The mixed category at this year’s joBerg2c mountain bike race will double as the world mixed team championships, the organisers announced today.
In addition, the first mixed team in the nine-day event will win R100 000.
Candice Lill (right) and Darren Lill en route to winning the mixed category race on the seventh stage of the 2016 joBerg2c. Photo: Full Stop Communications
The South African race, which starts just outside Johannesburg and finishes in Scottburgh, attracts more than 150 foreign riders from more than 20 countries and is well-placed to offer the title, according to the organisers.
The decision was made to reward the mixed field after several years of growing numbers in this category and the organisers are hoping that the move will attract stronger mixed teams.
“We realise that the UCI do not award points to the mixed racing categories at UCI sanctioned events, so we have seen a gap and from now on we will be calling our mixed category the world mixed team championships,” said organiser Craig Wapnick.
“This will help get more female riders into the sport in general. We have had a real struggle finding women-only teams but we get loads of mixed teams, so clearly there is an appetite for this category in endurance cycling.”
