Exciting Mountain Bike action is on the cards tomorrow as the Dispatch Cycle weekend kicks off with the Daily Dispatch Mountain Bike Challenge at Hillview Farm.
Around 200 mountain bikers are expected to take part in the popular event which is returning from a short hiatus after it was missing from last year’s Daily Dispatch Cycle Tour.
An electric field of mountain bikers have entered to take on the main 45km race which should make for an exhilarating event.
Jason Reed, the 2013 and 2014 champ, is back and he will start as favourite to reclaim his title.
Reed has enjoyed a good year in mountain bike races around the region, having won the Henderson Valley and Longhill races, while he finished runner-up this past weekend in the Thomas River race.
“I am really looking forward to the race,” said Reed.
“It is a totally new race this year with the new course, as the last race was at 3-Silos I think.
“It’s going to be quite technical and challenging, I think, and if there is a bit of rain and it gets muddy it is going to be quite a tough little ride.”
His biggest challenges should come from Jason Peach, who took second place in the Longhill, third at Henderson Valley and fourth this past weekend at Thomas River, and Jonothan Rosenstrauch, who took a fourth at the Longhill and third at Thomas River.
On the women’s front, SA cycling star Anriette Schoeman will be giving the event a go, before she looks to defend her Dispatch Cycle tour title on Sunday.
Local mountain bike talent Lara-Anne Everts-Van De Venter will, however, be a big challenger for the title and, having won the Henderson Valley and Thomas River races, will be very confident.
Other distances available for mountain bikers are the 19km race, the 8km race and, for the young kids, a 3km ride is available.
It will be the first time that the Mountain Bike challenge has been held at Hillview Farm.
This should be interesting and put the competitors on an even level, with it being an enjoyable but challenging course that has been mapped out for the 45km race.
“It is a really nice mix of single track and a little bit of jeep track and should be a challenging but fun ride for the competitors,” said road race manager, Antoinette Harding.
“We are also extremely grateful that the farmers and landowners in the area have allowed us to ride on their land and just adds to making the event a success.”
The action is all set to get under way tomorrow at 7am.
Late entries for both the Mountain Bike and Sunday’s Cycle Tour events can still be made, with Mountain Bike entries available at Buffs club from 1pm-7pm today, which is where registration is taking place, while Cycle Tour entries can be made today and tomorrow in the same time-slot.
The late entry fee for both events has been waived for this year’s event.
Reed my lips: Jason back for title push
Around 200 mountain bikers are expected to take part in the popular event which is returning from a short hiatus after it was missing from last year’s Daily Dispatch Cycle Tour.
An electric field of mountain bikers have entered to take on the main 45km race which should make for an exhilarating event.
Jason Reed, the 2013 and 2014 champ, is back and he will start as favourite to reclaim his title.
Reed has enjoyed a good year in mountain bike races around the region, having won the Henderson Valley and Longhill races, while he finished runner-up this past weekend in the Thomas River race.
“I am really looking forward to the race,” said Reed.
“It is a totally new race this year with the new course, as the last race was at 3-Silos I think.
“It’s going to be quite technical and challenging, I think, and if there is a bit of rain and it gets muddy it is going to be quite a tough little ride.”
His biggest challenges should come from Jason Peach, who took second place in the Longhill, third at Henderson Valley and fourth this past weekend at Thomas River, and Jonothan Rosenstrauch, who took a fourth at the Longhill and third at Thomas River.
On the women’s front, SA cycling star Anriette Schoeman will be giving the event a go, before she looks to defend her Dispatch Cycle tour title on Sunday.
Local mountain bike talent Lara-Anne Everts-Van De Venter will, however, be a big challenger for the title and, having won the Henderson Valley and Thomas River races, will be very confident.
Other distances available for mountain bikers are the 19km race, the 8km race and, for the young kids, a 3km ride is available.
It will be the first time that the Mountain Bike challenge has been held at Hillview Farm.
This should be interesting and put the competitors on an even level, with it being an enjoyable but challenging course that has been mapped out for the 45km race.
“It is a really nice mix of single track and a little bit of jeep track and should be a challenging but fun ride for the competitors,” said road race manager, Antoinette Harding.
“We are also extremely grateful that the farmers and landowners in the area have allowed us to ride on their land and just adds to making the event a success.”
The action is all set to get under way tomorrow at 7am.
Late entries for both the Mountain Bike and Sunday’s Cycle Tour events can still be made, with Mountain Bike entries available at Buffs club from 1pm-7pm today, which is where registration is taking place, while Cycle Tour entries can be made today and tomorrow in the same time-slot.
The late entry fee for both events has been waived for this year’s event.
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