The time to start hardening up for this gruelling race, is now.
This year, come rain or shine, the race is committed to being a huge success. The organisers have gone out of their way to make sure that no weather (or music festivals, for that matter), will stand in the way of them creating the ultimate mountain biker’s playground with a course built at a cost of more than R1.5 million at their new venue, Mark’s Park.
Last year, the event was scheduled for 6 September at Zoo Lake but, sadly, had to be cancelled on the same weekend. Firstly, because of confusion regarding a double booking as the annual Jazz on the Lake Festival was also meant to take place there on the same day. The jazz festival was moved to James and Ethel Gray Park at short notice. Secondly, heavy rains wreaked havoc on the Juma course, washing some parts of it away.
“The unlucky weather and resulting postponement were a disappointment,” said Juma event organiser, Mark Castel.
“But the reaction and understanding from our entrants was truly inspiring. Joburg mountain bikers don’t unclip when life gets rocky, they just gear up and get going.”
Since then, major changes have been made to the course line-up.
These include:
- A new, dryer date
- Two separate routes for the 54km and 22km courses
- A tougher 54km with fewer bottlenecks and less congestion
- SA Seeding (SAS) will be used for batches with 10 minutes between batches
- Rubberised ramps on all scaffolding
- Fewer road crossings.
- The 54km route, for the more experienced riders who are sure of their riding skills and fitness levels, will run along the same route as before. For the first time, juniors and casual riders can do the 22km race, a less technical ride that’s mostly jeep track with some single track sections.
Prizes to the value of more than R200 000 can be won in categories such as best-dressed, best GoPro video, father and son, single speed and Fatboy bikes.
Details: www.juma.co.za
