The Grape and Gravel is a 3 day stage race hosted from Goudini Spa nestled in the Breedekloof Valley, a mere hours drive from Cape Town. Being in its first year the event seems to have started off on the right foot and looks to only improve. The race attracted some of the stronger riders […]
Wrapping up the Cape Winelands Encounter
With a fair sized lead and the final stage of the Cape Winelands encounter encompassing some of the finest trails that Welvenpas has on offer, Jarryd and I set off to really enjoy the last stage of the race. Controlling the pace up the first climb on the start of the black route, Jarryd and […]
Playing with wind in the Winelands
As a bike rider in the Cape, the wind can often be a point of discussion. As our foe yesterday, it became our friend today as it steadily blew down the Franschoek Valley again, this time however it was behind us and we ticked off the first 30km of the stage on open gravel roads within […]
Wolhuter and Hayley kick start Cape Winelands
After dodging some traffic we finally arrived at the time-honoured Lanzerac Wine Farm this morning, for the first stage of the inaugural Liberty Cape Winelands Encounter. The event dreamt up by organisers Johann and Wynand has been kept small in its first year, with it being sold out at 150 teams. The 3 day race […]
Biogen take honours at 2015 Garden Route 300
The final stage of the Garden Route 300 offered much to play for. Just 2 minutes separated Contego and Biogen for the win and likewise just 2 minutes separated Altech Autopage and Squirt in the battle for the final spot on the podium. To make matters more interesting just a kilometre after the neutral zone […]
Garden Route 300 – Stage 2
Another day another dollar, with 100km on the cards this morning and some real mountains between us and the finish line, it was going to be a good hard slog out. It fortunately hadn’t rained overnight but there was still a lot of water, and therefore mud on the track. A fast start soon settled […]
Garden Route 300 off to a slippery start
The forecast was 0.7mm of rain for the 6 hour period 6am – 12pm. Knysna has a reputation for having a number of hippies. I think their weather man is a hippie too. He has been eating far too many organic magic mushrooms, from deep in the wet muddy forests we raced in today. As […]
South African elite gear up for Garden Route 300
In the build up to the ABSA Cape Epic the South African mountain bike racing seen has been a hive of activity over the past few weeks, this weekend is no different as the top racers converge once again. Knysna plays the host to the 5th edition of the Garden Route 300 presented by Craft, […]
Sahm back to top form at Tankwa Trek
The final stage of the Du Toit Tankwa Trek follows a somewhat different format to that of other races; an unusually long neutral section of 25km precedes the stage proper of 61km. With a shorter stage and the GC battle not yet cast in stone, the fireworks were sure to be firing early on. And […]
Sahm solos and RECM maintain lead at Tankwa Trek
The sentiment has changed somewhat in the camp at Kaleo Guest Farm this afternoon. The sense of ‘that was easier than what we expected’ tone of yesterday had been replaced by tired bodies. Nonetheless the back of the race has been broken and the Merino Monster conquered, so there is a real sense of accomplishment […]