GO!Durban Launches New SIGNATURE Mountain Bike Race
Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, 26 April 2019 – The GO!Durban100 is set to become the next iconic event on the KZN race calendar. Sponsored by GO!Durban – eThekwini’s Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network – the inaugural edition of the new exciting mountain bike race will be held on Sunday, 8th September 2019.
Event Organiser, Dave Ward and Route Director, Shaun Peschl have combined their years of expertise in the mountain bike and events industry to conceptualise the 100km race with the intention of developing it into a stage race within the next three years.
For 2019, the event will include the signature 100km race, as well as 50km and 20km options to allow mountain bike enthusiasts of all skill levels to experience some of the best trails KZN has to offer. With a total prize purse of R 100 000 across the top three men and women in each distance, the event is sure to draw some of the country’s top riders to compete.
The race will also include an e-bike category following the popular trend and growing number of riders with electronic bikes.
“We wanted to create a signature mountain bike event for Durban where our focus will be on delivering a premium user experience for the riders, particularly with the magnificent scenery, flowing single tracks and exciting river crossings through the Durban Green Corridors trail network,” says Mr. Shaun Peschl, Director of Peschl Sports. “The route will provide a challenge for professional riders and a sense of achievement for ‘weekend warriors’ who want to push their limits,” he explains. “KZN is home to many of the best mountain bike athletes in our country and we look forward to seeing them compete on home soil, as well as attracting riders from other provinces.”
The main 100km race will start at Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park in Pinetown and the route will make its way through the Inanda Valley along the Umgeni River and up through KwaDabeka on the way to the finish at Blue Lagoon. Registration day will take place at Giba Gorge on Saturday, 7th September 2019, with lots of fun activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy before the big day.
All riders in the 100km race will have access to the free MOJA Cruise Shuttle Service, compliments of the title sponsor, GO!Durban. Riders can leave their bikes at the Giba Gorge storage facilities on registration day, and then on race day, they can park at Blue Lagoon (race finish) and take a MOJA Cruise shuttle up to Giba Gorge, where they will collect their bike for the race. Once they reach the finish, they will have their bike and car together with them at Blue Lagoon.
MOJA Cruise vehicles will also provide sweeper assistance on route to collect any riders who wish to pull out of the race and transport them back to the finish venue.
“We are very excited to integrate our partners at MOJA Cruise with the GO!Durban100 event to deliver an unprecedented experience for the riders,” says Mr. Thami Manyathi, Head of eThekwini Transport. “This partnership displays the strength of the GO!Durban network to provide access to safe and convenient public transport for all citizens of eThekwini and we believe that it will add incredible value for the participants of the race.
The event will also seek to showcase the work of the GO!Durban Cycle Academy by hosting the start of the 50km (Inanda) and 20km (KwaDabeka) races at the respective bike parks.
“The GO!Durban Cycle Academy is central to our active mobility initiatives in eThekwini,” Manyathi continues. “The programme continues to see growth in the number of youth learning to cycle and the number of talented young riders coming up through the programme who will no doubt be very competitive in the GO!Durban100 race,” he concludes.
Registration opens online at www.roag.co.za on Tuesday, 2nd May 2019, and will close at midnight on Saturday, 31st August 2019.
