With just over six weeks until the 2021 South African Enduro Championships, top racers are fine tuning their preparation with many expected to head to White River to contest two prestigious titles this weekend (2-3 October), the Mpumalanga Enduro Series and the Mpumalanga Enduro Championship.
The double-header race weekend will be held at the MTO Lowveld trails, White River, which offer a stimulating blend of terrain, including rocky, rooty, hardpack and loose over hardpack. Overall, the gradients deliver generous flow with some technical sections, a good dose of jumps and berms and some pedally bits that will benefit fit riders.
Willie van Eck won Round 1 and Matt Lombardi won Round 2 of the Mpumalanga Series. However, runner-up at both events was Sam Bull, who leads the series on total points. Zandri Strydom’s wins at the first two rounds see her hold a comfortable lead in the women’s division going into the final round.
The third and final round of the series will take place on Saturday, 2 October. There are five race run lines for Saturday’s racing, including Green, Blue and Black graded trails to ensuring that allround riders will benefit. For Sunday’s provincial championship event, there are four race run lines, which will determine the provincial champions in the various categories.
“We’re looking forward to hosting a full weekend of high quality Enduro racing. We’re expecting all the top Mpumalanga racers to be there and know that many of the Gauteng racers are keen too. By having two events on the same weekend makes it a worthwhile trip from outside the province,” said Schalk Potas of Trail Awareness Crew, the organisers of the two events.
Mpumalanga Series Round 3 – Saturday 2 October
Full Enduro: 28km with 715m elevation; Lite Enduro: 23km with 600m elevation
Entry cost: Full – R380; Lite R320
Registration from 06h00, racing starts at 07h00
Mpumalanga Championships – Sunday 3 October
Champs Enduro: 20km with 600m elevation
Entry cost: R380
Registration from 06h00, racing starts at 07h00
If you enter both days: Full – R650; Lite: R600.
Watch the Trail Awareness Crew Facebook Page for updates.
