The route for the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek mountain bike race will be longer and feature more climbing than last year, organisers revealed today.
The Cape Pioneer Trek route will feature a longer course with more climbing. Photo: www.zcmc.co.za
According to them, the seven-day race will feature a time-trial and mountain-top finish on Swartberg Pass and spend more time in the Mossel Bay area.
The race will cover 572km – 72km farther than last year – and will include a total of 10 650m of vertical ascent – 1 030m more than in 2016.
Unlike the last few years, said event organiser Henco Rademeyer, there would be no prologue.
“We wanted to change the rhythm of the race a bit this year, by taking out a prologue,” said Rademeyer.
“We’ll have three tough stages to start, a short time-trail stage, which many can use for recovery and then three tough stages to finish with.”
The race starts in Mossel Bay on October 15 and finishes in Oudtshoorn.
Route summary:
Stage 1
Mossel Bay to Mossel Bay: 95km, 1 650m ascent
Stage 2
Mossel Bay to Mossel Bay: 81km, 1 250m ascent
Stage 3
Mossel Bay to George: 99km, 1 950m ascent
Stage 4
George to George: 31km, 600m ascent
Stage 5
George to Oudtshoorn: 94km, 1 600m ascent
Stage 6
Oudtshoorn to Swartberg Pass: 107km, 2 450m ascent
Stage 7
Chandelier Game Reserve to Oudtshoorn: 65km, 1 150m ascent
