The Berg and Bush ‘Descent’, which started at the Windmill Farm in the Northern Drakensberg area in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, consists of a three-day mountain bike race over 209km.
Below are some photos that tell the story of this event.
Photos courtesy of Em Gatland.
Stage one
The first stage started on top of of the Drakensberg and covered a total distance of 99km. Team NAD Pro’s Nico Bell and Gawie Combrink claimed the victory on this day while the Valencia Ladies, Amy McDougall and Samantha Sanders, won the women’s race.
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- The Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ riders set up camp at Em’seni Camp after completing a 99km route on day one. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Pictured here is one of the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ riders capturing the beauty of the Drakensberg surroundings. Photo: Em Gatland
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- An image of some of the single track the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ participants got to ride during the first day of the event. Photo: Em Gatland
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- An image of the start of the 2017 Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Riders got to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Drakensberg area on day one of the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Pictured here is one of the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ riders enjoying some watermelon at one of the waterpoints on day one. Photo: Em Gatland
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- An image of one of the riders massaging his sore leg muscles on day one of the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- After a tough 99km route, the Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ riders got to enjoy a cold beer at Em’seni Camp. Photo: Em Gatland
Stage two
The second stage started with a climb up Ox Wagon Hill. Riders then tackled Puff Adder Pass, a suspension bridge and floating bridge before finishing at Em’seni. Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes won the men’s race, with Amy McDougall and Samantha Sanders taking the women’s title.
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- Overcast conditions in the early morning light made for a spectacular silhouette of a rider as they wheelied along the banks of a river on the second day of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Dormakaba, pictured here, finished second in the ladies category after finishing second on the final stage of berg and Bush ‘Descent’.. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Despite 99km of racing the day before, some riders were feeling good as they started the second day of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Day two of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ saw riders start at Em’Seni before returning after 60km of riding. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Riders make their way through some single track during the second day of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- An aerial photograph of the raw scenery riders tackled during the second stage of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- While some suffered up hills, other smiled their way through the second day of Berg and Bush ‘Decsent’. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Determination marks the face of a participant as he tackles a climb during the second day of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’. Photo: Em Gatland
Stage three
The final stage featured the famous climb up Spioenkop Mountain. After an abundance of single track, riders faced the steep climb. A 13km descent greeted them at the top and it was mostly downhill to the finish. Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes took the men’s title while Amy McDougall and Samantha Sanders taking overall honours in the women’s race.
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- Day three of Berg and Bush ‘Descent’ was a sunny affair that treated riders to plenty of single track and climbing. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Matthys Beukes and Philip Buys (PYGA EuroSteel) started the final day of Berg and Bush with a five-minute lead over Nico Bell and Gawie Combrink (NAD Pro MTB). Photo: Em Gatland
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- The final stage of Berg and Bush featured the grueling climb up climb up Spioenkop Mountain. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Dormakaba placed second overall at the three-day Berg and Bush ‘Descent’, behind Amy McDougall and Samantha Sanders. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Riders enjoyed plenty of single track, as well as climbing, during the final day of Berg and Bush. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Overall winners PYGA EuroSteel lead the bunch during the third day of Berg and Bush. Photo: Em Gatland
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- Spectacular scenery and sunny skies made for a fantastic final day of Berg and Bush. Photo: Em Gatland
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- A lone giraffe stands on the horizon, a sight riders could enjoy during the third day of Berg and Bush. Photo: Em Gatland
