Change a Life team eager to race in Madiba Marathon

THE RMB Change a Life Academy mountain bikers will compete in the Mandela Day Marathon MTB Dash at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site on Saturday 27 August.

The mountain bike event forms part of the greater Mandela Day Marathon sports festival over the same weekend. “Some of the riders have done both MTB Dash events, but the team has been evolving and there have been some new guys coming into the team,” said Martin Dreyer, founder of the RMB Change a Life Academy. “It’s by no means easy. The 42km distance is quite deceiving. Having Nick Floros, the Rio Olympic course designer, set the route adds a lot of value to the Mandela Day Marathon MTB Dash. But having said that, it does make it an honest, hard course for those racing at the top.”

In terms of the late, former President Nelson Mandela’s legacy and racing in his honour for freedom, Dreyer explained how his team prepares for such an iconic race. “Mandela is their ultimate role model, they look up to him with huge respect. Just to have his name associated to the race creates a good vibe.

Speaking about the size of his team, Martin said 10 Academy members would take part in the race. “It is the optimum amount in terms of bike maintenance, food parcels, ten-in-a-taxi. It is budget restrained but a team of 10 is enough for me to manage. Some new guys come in, some guys move off because they have raced hard for two years and then they get an opportunity to study or they get a job.

“For a rider like John Ntuli, he has been taken to the highest level with a private sponsor, Merchants. You can say that he is a professional mountain biker, earning a salary. He’s a clean-cut, hard worker and the guys look up to him and are proud of him. I feel that he is deserving of that type of sponsor.”

Martin also thanked the event organiser, Alec Lenferna, for his support of the RMB Mountain Bike Academy and for helping with the entry fees.

The start and finish of the mountain bike race is at the famous Nelson Mandela Capture Site, in the Midlands. Not only will the essence of Madiba draw the crowds, but also a lucrative prize purse, which will be an added bonus to the already incredible event.

Online pre-entries for the Mandela Day Marathon MTB Dash are open, and close on Wednesday, 24 August. Late entries will be accepted at registration, which is at Olympia Hall, Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from 11am to 5pm on Friday, 26 August, and at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site from 6am to 7.30am the day of the race.

The 10km fun ride starts at 8.30am and pre-entry is R80 and late entry is R100. The 21km MTB intermediate race will start at 08.15am and the pre-entry fee is R100 or R120 for late entry. The 42km MTB classic is at 8am and the pre-entry fee is R130 and R150 for late entry.