Events

Weekend warriors line up for 2017 KAP sani2c assault

· By Press Office · 0 comments

The 13th edition of the famous KAP sani2c gets underway at Glencairn Farm in Himeville on Tuesday as the first of the three events, the Trail, sees over 1500 riders navigate their way to the Scottburgh main beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.

Entries for the world’s largest mountain bike event are sought after, and getting a chance to ride the famous ‘Farmer’ Glen Haw trails is something that many mountain bikers from the elite racers to the back-markers treasure.

ccs-62657-0-88617800-1494334528.jpgRiders are for some of the most exilerating three days of riding when they take on the 2017 KAP sani2c this week with the Trail beginning on Tuesday, the Adventure starts on Wednesday and the elites take off in the Race on Thursday. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media

There are three races which form the event. On Tuesday, the Trail riders set off from Himeville for MacKenzie Farm near Ixopo. Then on the Wednesday, while the Trail competitors are heading for Jolivet Farm in Highflats, the Adventure riders take on Stage 1. As the Trail riders complete their event to Scottburgh on Thursday, the serious Race riders set off on their three-day journey from Himeville.

An innovation for the Trail event is that there is no recognition for finishing first. The entire event is geared towards riders who are taking part to have a good time and take part in a race that lacks that overall competiveness.

The three-day race takes the riders from the foot-hills of the Southern Drakensberg, via the first overnight stop 82km away at the Mackenzie Club just outside Ixopo.

Stage 1 of the race has got its fair share of challenges including the famous floating bridge on Mossbank Dam. 2017 will see a duel-bridge meaning that the two-man teams will be able rider across the bridge virtually side by side.

It is still early when riders hit this obstacle and a resultant swim in the dam could be more than a little unpleasant on a cold day with still over half the stage’s riding to go.

The second stage of the event is known as the toughest. The stage consists of just under 2000m of vertical descent with 1500m of ascent. The toughest element of the stage is the ride out of the picturesque Umkomaas valley.

2017 has seen the re-introduction of a climb that will keep every rider honest. Farmer Glen has named it ‘Iconic Climb’ and riders will feel a sense of achievement once they crest the top of the climb before the 32km stretch to the finish at Jolivet Farm.

The final stage of the race is an enthralling 82km dash for the ocean. The 1900 metres of descent, 850m more than the total climbing, means that the route is cumulatively downhill and riders can let their legs go as they sniff the salty Indian Ocean air.

There are still a couple of notable climbs to keep riders honest, but once they pass through the section known as Dave’s Toil the finish line will start beckoning and riders will begin contemplating the exciting 600m long floating bridge across the lagoon at Scottburgh.

There have been a number of spectacular tumbles off the floating bridge and after three days of riding, fatigue plays its part in causing a number of unplanned swims in the refreshing lagoon water.
The relief and sense of achievement on the faces of the riders as they cross the finish line in Scottburgh is tangible, their happiness is a sight that spectators appreciate and respect after 263km of testing riding.

This year is the 13th edition of the KAP sani2c, the world’s largest mountain bike stage race, which takes place from Himeville to Scottburgh.

KAP sani2c by numbers

0 – The number of KAP sani2c’s that ‘Farmer Glen’ Haw has actually ridden
2.4 – Number of tonnes of potatoes that are served during the event
2.6 – Number of tonnes of chicken meat consumed during the event
3 – Number of Black Mamba’s seen during the preparation of the route (on average)
3 – The number of days it takes workers to erect the tents at each of the two overnight stops
3 – The number of different events that make up the KAP sani2c (the Trail, the Adventure, the Race)
8 – Number of kilometres ‘Farmer Glen’ lives from the McKenzie Race Village
21 – Number of eight-tonne trucks that transport riders’ boxes to each overnight stop
23 – The number of communities, schools, charities and environmental groups that benefit from the event
61 – The average metres per rider along the route from Himeville to Scottburgh on Thursday, when all three races are on the course.
82 – Number of kilometres riders will ride on Stage One of the KAP sani2c
82 – Number of kilometres riders ride on the third and final stage of the KAP sani2c
96 – Number of kilometres riders ride on Stage Two of the KAP sani2c (the longest stage)
138 – The number of showers erected for the event
195 – Number of kilograms of coffee that is consumed during the event
266 – Number of toilets that are used during the event
500 – Number of kilograms of bananas eaten during the event
1000 – Loaves of banana bread served at the McKenzie Club Race Village
1200 – Dozen eggs consumed during the event
2000 – Litres of milk consumed during event
2300 – Number of tents that are erected for the event
2850 – The number of people that are employed during the event
3785 – Total number of metres that riders will ascend during the KAP sani2c
4264 – The number of riders that are taking part this year across all three races
6000 – Time in man-days spent preparing the route every year (16.43 years!)
9600 – The number of donuts consumed during the race
11 000 – kms are travelled every year while working on the route before and during the event
20 000 – Amount of tea bags that are used during the event
22 500 – The number of litres of water that is boiled for showers every day
27 000 – The number of bottles of water that are given to participants during the course of the event
57 225 000 – Amount in Rands that is contributed to community development through the KAP sani2c.

This year is the 13th edition of the KAP sani2c, the world’s largest mountain bike stage race, which takes place from Himeville to Scottburgh.

For more information on KAPsani2c: Info@KAPsani2c.co.za or www.sani2c.co.za

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