Adventure News: bridge Cape Pioneer Trek Newsletter

Adventure News: bridge Cape Pioneer Trek Newsletter - Ndorfin, South Africa

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Tuesday, 03 July 2012
bridge Cape Pioneer Trek Newsletter

THE NEW ROUTE OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The route for this year�s race was launched (YouTube) at a lavish affair in Green Point, Cape Town. Riders, corporates, celebrities and media attended the launch where they enjoyed wine and beer courtesy of Fairview and SAB as well as delicious canap�s. Paul Valstar, MC for the night, welcomed everyone before introducing the new route, which was followed by a comprehensive video of what riders can expect. The highlight of the evening was the announcement by bridge CEO, Emile Aldum that bridge will award R 100 000 to the winning team on top of Swartberg mountain � the biggest prize purse ever warded to a stage win in South Africa! To top this, riders will have to negotiate the out of category monster climb up Swartberg mountain pass ascending a whopping 1100m vertically!

There were changes made to the route this year with a lot of emphasis on riding quality, shorter stages and fewer ascents but with that great pioneering spirit still firmly intact. Smooth single tracks, undulating scenic jeep track and visits to the iconic mountains and valleys that only the Klein Karoo can offer are just some of the things that lie ahead for riders.

After four years of scouting and exploring, the Dryland team will continue to bring riders the best mountain biking route. The 2012 bridge Cape Pioneer Trek will take riders through icons like the World Heritage site of the mighty Swartberg Mountain, the challenging sheer drop down cliff faces of the Meiringspoort, the arid semi desert region to the north of Prince Albert, and through the undulating mountainous Klein Karoo and the lush forests of the Garden Route. The start is at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge just outside of Oudtshoorn, where the prologue will also take place on the pristine single track of MTBDestinations.com with the finish once again at Oudtshoorn High School.

KEEPING IT INTERESTING

The announcement (YouTube) by bridge group CEO, Emile Aldum that his company will award the winning team on stage 2 with R 100 000 in cash created an unparalleled buzz in the cycling industry � this is the largest single stage prize money sum ever awarded in SA for a stage win.

There are certain conditions attached to getting your hands on the loot, and that is first and foremost that you have to finish the race within the allocated time and secondly a points system has been announced whereby consistency is also required. The winning team must acquire 35 points out of a possible 70 to qualify for the R 100 000.

Finishing positions are awarded points starting at 10 points for 1st place to 1 point for 10th place. In other words the maximum amount of points that a team can acquire is 70 and they only need 35 to qualify. This means that all teams have to ensure that they obtain the best possible finish position on the mountain - the situation can arise where 3rd place on the stage could win the money if places 1 and 2 do not obtain the required 35 points.

This promotes consistent riding and will keep the pros interested right until the end.

THREE SPONSORS TO ALWAYS BANK ON

Klein Karoo International Ltd (KKI), who is the world�s foremost producer of ostrich, related products will be involved again this year and will be providing all of the food consumed by riders over breakfast and supper every day. This includes, among others, their delicious lean ostrich meat products and venison. KKI is a company with very strong social responsibility principles and this is evident in the enormous support they provide to the ever needy rural communities in the Klein Karoo. KKI�s association with a school like Zwartberg High School in Prince Albert typically allows the school to subsidize the school fees of around 100 needy families for a whole year � this is making a difference!

Popular with the riders and communities alike, Scooters pizza will be on call to provide hot, tasty and fast pizza. The highlight of their involvement is the great appreciation and smiles they receive from riders after greeting them with their delicious pizzas after a grueling day of riding. �Not only will we be providing pizzas but we will have our hot bikini girls and Scooters guys at water points along the route too,� explains Riaan van den Berg, spokesperson for Scooters pizza. �They are there to encourage riders, provide water and sun block or even hold their bikes while they grab a quick bite to eat.�

Cyclists will be ensured they get plenty of replenishing with Wilde Fruit Juice who has been involved in the Cape Pioneer Trek for 3 years now. �We believe strongly in the Pioneer Trek�s vision of giving back to the community and schools in the surrounding area,� says Melissa Boshoff from Wilde. �With our involvement we can not only ensure that some of the nutritional needs of the cyclists are met during the race but we can be assured that our contribution is having a greater community impact which is what the great Pioneer spirit is all about!�

Winter is upon us, so stay healthy and clock those miles � happy training, speak soon.

The bridge Cape Pioneer Team

Event Website: http://www.capepioneer.co.za/

Overview of the Event