The MTO Tour de Plett Mountain Bike Race 2016 Plettenberg Bay
The Tour de Plett starts in Wittedrift and ends on Central Beach.
From the Wittedrift HS the route takes you down the Stofpad and through the Quarry to the first climb of the day up through the pine forest and through the Packwood area to the Fisanthoek road. A few rolling kms brings you to the 1st Water Point and the start of the famous Petrus se Brand section… 17kms of stunning indigenous forest with a few challenging little climbs will bring you to a right turn onto the Knysna/Uniondale Rd.
After about 5 kms of district road a right turn takes you to the 2nd Water Point and puts you into the Buffelsnek forest. The beautiful rolling jeep track through both indigenous and Cape Pine cultivated forests, with a couple of challenging climbs thrown in, will bring you to the bottom of Buffelsnek. Although you will not have to climb the infamous Buffelsnek, a right turn will take you on a challenging 5km climb with some rocky sections all the way up to the top of the forest near Kransbos and the 3rd Water Point.
A sharp right turn takes you on a long descent to the dairy farms of Uplands and the technical descent through Buffalo Hills and back to Wittedrif via the Stofpad to the 4th Water Point. At Wittedrif you keep right on the tar road for about a 1km and turn left and take the tough climb through the Wittedrif Community to the top of the ridge.
After that sapping climb you get to enjoy fantastic views from the rolling ridgeline route for 3kms before dropping into the Denron valley. Here you will face the “sting in the tail”…last meaningful climb of the day. Once on top some great views of Plett, the ocean and the Outeniqua mountains will bring you to a fast, technical descent to Old Nick’s. From there it is under the N2, through Poortjies, across the beach, up the hill and down to the finish on Central Beach. Phew!!!!
57km
The route is the same as the Marathon route till Water Point 1. At WP 1 the Half Marathon keeps going straight where the Marathon turns right into Petrus se Brand. Continue for about 2kms before turning left into the famous Petrus se Brand single track (voted the best stretch of single track in SA by Dr Evil).
At the bottom, with your adrenalin surging, you turn right to bring you back up the Fisanthoek climb and back to Water Point 1. Follow the rolling jeep track/district road until the left turn which meanders through the farmlands to the technical Protea Wilds descent!!! At the bottom of this you rejoin the Stofpad and then follow the Marathon route back to Plett.
20km
From the start you turn left at the Water Point 4 and follow the Marathon route back all the way to Old Nicks. Once you pass under the N2 you turn left and follow the cycle path past Goose Valley entrance and turn right at Pennypinchers toward the Keurbooms river. Follow the path along the river all the way back to the Keurbooms Caravan Park. There you will re-join the Marathon route taking you to Central Beach.
1. All the CSA rules apply for the race. Failure to comply with any of the rules may result in disqualification.
2. NB: All riders must be in posession of CSA license which must be presented at registration. CSA day licenses can be purchased at registration.
3. REGULATIONS – NO HELMET NO RIDE. No participant may compete in the event without wearing a cycling helmet. Only commercially produced helmets, meeting (EU 1078/ANSI) or Snell standards, may be worn. Gloves are recommended.
4. THE START – MTB 08/10/2016 start line is at the Wittedrift High School grounds. Public toilets, catering and entertainment will be available. PARKING – Parking is available at Wittedrift High School grounds. Please park in designated areas only. No valuables must be left in vehicles.
5. Officers and Marshals will man the route. Cyclists must obey the officials or face disqualification.
6. Participants must complete the route entirely under their own power.
7.The route will be as supplied and participants must familiarise themselves with the route. No protest relating to deviation will be entertained.
8.The organisers reserve the right to alter the routes in accordance with safety, traffic, or other constraints. No protest relating to deviation will be entertained.
9. Only vehicles officially sanctioned by the organisers will be allowed on the route.
10. Entry fees are non-refundable. If the Race Office has received your entry but your payment remains outstanding past the closing date for entries, the entry will be considered a late entry.
11. ONLINE-ENTRIES close on Thursday 6th October 2015 at 23h00.
12. MANUAL ENTRIES & REGISTRATION – Can be done on Friday 7th October 2016 at Race Registration Venue , Central Beach,Plettenberg Bay between 15h00 and 20h00. Registration can be done on Saturday 8th October 2016 between 6:00am and 7:00am at Wittedrift Start on race day. NO LATE ENTRIES ON RACE DAY
13. SEEDING – Only the top CSA licensed qualifiers will be allowed to start in the front of the main race. Cyclists will be seeded according to specific criteria as set out at the discretion of the organisers.
14. SUBSTITUTIONS – You may organise a race substitution with the Race Office. This will be done for a fee of R50-00. The original Entry Fee will not be refunded, but the number will be withdrawn. You may not sell your number, or allow anyone else to ride under that number.
15. CUT OFF TIME – Participants must reach the cutoff point at Wittedrift by no later than 1:30pm and must reach the finish line by 2:30pm in order to qualify as finishers. Support vehicles and officials will be withdrawn from the route after the cut off time.
16. WATER POINTS – Water points will be available at designated positions along the route. .
17. MEDICAL INFO – Medical support including an ambulance will be available throughout the race for any emergency or medical attention needed.
18. No riders under 19 (as of 31 December 2016) will be allowed to enter for the 85km MTB race.
19. All cyclists who are minors must have registration forms signed by a parent / guardian who thereby indemnify the organisers.
20. Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult participant.
21. Cyclists participate entirely at their own risk and waive all claims whatsoever against the organising body, the sponsors, landowners, marshals, and any other party that is involved in the event.
Tour de Plett Event Information
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