Global Leader in MTB Stage Racing
With almost 70 mountain bike stage races on the local calendar this year, it’s easy to see why South Africa is globally recognised as being at the forefront of mountain-bike stage racing. The country’s great weather all year-round, combined with spectacular scenery and a nation of naturally adventurous people, has created the perfect storm for growth of this market. Stage racing takes this a step further by introducing the social element.
Australian Mountain Bike magazine describes the allure of mountain-bike stage racing as follows: “The rhythm of a stage race is hard to beat for anyone who wants to switch off and focus on riding their bike, and sharing that experience with others. It is a matter of eat, race, sleep, repeat.” In America, it’s said to be driving the economic revitalization of small towns that are evolving from mining ghost towns into the latest mountain-bike destinations.
There is still tremendous respect worldwide for what South Africa is achieving in the mountain-bike stage-racing arena, ranging from major events such as the Cape Epic to any number of world-class races, offering a different experience at every level. “South Africa is definitely a pacesetter when it comes to international stage racing,” says Richard Beswick, a former professional cyclist who now works as the route director for the Glacier Cradle Traverse in Gauteng’s Cradle of Humankind. This race is one of the newest stage races on the local calendar and made its debut in 2017. “I have friends who travel to the United States and tell me a first-world country like that cannot believe how we put together these events. You know, we’re a different nation of cyclists in the sense that we have a spirit of participation here. Everybody wants to get involved in racing, and it’s not just the elites who drive the sport. So from a relatively small population we have a very strong race participation.”
The Glacier Cradle Traverse is one of a myriad new stage races popping up on the scene, each offering something different to the biggest market out there, namely the weekend warrior looking for something challenging but not on the same scale as the back-breaking Cape Epic. This level of stage racing ticks several boxes: It offers a degree of luxury (white linen in the tented camps and gourmet food); social interaction (a race village vibe); and exposure to trails which are on many people’s doorsteps but which they never even knew existed.
“I live in the area and I was pleasantly surprised with the trails. I learned lots of new trails myself. The terrain is fairly bumpy and rocky and it’s real mountain biking,” said South African cycling legend Andrew Mclean, who took part in the inaugural Glacier Cradle Traverse. “It was a world-class event. In a year or two this event is going to be sold out. The pros would absolutely love this kind of terrain.”
According to Beswick, stage racing also allows for race directors and route organisers to achieve what a single race often cannot do. “When you bring in a world-class stage race like this and link all these trails together, many of them become inaccessible unless you ride in this race, which makes such a difference to the overall experience of the rider.”
This is exactly what impressed the likes of elite rider Dan Fowler. “We heard about the event and my initial feeling was that it was quite short stages and it might be a walk in the park,” he explains. “Then, after day one, we were blown away because they integrated all the mountain-bike parks in the area into one route. Some of the routes we’ve never been able to ride before, so we were super impressed. I would say to any riders thinking about it, this is definitely an event worth doing.”
He goes on to say, “This kind of stage racing is getting more and more popular. I liked the format of this one, having a shorter stage that allows for more of the young, up-and-coming riders to participate and even compete with some of the elite guys.”
The Glacier Cradle Traverse takes place in Gauteng every April. Entries are closed for the 2018 edition. You can register for 2019, and learn more about one of South Africa’s toughest MTB races by visiting their website, www.cradletraverse.co.za.