VORI-BERG MTB SERIES # 9

WILDEBEESTHOEK . GAUTENG

SAT 17.09.2011

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Tiaan van der Merwe (Trinity Cycles), winner of the 30km mtb race,

on some single track 2km from the finish.

Always good to ride with friends: Andre Roodt,

Chappy le Roux & Geoff Kruger at the start of their 30km race.

Race Report by Amy McDougall - Team Crank Brothers

There were five or six other races on the same day, so the field was very small, especially the 60km. I looked around and saw the familiar faces of many regulars who know, and love, this under-rated mountain bike race and return every month to try and better their previous time and go as fast as possible, or, just to enjoy the fantastic, scenic route filled with everything mountain biking is all about.

Being a two lap race (for the 60km) it gives you good practice in pacing yourself and improving on your technical skill the second time around.

To explain the course briefly, it starts off on a short false flat dirt road which separates the group before going into some single track.

The single track ends and a short steep climb followed by a brief descent, and then a mean, steep, 2km climb and lots of twisty turny technical single track down the other side. If you are a good climber with technical skills, this section will put a significant gap in between you and the ‘griders’ who will be hoping to catch up in the second half of the lap, which is a flat and fast combination of dirt road, jeep track and a few small sections of single track here and there.

The weather was perfect with sunny clear skies and a cool breeze and everyone from the casual riders to the racing snakes thoroughly enjoyed the race in their own way!

Although this is a new race, it is growing fast and becoming popular with lots of new faces amongst the regulars who come back every month. Clive Hardy and Jakkie Louw (race organisers) are clearly putting a lot of effort into making sure the route is clear and perfectly marked, creating a fun relaxing atmosphere, before and after the race and making sure there is fresh food, beer and coffee, and, of course awesome riding for everyone!

Next Vori-Berg is on the 8th October, make sure you are there!

Jaco du Toit, overall winner of the 60km race

and leading the race from the start.

Amy McDougall, 1st woman in the 60km and 2nd overall, uses only a front wheel . . hehe!

Josef Arian & Sean Williams

in their 60km race.

Amy McDougall (Crank Brothers)

Lynette Bannatyne

For any queries regarding results, please contact race organiser Clive Hardy:

clivedhardy@gmail.com

The dirt road with a bit of an incline, 1km from the start, where the

racing snakes leave the slower riders behind.

Scott Davis, owner of Radiant Sunwear,

handing over the R250 lucky draw

gift voucher to Lena da Silva.

Petri Strydom (4th) at the start of the

30km mountain bike race.

Marius van Wyk, at the start,

and 3rd in the 60km.

The single track section, 3km from the start,

just before going around the dam.