Thousands of riders and spectators will flock to the Beaumont Eston Farmer’s Club on Sunday, 7 August for one of the country’s premier one day classic’s, the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge, as Rio Olympic Games bound James Reid and Alan Hatherly have one last tussle before they join forces as part of Team South Africa at the global showpiece.
The event, which has become one of the most popular on the calendar, caters to the whole family with four different events on offer. Riders of varying abilities can take on the 60km Illovo Eston Marathon, 40km aQuellé Half Marathon, 18km STIHL Tala Fun Ride or the 10km Omnia Kids Ride.
With the Rio Olympic Games in his sights Team Spur’s James Reid’s will want to go off with a bang as he hopes to defend the title he won in 2015 at the 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Classic on Sunday, 7 August. Paul Bothma/ Gameplan Media
Team Spur’s defending champion Reid held off the challenge of a number of the country’s best marathon and cross country stars over the exciting 60km course in 2015 and will be in for another tough challenge this weekend as he hones his skills ahead of his Rio assignment on 21 August.
With a defending champion’s title around his neck and a current South African Cross Country title to his name Reid will be the man to beat over the punchy 60km route this weekend as another high-class field proves that the Eston MTB Challenge is one of the premier one day classics in South Africa.
One of those men chasing Reid will be Kargo Pro Cycling Team’s Alan Hatherly. Hatherly had a disappointing 2015 outing in the sugarcane belt when he ended eighth overall around seven minutes behind Reid.
Despite being an experienced Eston campaigner, Kargo Pro Cycling Team’s Alan Hatherly has always battled over the 60km Illovo Marathon but with a trip to the Olympic Games coming up he will hope that he can put in a good performance at the 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Classic on Sunday, 7 August. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Hatherly and Reid have struck up an exciting rivalry in 2016 with the latter having a slight edge over his 20-year old rival however Hatherly will hope that he can prove that he has what it takes over the longer marathon distances when he gets to the start line on Sunday.
The ladies race sees another defending champion return in the form of Frankie du Toit. The Kargo Pro Cycling Team ace is hoping that her shift into marathon racing for the rest of 2016 will see her retain the title that she won so convincingly in 2015.
With the defending champions tag on her back, Kargo Pro Cycling Team’s Frankie du Toit will have stiffer competition this year at the 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Classic on Sunday, 7 August. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Du Toit’s Kargo Pro Cycling Team team-mate Hayley Smith will be out to prove herself over the 60km marathon this following her third place finish at the South African Cross Country championships. Smith’s presence in 2016 should provide Du Toit with a stiff challenge on Sunday.
An important element to the Illovo Eston MTB Challenge is that is forms part of the Quattro ROAG Series and will provide an opportunity for the series leaders and chasers to gain valuable points with only a few rounds remaining.
The Illovo Eston MTB Challenge has become a staple on the social mountain bikers calendar with all courses being manageable for varying abilities as well as offering the young ones a chance to experience the Eston spirit.
As the racing snakes head off on the 60km marathon route there are still plenty of chances for social mountain bikers to enjoy the trails that the Eston area has to offer with the aQuellé 40km half marathon attracting a number of up and coming junior riders.
The Beaumont Eston Farmer’s Club will be a hive of activity as thousands of riders and spectators flock to the venue for the ever-popular Illovo Eston MTB Classic on Sunday, 7 August. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Eston’s most popular event year-on-year is the 18km STIHL Tala Fun Ride which allows riders the chance of riding through the Tala Game Reserve and once again organisers are expecting around 1200 riders lining up to tacking the single track and dirt roads of the reserve.
The 10km Omnia Fun Ride takes place in and around the Eston Club, which gives the parents of the tear-aways the chance to keep an eye on their future stars as they experience a slice of the day’s action.
The 2016 Illovo Eston MTB Challenge takes place on Sunday, 7 August and more information can be found at www.illovoestonmtb.co.za.
