THE CAPES PREMIER WINTER MTB WEEKEND: 15-17 JUNE 2018
Greyton, one of the Western Cape’s best loved mountain biking meccas, plays host to the Greyt Escape three day mountain bike stage race from the 15th to the 17th of June 2018. While there can be no question that any event based in Greyton will boast fantastic routes the local knowledge of route director, Andrew White, assisted by iMTB Africa’s, Warrick Kemp, has ensured that the area’s best trails will be utilised in full.
The daily distances, for each of the three days is kept to 64 kilometres and below, but that should not lead you to believe the riding will be easy – with the village tucked into a fold in the Riviersonderend Mountains there is climbing in all directions and challenging but rewarding mountain biking guaranteed. In addition to the route being revealed the race organisers, Freebody-Sports, are also proud to announce that the event will include an e-bike category this year and that entries include light lunches, for Friday through Sunday, the option of Dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, a Ciovita Greyt Escape cycling jersey and a Performance Brands winter warmer.
Frequent visitors to Greyton will know that the village experiences chilly winter weather, but it is part of the allure of the town and the event. Pack warm riding gear, expect it to rain at some point during the weekend, prepare for exhilarating riding and lots of red wine fuelled laughter after each stage.
STAGE 1
The event starts with a long stage, but also arguably the easiest stage of the race. Featuring 62 kilometres of racing and 1 150 meters of climbing, most of which comes in one go on the famous UFO Climb mid-way through the stage, it is a day to ease into the event. Rolling farm roads get the Greyt Escape underway before riders take on the Wreck Route, the UFO Climb and the Middleplass singletracks, before an undulating return to Greyton concludes the first day’s racing.
STAGE 2
Stage Two traces the Greyton Classic route of old, 64 kilometres filled with punchy climbs and testing descents produces a total elevation gain of 1 250 meters. The route takes in local favourites such as the Blue Hippo Double Climb and the Blue Hippo Slide; Hemelsbreed and Oaks singles; up Castle Hill (to which there is as yet no bypass), down the Oaks pines, through the Oak glade; up to the highest point of the day and then down the Nguni singles. Piet’s contour and then down the Casy await; followed by the Oewerzicht Trails and finally the Bone Shaker, before the gradual 4 kilometre climb back to Greyton takes you home to where beers and red wine await
STAGE 3
The final stage boasts an action packed 45 kilometre route, with a shade under 1 000 metres of climbing. Four climbs – namely Maermanskloof, the Bakenskop Cobra, Davey’s Sprocket and Rocky Horror – provide the day’s challenges. Each climb is followed by a rewarding descent however, and none more so than the final two of the race, the Luislang and R.I.P. R.I.P is a new addition to the race and the name refers more to what you’ll be doing once you reach the finish rather than the technicality of the singletrack. It is a fun and twisty descent which takes you back to Greyton, fast.