Now in its seventh year, the three-day BUCO Dr Evil Classic is firmly embedded on the mountain bike calendar as an annual favourite. This year, organisers Zandile Meneses and Leon ‘Dr Evil’ Evans, are set to introduce a few new innovations which promise to up the race experience even further.
The Garden Route’s most spectacular stage race will take place from 20-22 September 2018, and, as in the past, act as something of a precursor to the extremely popular Lion’s Karoo to Coast.
“Leon and I have carefully selected two very special new venues for this year’s event and will maintain our core team on the ground – whose focus is on taking extra special care of the riders,” explains co-organiser, Zandile Meneses.
According to Meneses over 50% of the available entries have already been sold. “We have an unprecedented number of return riders in 2018 and we believe this is due to the philosophy of charging a fair entry fee and then spoiling those who enter wherever we can,” she says.
“Contrary to the name,” explains the man with the moniker himself, “the Dr Evil Classic is aimed at average riders as well as hardcore racers,” Evans says. “The idea is to create routes that are interesting, scenic and will test those who set out with the intention of racing the event but not be too difficult or long for those wanting to enjoy the ride at lesser pace.”
According to Evans, each stage of the three-day event will be unique with day one being 70km, Day two around 75km and about 50km on day three. The routes will cater for average and elite riders alike. The routes will be made up of a combination of singletrack, scenic district roads and forest trails. The event prides itself in the fact that nowhere in the country can you ride indigenous forests as you can here on the Garden Route.
Some key changes in 2018 include:
– Registration and day one are at the Plett Game Reserve
– Day 2 is at Kurland Hotel and Polo Estate.
– Day 3 remains at the ever popular Cairnbrogie Dairy Farm with its now-famous network of singletrack.
Entries for the event are now open. The event sold out in 2017 and there will only be space for 350 riders in 2018. Entries are open head over to drevilclassic.com to enter, or contact Zandile (on zandile@drevilclassic.com) directly for a three-month payment option.
Riders who enter the Dr Evil Classic will receive a preferential start in the Buco Lions Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge. Riders who enter the Buco Karoo to Coast and wish to ride the Dr Evil Classic will receive a R200 discount on their manual Dr Evil entry.
