The 9th edition of the Land Rover West Rand Silverstar MTB Challenge takes place on 10th September this year, offering its traditional 20km and 40km options on the Krugersdorp Ridge. The event starts and finishes at the revamped Silverstar Casino and a special treat is in store for riders with the finish moving inside the square which boasts a host of new restaurants.
The race finished in The Globe last year, which was well received in wet conditions. This year, weather permitting, the finish line will be in front of all the restaurants in the square, which will create a delightful atmosphere. Race director Darren Herbst has been hard at work on the trails for the past four months in an effort to present a delightful world-class off-road experience, which this year includes vast sections of unchartered trails within the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.
The route offers participants spectacular 360 degree views as well as varied terrain and challenges, including the incredible floating bridge built last year AND a new floater measuring 130 metres!
The 40km route features 700 metres of climbing and the 20km 400 metres. The majority of climbing is dealt with in the first 3km as riders summit the ridge on the R28 tarred road, escorted by long-standing supporters – the Mogale City Metro Police under the expert guidance of Chief Superintendant Bryan Murray.
After the climb riders duck into various stretches of jeep track and singletrack. There are ample technical challenges on route but also enough fast sections which will allow riders to take in the views and the abundance of fauna and flora on top of the Ridge.
The 20km ride does a shorter loop on the mountain with some of the more challenging technical bits taken out. For the finish all riders drop down the mountain on a ride-able jeep track, which also features a 100 metre palliated section to ensure ride-ability in the gorge above Silverstar Casino.
This year the route builders have spent considerable effort working on the gorge and it’s a super cool decent, which pops out just above the Casino. There’s a little technical section to get riders onto the Silverstar Casino square where they will finish to the cheers of family and friends who wait in a relaxed European Street Cafe vibe.
Experienced ASG marshals will be on duty to ensure safe passage for participants and water points will be stocked with Coke, High 5, water, bananas, choc chip cookies and koeksisters to keep riders going throughout the morning.
Essential details
Province: Silverstar Casino, Gauteng
Date: 10 September 2016
Entries close: 2 September 2016
Contact: [email protected] or visit www.asgevents.co.za
Start times:
40km: 08h00
20km: 08h15
Entry fees:
40km: R240
20km: R190
REGISTRATION:
Thursday 8 September: Cycle Lab Fourways 10h00 – 16h00
Friday 9 September: Silverstar Casino Main Reception 10h00 – 16h00
Saturday 10 September: Silverstar Casino Main Reception 06h00 – 07h45
Photos by Jetline Action Photography