Addo’s Toughest Mountain Bike Challenge
www.MyAddo.co.za: Spring is in the air and there is a brand new mountain bike race taking place in the Eastern Cape: “The Mondi Packaging Addo Mountain Bike Challenge”.
This 1-Day event will be held in the rugged Zuurberg Mountain region of the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape, on Saturday, 1st November 2008.
This race, billed as the Eastern Cape’s “toughest Mountain Bike Challenge”, offers mountain bikers a chance to pedal through some magnificent scenery inside the Addo Elephant National Park, and includes climbing the historic Zuurberg Pass, hand-built by convict labourers in the 1860’s.
With a total of R50 000 in prize monies up for grabs and a first prize of R15 000 in the 85km race, the event promises a lot of action.
As the main sponsor, Mondi Packaging’s objectives are to create a top quality Mountain Biking event that can feature as an annual event on the national cycling calendar with the potential of becoming a multi-day event in the future. They also hope to create awareness within the local community of the Sponsor’s commitment to contribute to the development of the local community by promoting events that involve the local community and draw visitors to the area, thereby increasing the local revenue.
The Mayibuye Ndlovu Development Trust – a trust comprised of representatives of the communities surrounding Addo Elephant National Park - and a National charity, CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation) are beneficiaries of the event.
The Event Sponsors will also endeavour to assist four Development Cyclists, selected by the Addo Elephant National Park from the local community, by providing them with bicycles and cycling kit to take part in the inaugural event. This will be a long-term project to help develop mountain biking within the local Addo community.
The race is comprised of 3 different routes: an undemanding 30km route over gravel roads and tracks for the social rider and their family members; a 55km trail with a reasonable level of technical difficulty for the avid mountain bike enthusiast, recreational mountain bike riders and sporting celebrities who enjoy a challenge and an extreme route of 85 km with a high level of technical difficulty to attract the country’s professional and top amateur mountain bike riders to the event.
This route includes gravel roads, jeep track and awesome single track. There are also some extremely steep single track down-hills with switch-backs, river crossings and over 1700m of climbing. The event organisers, Leisure Cycle Tours & Adventures have also included a Kiddies Fun Challenge for little ones under the age of 8 years. There will also be a family festival at the start / finish venue with plenty of entertainment, food & drink stands, a beer tent, children’s games and family activities. An overnight campground is provided at the venue with “Fireside Cycling Stories” around the campfire on Friday night.
For more information and to book your place online, visit Leisure Cycle Tours or email info[at]leisurecycletours.com or call Shane on +27 74 114 4811.
Port Elizabeth Budget Accommodation
Go to:My Addo