THE annual JBay Wind Farm MTB Classic, now in its seventh year, will take to the road on Saturday, June 29 – with some exciting changes and additions to the adrenaline-packed event.
Boasting a spectacular new venue, the event featuring a 85km, 50km and 25km ride, will run on out-and-back routes from the residential eco-estate Twin Valley Nature Estate just outside Jeffreys Bay.
The 85km marathon and 50km marathon will consist of big sections of single track, while the 25km fun ride is ideal for riders new to mountain biking.
Anriëtte Schoeman from Port Elizabeth, 2018 runner-up and one of South Africa’s most prolific race winners, is set to yet again take to the track – hoping to secure a win this year.
However, the title alone is far from the only reason she returns year after year. “To me – being a roadie – a 85km mountain-bike race is a challenge on any given day, but the Wind Farm Classic route is spectacular in the sense that it is not too technical. So, anyone with reasonable fitness can do it,” she says.
“Travelling through the actual wind farm and experiencing the magnitude of those wind turbines is an incredible experience in itself. I absolutely love riding literally underneath those gigantic machines.”
According to Schoeman, while she loves the last 20km through the Wind Farm, the whole ultra route is something to enjoy, with the big sections of singletrack being another highlight.
“The JBay Wind Farm MTB Classic is always one of my favourite races on the calendar,” she says.
“For me the mountain biking is almost like playtime, but the nice thing is although it’s completely different from road riding I still get to pedal my bike. I also love being close to nature and other than surfing, it doesn’t get much closer than mountain biking.”
Trail run
In an effort to make the event more accessible, a trail run and fun walk have been added to the programme.
“Many members of the community and surrounding areas are not avid cyclists or do not have access to bicycles,” says Dhesen Moodley, Managing Director of the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.
“Therefore, we added a 10km trail run and 5km walk to encourage more residents and visitors to join in the event.
“The Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm supports carbon-free, clean sports, which make mountain-biking and trail running perfect for the wind farm’s ethos.
“We are proud to be associated with the only one-day race in Africa to traverse a wind farm.”
More information
To enter the action-packed 2019 JBay Wind Farm MTB Classic to take place next Saturday, as well as the 10km trail run and family-friendly 5km walk, visit www.jbaymtbclassic.co.za.
Alternatively, for information, visit the JBay Wind Farm MTB Classic Facebook Page at
https://www.facebook.com/jbaywindfarmmtbclassic/
.
