Competitors set out from Sondela Nature Reserve for Elements Private Golf Reserve in Bela-Bela on the first day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter today.
Photos courtesy of Twin Productions
Day one – 62km
Delightful sections of single track awaited riders as they set off from Sondela Nature Reserve.
Participants enjoyed the surrounds of Bela-Bela as they passed through a number of surrounding farms.
As in the past, the famous shop of Tannie Poppie Dinkelman and The Shack provided popular stopping points along the 62km route.
Newly created single track awaited riders before the final stretch to the finish at Elements Golf Reserve.
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- Tough competitors proved they could conquer day one of the Waterberg MTB Encounter which took place between Sondela Nature Reserve and Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- An energetic rider pops a wheelie after cresting one of the many climbs on stage one of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which took place between Sondela Nature Reserve and Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Stage one winners Charles Steyn and Ian McLeod as they crossed the finish line at Elements Private Golf Reserve outside of Bela-Bela today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Sandy trails were made more bearable by beautiful scenery as riders tackled the 62km journey between Sondela Nature Reserve and Elements Private Golf Reserve during stage one today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A group leaves behind a cloud of dust as they race between Sondela Nature Reserve and Elements Private Golf Reserve on stage one of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which took place outside of Bela-Bela today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A teammate lends a helping hand as they tackle the first day of the Waterberg Encounter, which finished at Elements Private Golf Reserve, today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A team passes through open grassland as they make their way to Elements Private Golf Reserve during stage one of the Waterberg MTB Encounter. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Riders at the start of the 2017 Waterberg MTB Encounter as they set off from Sondela Nature Reserve outside Bela-Bela on day one of the event. Photo: Twin Productions
Day two – 51km
The second day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which followed a clover leaf format of racing, was shortened by three kilometres after three male buffalo refused to vacate a section of land that riders passed through.
Starting at Elements Private Golf Reserve, which borders Mabalingwe, the Waterberg Estate, Shakama and the Highlands Estate, riders tackled newly built single track through Elements as well as the bordering reserves.
The second stage featured enough climbs to keep riders’ legs working throughout the 51km route.
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- A rider causes a splash on the second day of the Waterberg MTB, which started and finished at Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Starting and finishing at Elements Private Golf Reserve, riders experienced spectacular Waterberg scenery as they tackled the shortened day two of the Waterberg MTB Encounter. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Smiles and wheelies show that the second day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter were no match for this team, as they made their way to and from Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- An up-and-over bridge provided one of the obstacles participants faced on the second stage of the Waterberg MTB Encounter that took place in the Waterberg today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Dust hangs in the air as a team passes through a wooded section of stage two of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which took them through Elements Private Golf Reserve and neighboring reserves. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A small stream washed off some of the dust from the second day’s 48km route to and from Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A participant receives some help getting up the up-and-over bridge on the second day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A team passes through Waterberg bush on stage two of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which started and finished at the Elements Private Golf Reserve today. Photo: Twin Productions
Day three – 59km
The third and final day of the event took riders back to the original start point at Sondela Nature Reserve.
The final day was a fast affair with plenty of newly created single track and enough technical sections to keep the competitors on their toes.
Upon completion of the stage, riders would have covered 172km and climbed 2774m.
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- Dry African bushveld welcomed riders as they made their way back to Sondela Nature Reserve on the final day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Hendre Knoetze won the Sondela Bela Bela MTB Challenge today. Pictured here are riders in action during another event that also takes place at the Sondela Nature Reserve. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A young competitor pops a wheelia on the final stage of the Waterberg MTB Encounter, which took the riders back to Sondela Nature Reserve from Elements Private Golf reserve yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A team emerges from the long grass as they made their way back to Sondela Nature Reserve on the third stage of the Waterberg MTB Encounter yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
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- The Cradle Mountain Trophy mountain-bike race started at The Cradle of Humankind, northwest of Johannesburg, today. Photo: Twin Productions
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- The final stage of the Waterberg MTB Encounter featured 920m of climbing, but participants were rewarded with spectacular views as they made their way back to Sondela Nature Reserve yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
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- Climbing in the Highlands Estate required total focus as participants made their way from Elements Private Golf Reserve to Sondela Nature Reserve yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
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- A rider close on the heels on another participant as they travel from Elements Private Golf Reserve to Sondela Nature Reserve on the final day of the Waterberg MTB Encounter yesterday. Photo: Twin Productions
