The Herald VW Cycle Tour will once again offer the perfect mountain biking mix when the off-road events roll out of Addo just outside Nelson Mandela Bay on Saturday, January 31.
Mountain bike race director Brad Jackson said the feedback from this year’s event had been extremely positive, proving that the organisers were on the right track when it came to tailoring the racing options.
“We’ve made minimal changes to the courses. We believe we’ve dialled in the routes to perfectly suit specific categories of riders and this was evident from the feedback we received.”
Jackson said the main line-up would again comprise the 80km Extreme feature race, the 60km Adventure and 30km Powerade Leisure Challenge. The children’s races include the Powerade-sponsored 5km Kiddies’ Challenge and 500m Toddlers’ Dash.
“To get maximum enjoyment out of their race, it’s important that riders read the route descriptions on the website and select the race that suits their skill and fitness levels,” he said.
Jackson said the Extreme lived up to its name, as it was technically and physically demanding, and inexperienced riders could find themselves out of their depth.
“The Adventure poses a fair challenge but should not be too difficult for a reasonably fit and experienced mountain biker.”
He said the 30km and 5km routes were mild by comparison and suited riders looking for an enjoyable family experience or an easier introduction to mountain bike racing.
“Variety is what these races are all about. All the routes traverse a range of terrains, including open gravel roads, citrus orchards, dense Addo bush and shady indigenous forest sections.”
He said the Extreme and Adventure racers could look forward to a few new single-track additions, especially near the top of the Zuurberg Pass.
“The 80km route will go quite close to the Zuurberg Mountain Inn, higher than it has gone in the past, and riders will enjoy a long single-track downhill section past a dam before joining up with the old route at the top of the Holgat valley descent.”
The family weekend of cycling draws to a close on the Sunday with the 55km Pursuit and 106km Classic road races in Port Elizabeth.
Jackson said all finishers would receive a commemorative medal and a Powerade sports drink to provide refreshment in the Addo summer heat.
The 2015 edition of The Herald VW Cycle Tour marks the 30th anniversary of the event.
Enter online at www.heraldcycletour.co.za.
Issued by:
Full Stop Communications
Coetzee Gouws
082 575 7991
041 368 4992
coetzee@fullstopcom.com
www.fullstop.co.za
Media enquiries:
Anica van Wyk
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079 875 4299
On behalf of:
The Herald VW Cycle Tour