Winelands race will take your breath away
Race organisers ASG Events are geared up for a flood of interest in the Liberty Winelands Encounter, billed as a high-quality but affordable event which takes place in mid-April.
This is the second leg of the annual Liberty Encounter Series, which includes the TransCape MTB Encounter, currently in progress, and the Waterberg Encounter in June.
Starting in Boschendal, the race will expose mountainbikers to the scenic trails of the Cape Winelands around Franschhoek and Paarl.
ASG Events chief executive Erick Oosthuizen said an indication of the April 12-14 race’s popularity was that it was sold out last year.
It is again limiting the field to 200 teams, which incorporate a wide range of riders, from the weekend warriors to corporate teams, with a mix of professional cyclists.
“Entries have been very steady but we believe the bulk of the riders are only getting interested from now onwards, so we are sure that will build up nicely,” Oosthuizen said.
“The previous four years were no different.”
He said the focus for the three-day race was to provide an event with the emphasis on quality, while ensuring it remained affordable.
“There are two options. One is at LeFranschhoek Hotel and Spa, which can accommodate 80 teams.
“The other is an entry with lunch and dinner included at 60% of the full accommodation category, which makes it excellent value for money.”
Besides the weekend warriors drawn by the iconic trails of the Cape Winelands, Oosthuizen said it was the perfect getaway for corporates.
“An event from Friday to Sunday is the perfect length for many mountain-bikers and we feel we have a unique offering.
“It affords our participants with a passion for the sport the experience of a lifetime.
“Our sponsors, Liberty, really try to connect with the riders to show them how serious they are about mountainbiking. The trails are awesome but not overly used and, simply put, it’s a beautiful stage race in the Winelands.”
Oosthuizen said competitors would face stages of about 50km each day, with about 1,000m of climbing.