More information can be found at https://www.karkloofclub. co.za/events/sappi-karkloof-classic-trail-festival-2022/
Sappi Karkloof Classic Trail Festival 2022 schedule of events:
Saturday, May 28 7:30am: 21km Trail Run 8am: 9km Trail Run Sunday, May 29
7am: 85km MTB
8am: 60km MTB 8:45am: 40km MTB 9:30am: 20km MTB 9:50am: 9km Trail Run 10am: 10km MTB