Pedal to the metal up the mountain
Andrew Hill and Reinhard Zellhuber will join forces to take on the gruelling Sani Dragon race.
LOCAL rider, Andrew Hill, will partner with defending Sani Dragon champion, Reinhard Zellhuber, for the 2017 edition of the race in the Southern Drakensberg from 30 September to 1 October.
Despite missing the event in 2016, Andrew is excited to again ride in the only mountain bike event that incorporates Sani Pass.
“I have spent a lot of time riding in the Berg and I am very familiar with the challenges that come with the terrain, but racing there is always something I look forward to.”
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The Sani Dragon is a two-day race with the opening day’s 50km route comprising of a large loop incorporating some of the most scenic district roads, jeep tracks and single track in the Underberg and Himeville area.
The day will start at the Premier Hotel Himeville Arms and finish at the Premier Resort Sani Pass.
The second day is 42km in length and is a race to the summit of the famous Sani Pass and back, starting and finishing at the Premier Resort Sani Pass.
Riding up and down Sani Pass is the highlight for Hill.
“Riding up the pass before it is tarred is definitely something that I feel should be on any mountain biker’s bucket list. It is going to be a hard slog up but the race back down is going to be an exciting one,” Hill commented.
With some of the most demanding terrain set to test both riders and equipment, Andrew believes that there are a number of other challenges they will face when competing in the Drakensberg.
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“The rocks and tracks are demanding but I find that the altitude is the toughest part about racing in the Berg. It is especially difficult when you are riding up the pass and you reach the final few switch-backs.”
There will also be a Lite event with distances of about 35km on day one and 26km on day two.
Day 2 will be to the South African border post and back.
Both days races will start and finish at the same locations as the main race.
Entries for the event are open until 22 September and can be found at www.sanidragon.co.za.
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