The DUTOIT Tankwa Trek international mountain bike stage race is expected to carry International Cycling Union (UCI) grading status in 2017 as the organisers continue to grow the stature of the event, which has fast become a calendar favourite for many of the world’s leading marathon and stage racers.
Organisers, Dryland Event Management, have sent an application to the UCI for grading status for the South African event. UCI grading status offers a certain amount of UCI rankings points for top male and female finishers, guarantees a set amount of cash in prize money and ensures a high standard of media coverage.
Taking place during the second weekend of February, the Tankwa Trek falls perfectly into the dry, hot Western Cape summer and four weeks before the annual Absa Cape Epic.
“The Tankwa Trek is only four years old, but the rugged nature of the terrain, the steep, long gradients and it’s positioning on the race calendar have made it a must-do race for committed mountain bike racers and those that are competing in the Cape Epic,” said Carel Herholdt of Dryland Event Management.
“We’ve also applied for UCI grading status for the Fairview Attakwas Extreme Challenge, our ultra-marathon which takes in mid-January and is also a favourite for both South African and international riders who are training here in the South African summer,” remarked Herholdt.
“Since we successfully achieved UCI grading status for our week-long stage race each October, the Cape Pioneer Trek, we are confident we will meet the required criteria for the Tankwa Trek, which will then be the only UCI-graded three-day stage race in South Africa,” added Herholdt.
Photo: ZC Marketing Consulting
Both Christoph Sauser and Karl Platt, the only two men to have won the Cape Epic five times, competed at the 2016 Tankwa Trek. For Platt and his Team Bulls teammate, Urs Huber, it was a perfect confidence booster ahead of their dominant Cape Epic win a month later, while for Sauser, competing for the first time, it was a great platform at which to mentor fellow Specialized rider, Sam Gaze, who just won the first Round of the Under-23 XC World Cup in Australia.
“The Tankwa Trek trails are so ‘lekker’ (very nice)! There are some really challenging surfaces and gradients here, which is a great form check for the Cape Epic,” said Karl Platt after the final stage of the 2016 Tankwa Trek, which he and Huber won.
“We took the opportunity to test everything for the Cape Epic. The terrain and conditions at Tankwa Trek are very similar to the rough terrain days at the Epic. We actually made some adjustments here to our tyre and suspension pressures after Day 1, which we feel definitely helped on Days 2 and 3 and we’ll use those settings for the Cape Epic,” said Robyn de Groot after winning her second consecutive women’s Tankwa Trek title with Ascendis Health teammate, Jennie Stenerhag.
Entries for the 2017 Tankwa Trek opened on 3 May. However, due to the high percentage of singletrack, the entry number is limited. There is a R250 000 prize purse (about US$16500), which is among the highest of any stage race on the South African calendar.
“We want the Tankwa Trek route to always deliver hard, but fair racing conditions. Our route designers, all committed mountain bikers that live in the Kouebokkeveld area, have been working hard over the past few months and have opened up even more singletrack, which is sure to make the 2017 race even more enjoyable for the competitors,” added Herholdt.
There are Team (two riders) and Solo category options at the DUTOIT Tankwa Trek. To secure an entry, be sure to visit www.tankwatrek.co.za as of Tuesday 3 May from 12h00 (Central African Time).
Source: Inside Line
