The 2016 edition of the popular Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival is set to attract a large field of mountain bikers to compete for much desired UCI points at Cascades MTB Park.
The UCI HC level cross-country competition for Elite Men and Women will draw not only national, but international mountain biking stars as well, and Junior Men and Women will also be able to earn UCI HC points as part of their own World Series, at the Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival, taking place at Cascades MTB Park from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May 2016. Photo: Craig Dutton / pics2go.co.za
The world-class mountain biking destination has hosted several UCI MTB World Cup events since 2009, a UCI MTB & Trials World Championship event and a UCI MTB Marathon World Championship amongst others, making it a very attractive destination on the racing calendar.
The inaugural PMB MTB Festival taking place in 2015, showing that it offers something for mountain bikers of various ages and skill levels across a number of events. Riders from across the country, continent and perhaps the world are expected to descend on the challenging MTB course designed by Nic Floros.
The main attraction at the 2016 Festival, taking place from 30 April to 2 May, will be the UCI HC-rated cross-country race, offering Elite men and women cross-country specialists a chance at high-ranking UCI points towards Olympic qualification.
“The focus of the PMB MTB Festival allows for more variety and inclusivity and it sees beginners taking part in some instances. It must however never be forgotten that Pietermaritzburg is one of the leading competition venues in the world,” said event organiser Alec Lenferna.
“To this end, the UCI HC level cross-country competition for Elite Men and Women – which is only one level lower than the UCI World Cup level and carries extensive prize money and qualifying points for the Olympic Games – is an event of great importance and attractiveness to riders and National Federations.”
The cross-country race is also expected to attract many Junior riders as the event is one of three in South Africa that form part of the UCI Junior World Series.
Junior Men and Women are able to earn UCI HC points as part of their own World Series to qualify and get seeded for the 2016 UCI MTB World Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave, in Czech Republic, from 28 June to 3 July.
More events expected at the PMB MTB Festival will be the 2016 SA MTB Masters Marathon Championships, a leg of the KZN Inter-Schools MTB Series and enduro racing events for the thrill-seekers.
