Dawie Blaauw lets us in on his Tankwa Trek experience.
This was definitely one of the toughest mountain bike stage races I’ve ever done.
That said, it is also one of the most scenic races on the race calendar.
In only its second year running, the guys from Dryland Events had this event running as smooth as a well-oiled machine, and with heavy weights The Du Toit Group as the main sponsor, it’s clear the Tankwa Trek is here to stay.
We arrived at Kaleo Guest Farm, our home for the next four days, and while my partner was in awe of the beautiful scenery and the brilliant dining and pause area, I looked up and noticed we were surrounded by mountains, which is never a good sign if you are going to leave base camp on a bike.
At race briefing we were welcomed and entertained by the infamous Paul Valstar, and with guys like Eric Kleinhans, Karl Platt, Urs Huber and Cherise Stander at the pro table, we knew this race would be of the highest standard.
The first day took the riders from Kaleo over the mountain (as expected) into the Witzenberg Valley. When you allow a couple of well-known mountain bikers who grew up and farmed in the area free range to design their own mountain biking route, the result is spectacular.
The Hanekom brothers, Sakkie and Hannes, built a 92km track with a 1600mt of climbing, which can only be described as mind blowing.
The route took us through the valley’s familiar rock formations and down some seriously steep drops known as “The Steps,” and following it up with the rolling hills running through the Du Toit apple and pear plantations, it was a mountain biking paradise.
The guys from Dryland made sure we got spoiled at every water point, strategically placed before every serious climb. And with 32Gi as the supplement supplier, we had enough liquid courage to enjoy the scenery on these climbs.
Day 2 was a blur for our team, since our race ended with a serious fall for my partner 14km in, and gathering from the rest of the riders between the tents that evening, we were spared some serious pain going up the Marino Monster.
But Mauritz Walters made sure we wouldn’t forget his contribution to the race as we, with hearts in our throats, descended into the Ceres Valley through the Du Toit drop.
With some excellent single track taking the riders down a fast and steep descent, everyone’s mountain biking skills were put to the test.
Rugby legend Tiaan Straus and his partner Corne Krige both agreed that this was one of the toughest days they had on a mountain bike, and even the pro-riders had to dig deep as they went over the main climb of the day.
I took on the last day as an outcast with my partner nicely stitched up in hospital. And with a 26km natural zone, the event organisers gave every rider the opportunity to ride with some of the best riders in the world while enjoying the view.
The last 60km of the race was nothing less than what you would expect from a proper three course meal – dessert. With 90% of single track running through the Koue Bokkeveld, Charl van der Merwe, a mountain biking nut, carved out a single track that left many with a silly smile of satisfaction as they went over the finish line at Kaleo for the last time.
At the end we enjoyed a seriously tough event with great balance between rock, sand and fynbos.
Taking the riders up and down the Ceres and surrounding valleys through never ridden before tracks, and making sure they were fuelled up for the next day by a world class catering staff.
And with some unfinished business we most certainly will be back next year to tame the Marino Monster. It seems as the Tankwa Trek grows so does the challenge it lays before every rider that enter.
Send your race report to itb@inthebunch.co.za.
