Enter the Greyt Escape today and WIN a solo entry for a friend

Greyton, one of the Western Cape’s best-loved mountain biking meccas, plays host to the Greyt Escape three-day mountain bike stage race from the 15th to the 17th of June 2018. While there can be no question that any event based in Greyton will boast fantastic routes the local knowledge of route director, Andrew White, assisted by iMTB Africa’s, Warrick Kemp, has ensured that the area’s best trails will be utilised in full.

The route for the 2018 Greyt Escape, which takes place from the 15th to the 17th of June has been revealed, and it features three days of amazing mountain biking. Photo by Peter Kirk.

The daily distances, for each of the three days is kept to 64 kilometres and below, but that should not lead you to believe the riding will be easy – with the village tucked into a fold in the Riviersonderend Mountains there is climbing in all directions and challenging but rewarding mountain biking guaranteed. In addition to the route being revealed the race organisers, Freebody-Sports, are also proud to announce that the event will include an e-bike category this year and that entries include light lunches, for Friday through Sunday, the option of Dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, a Ciovita Greyt Escape cycling jersey and a Performance Brands winter warmer.

Frequent visitors to Greyton will know that the village experiences chilly winter weather, but it is part of the allure of the town and the event. Pack warm riding gear, expect it to rain at some point during the weekend, prepare for exhilarating riding and lots of red wine-fuelled laughter after each stage.

The Riviersonderend Mountains provide the perfect mountain biking playground for three days of challenging but rewarding riding. Photo by Jacques Marais.

The event starts with a long stage, but also arguably the easiest stage of the race. Featuring 62 kilometres of racing and 1 150 meters of climbing, most of which comes in one go on the famous UFO Climb mid-way through the stage, it is a day to ease into the event. Rolling farm roads get the Greyt Escape underway before riders take on the Wreck Route, the UFO Climb and the Middleplass singletracks, before an undulating return to Greyton concludes the first day’s racing.

Stage Two traces the Greyton Classic route of old, 64 kilometres filled with punchy climbs and testing descents produces a total elevation gain of 1 250 meters. The route takes in local favourites such as the Blue Hippo Double Climb and the Blue Hippo Slide; Hemelsbreed and Oaks singles; up Castle Hill (to which there is as yet no bypass), down the Oaks pines, through the Oak glade; up to the highest point of the day and then down the Nguni singles. Piet’s contour and then down the Casy await; followed by the Oewerzicht Trails and finally the Bone Shaker which takes you home to Greyton, where beers and red wine await.

The region is filled with iconic climbs; like the UFO, Maermanskloof, the Bakenskop Cobra, Davey’s Sprocket and Rocky Horror climbs, all of which have been included in the 2018 Greyt Escape Route. Photo by Jacques Marais.

The final stage boasts an action-packed 45-kilometre route, with a shade under 1 000 metres of climbing. Four climbs – namely Maermanskloof, the Bakenskop Cobra, Davey’s Sprocket and Rocky Horror – provide the day’s challenges. Each climb is followed by a rewarding descent however, and none more so than the final two of the race, the Luislang and R.I.P. R.I.P is a new addition to the race and the name refers more to what you’ll be doing once you reach the finish rather than the technicality of the singletrack. It is a fun and twisty descent which takes you back to Greyton, fast.

To experience the trails and the winter festival atmosphere of the Greyt Escape for yourself enter online at www.thegreytescape.co.za. Entries are R4 700 per solo rider or R9 200 per team of two; for the option which includes dinners. While the non-dinner options are R4 250 for solo riders and R8 300 for teams. Entries include lunches, from Friday to Sunday, the option of dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, a Ciovita Greyt Escape cycling jersey and a Performance Brands winter warmer. There are also various payment plans available, so be sure to visit the event website to find out more. Accommodation in Greyton fills up fast so be sure to book a place to stay when you enter, a comprehensive list of accommodation options can be found on the Greyton Tourism website: www.greytontourism.com.

The sleepy village of Greyton comes alive for a winter long weekend during the annual Greyt Escape. Photo by Peter Kirk.