COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SATURDAY  60 km

For those who have ridden it before the “long haul” up  the notorious “Pampoenek”  has been eliminated to add a different dimension to the ride, but don’t be fooled, for the unfit, there could be some nasty surprises!

The new route follows a variety of forestry tracks and open roads through farmlands interspersed with flowing single track.  After sharing the first twenty kilometers with the Intermediate ride the two courses split, taking the 60 km riders out into the forests and grasslands in the direction of Rietvlei while the 30 km course turns to head for home.

This mildly technical  course has been designed to offer riders a well balanced taste of the great mountain biking terrain the district has to offer.  Challenging climbs, fast track through cool forests, grassland pathways and some exhilarating single track and breath-taking views.

Remember, we always keep the best for last!

SATURDAY 31 km

This very rider friendly course offers the Intermediate rider a taste of most of what mountain-biking in the district has to offer.  It is also unique in the fact that by offering a half-distance stage race Intermediate riders are afforded the opportunity to enjoy the challenges and experience a little of what stage-racing is all about over a shorter distance.

The course which is shared with the 60 km riders for the first 20 km takes riders out through forests, maize lands and farm roads of the district.  Greytown is hill country so climbing is a fact of life but the spectacular views after the climbs make it all worth it.  Uphills have been balanced by plenty of open plantation roads and some non-technical single track.  After following the railway line under the Mooi River road the Intermediate course splits at the water table/marshalling point.  Here the riders will tackle the final climb as they head for home.  After the final climb it’s all down hill from there.  Well almost!

SUNDAY 45 km N3TC Greytown Classic

Where in the past the venue for the race was half-way up the mountain the new venue is in the valley so the only way out is up.  The new course climbs gently out of the valley on plantation roads to “base camp” at the foot of the notorious Quarme hill.  Here the real climbing begins  but to show a little mercy the really wicked bits are interspersed with sections of more gentle gradient.  The route takes riders up past “Winter’s Moon” an old homestead site with some interesting history and a beautiful view.  From here the course continues upwards through a section of rare mistbelt indigenous forest which may entail a portage for much of the field.

After riding through seemingly endless forests the course spills out onto rolling mistbelt grasslands along cattle paths down to the renowned “switchbacks” that  leads  riders down to the cliff edges.

The homeward route is a mixture of cattle paths, farm tracks and oodles of single track that should  make everyone smile all the way to the finish.

SUNDAY 25 km

This course has been designed bearing in mind that it has to cater for the needs of the mid-distance “racing snakes” as well as children and mountain-bikers who prefer a less strenuous and technical course.  Although it does include some single track this is open and flowing. A  balanced course that traverses croplands, plantations, open veld and sugar-cane lands,  the 25 km course will challenge riders who wish to ride it a speed yet serve to encourage less experienced mountain-bikers.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY 10 km

This will be ridden on Saturday morning and afternoon and on Sunday morning.

This course takes riders under the Heiniespruit bridge and gently meanders along plantation and farm roads before turning at the Enfield homestead to turn for home.  Although a short section of single track has been included this is generously open and flowing.  Riders return to the Beehive venue and finish by riding over the specially constructed bridge.

SATURDAY and SUNDAY 3 km

This will be ridden on Saturday morning and afternoon and on Sunday morning.

Aimed at the mountain-bikers of the future this course is very accessible to any cyclist as it is almost completely level.  For parents who wish to ride or walk with their children it is a scenic, circular route that follows the Heinespruit and returns along plantation roads to the Beehive venue where riders finish their course over the wooden bridge.