Race the world’s best mountain bikers from home or hit the trails in search of King and Queen of the Mountains trophies in the FNB Wines2Whales Champions Chase. Take part on Zwift or Strava and win amazing spot prizes.
To stoke the Serious GEES for mountain biking in the absence of the 2020 events, the FNB Wines2Whales presents the FNB Wines2Whales Champions Chase!
A virtual challenge that allows riders to compete against the world’s best mountain bikers in a pro-am pursuit style Zwift event, and against local legends on many of South Africa’s favourite trails via Strava. Plus, with prizes from the event and its partners up for grabs, there’s every reason to ride this summer.
LAY DOWN SOME WATTAGE ON ZWIFT
The virtual leg of the FNB Wines2Whales Champions Chase is a pursuit challenge on Zwift. Amateur riders will be able to race against legends of the sport, including Annika Langvad, Manuel Fumic, Maxime Marotte, Barbara Benko, Samara Sheppard, Calle Friberg, and a growing selection of elite South African mountain bikers, like Matt Beers and Mariske Strauss. Amateur riders will be given a head-start and will give it their all to hold off the hard-charging professionals on the Road to Ruins course on Zwift.
Taking place on Sunday 1 November, the FNB W2W Zwift Champions Chase will be broadcast live on the FNB Wines2Whales Facebook page and YouTube channel. South African downhiller Andrew Neethling and Shaun Peters will be commentating on the racing from 09:00. The amateurs set-off at 09:10 while the professionals will start a few minutes later.
Entry is free and riders can sign up on Zwift. Please join the ‘Community Riders’ bunch.
GET SERIOUS ON STRAVA
For riders who prefer to hit the trails, the FNB W2W Strava Champions Chase provides another reason to ride and will happen from 30 October – 8 November. Currently there are 10 Strava segments created across the country, all of which cater to the trail-loving nature of FNB W2W’s riders.
To take part in the action, riders will need to join the FNB Wines2Whales Strava club and download the GPX files for their closest trails, and then head off for some outdoor action. Each of the routes is between 20 and 25 kilometres long; all riders who complete any of the segments are in the running to win prizes, and random winners will be selected from the Strava Leaderboards. King and Queen of the Mountain prizes will be awarded to the fastest men and women for each segment too.
WHAT YOU CAN WIN
The FNB Wines2Whales and its amazing sponsorship family have put together a fantastic list of prizes that includes entries to the 2021 FNB Wines2Whales Switchback events, FNB W2W merchandise vouchers, Cape Brewing Co. caps and beers, Ciovita cycling kits, Land Rover driving experiences, Falke sock hampers, Oakley sunglasses, Squirt bike care hampers, wine from the area’s finest farms, Woolworths hampers, accommodation packages, Thule luggage, Specialized hampers, and a brand new bike from BH Bikes South Africa, valued at +- R90 000. And last but not least, one lucky participant can win a virtual training session with Team INEOS Grenadiers!
#GEES4GOOD
In keeping with the spirit of Serious GEES, the professional riders taking part in the Zwift Chase have agreed that their prize money will be donated to the FNB Wines2Whales beneficiaries. Initiatives like the Botriver Educational Foundation and the De Rust Futura School, as well as Cape Trails, rely upon funds raised through the events to continue their charitable work in the area the race passes through. By simply taking part, riders can ensure that these organisations remain front of mind and continue to benefit from the FNB Wines2Whales.
Join the Zwift event here: https://www.zwift.com/events/view/1107541?eventSecret=8ebadcad8ce1ccaa55ee
Join the FNB Wines2Whales Strava Club here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/fnbwines2whales
I see only one time from 2020 on the tygerberg segment... now I feel I must go give it a try some day..