Mountain-bike event back in town

It’s all systems go for the opening stage of Liberty Waterberg Encounter mountain-bike event scheduled to get under way from Friday 8 June to Sunday 10 June.

Organisers have observed that the new single-track finish would be an endurance test for the front-runners, who were expected to be on high alert.

The three-day stage race in Bela-Bela, will see the routes taking cyclists through Sondela Nature Reserve and Elements Private Golf Reserve.

Route director Mel Meyer said the stages would cover a total of 172-km with 2 774-metres of ascent.

He offered the perfect workout for all riders, “but one they will be able to manage”.

Meyer said they had introduced two changes to the opening stage, which should give the riders something to think about.

“On the first day, the route up to the second water point is the same as last year, but then they will experience something new,” he said.

He explained that a fresh trail of single-track on a 6-km section had been built.

– The BEAT