Daunting passes and rocky descents challenged riders as they tackled the Great Zuurberg Trek, which started at the Zuurberg Mountain Inn in the Eastern Cape, today.
A selection of photographs can be viewed below.
Photos courtesy of Shayne Minnot.
Day one
Riders set out on a cool, misty morning as they started 68km first stage. A downhill start set a fast pace before riders hit spectacular single track as they made their way down Seven Dwarfs Drop into Otters Valley.
An undulating route took riders through parts of the Addo Elephant National Park as well as orchards of the surrounding farms.
Rough roads and rocky trails soon made for weary legs and the final climb back to the Zuurberg Mountain Inn was a long and slow ascent for many.
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- Light cloud cover meant a cool first night for riders staying in the luxury tented accommodation at the Great Zuurberg Trek that took place at the Zuurberg Mountain Inn. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- The scenic Zuurberg Mountain Inn welcomes riders in from the cool, mountain air as they ready themselves for the Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- The Slagboom dam lies below two riders as they make their downhill on stage one of the Great Zurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- A reflection of a lone participant as he made his way along the 68km stage one route of the Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- Uneven, rocky tracks resulted in a puncture for one rider on day one of the Great Zuurberg Trek that took place in the Addo region of the Eastern Cape today. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- A rider speeds past in a blur as he navigates an uneven descent on day one of the Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- Marco Joubert leads two other riders up a rocky climb at the Great Zuurberg Trek that took place in the Addo region of the Eastern Cape today. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- A determined group sets off from the 68km stage one of the Great Zuurberg Trek, which started and finished at the Zuurberg Mountain Inn today. Photo: Shayne Minnot
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- The bunch wait in the cool morning air at the Zuurberg Mountain Inn at start of the Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minnot
Day two
Day two of the Great Zuurberg Trek covered 78km on a beautiful and sunny day in Addo.
It was the queen stage of the event and presented some lovely challenges to riders, such as the For Pete’s Sake singletrack and the White Knuckle Downhill.
Riders also made their way through the stunning Elephant Back Safaris while enjoying views of the Indian Ocean to their left and the Karoo to their right.
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- A rider spotted on the singletrack during stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Giving a helping hand to his teammate during stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- A rider passing an abandoned house on stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Stunning views presented itself to the riders during stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Residents of the Addo park during stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Riders line up before the start of stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- A rider enjoys some downhill during stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Mountain bikers take a corner on stage two of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
Day three
The final day of Great Zuurberg Trek is known as ‘play day’ to riders.
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- Andrew Hill enjoys a downhill stretch during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Women’s winners Annie Davids and Siska van der Bijl share an embrace after the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Chris Wolhuter shortly after leaving the Zuurberg Mountain Village during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Gert Heyns leads the bunch on the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- A mountain biker rides past a field of mushrooms during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Riders in action during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek, with the Zuurberg Mountain Village in the background. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- A rider speeds past the Zuurberg Mountain Village on the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Marco Joubert finished second at the first round of the Trailseeker Series in the Western Cape. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Mixed team winners Neill Ungerer and Yolande de Villiers during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
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- Men’s winner Waylon Woolcock on a stretch of downhill during the final stage of PwC Great Zuurberg Trek. Photo: Shayne Minott
