The Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush mountain bike stage race is famous for providing an event where some of the country’s top mountain bikers can fight for glory and prize money in the Winterton bushveld.
Less well known, particularly outside the mountain biking community, are the reasons why so many weekend warriors consider this event to the best stage race in the country, and return year after year to soak in the unique atmosphere and enjoy an almost unrivalled experience.
Race organiser Gary Green has built a reputation for running a slick event both on and off the route, and the sublime singletrack and well-built trails though the natural bushveld are ample proof that the riders’ needs are taken care of on the bike. But the Winterton beef farmer knew from the first event way back in 2006 that if the Berg & Bush was to be a success, he had to look after the riders before and after the stages as well.
With that in mind he has developed the race village and between-stage entertainment into something other stage races are desperately trying to copy.
The fact the event is situated in the KZN battlefield area – and riders have to scale the steep slopes of the Spioenkop Mountain as part of the race – means it was a no-brainer to bring in a world renowned history expert and have him talk about the world famous Battle of Spioenkop.
The history talk has now also been combined with the Volvo Spioenkop Summit race, a brutal 1,3km race within a race up the paved Spioenkop climb. It does not count for the overall race time, but offers a tempting R20 000 first prize for both the men and women, which means most of the leading riders are keen to take part.
This year’s event saw young Wessel Botha power up the slopes which are at times close to 30 percent. He won in a record-breaking time of four minutes 33 seconds. The 70kg NAD Pro rider measured his eye-watering effort over the course at an average of 515 watts as he broke the record set by Gert Heyns in 2016.
The 20-year-old beat teammate Nico Bell by eight seconds with Phillip Buys (PYGA Euro Steel) a further seven seconds back.
Amy McDougall claimed the women’s prize with a controlled ride that saw her finish in 6:15, with Theresa Ralph second (6:49) and Samantha Sanders third (7:05).
The Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush boasts arguably some of the best food at any stage race with riders treated to three superb meals a day at the Em’Seni camp. The fact the event has a permanent fixed venue with kitchens designed for bulk catering means professional caterers can prepare the food in purpose-built kitchens, and it shows with the quality.
The Em’Seni overnight camp is also one of the most picturesque settings for a race village. Perched on the banks of the Tugela River, riders can sit in the Centriq chill zone and relax under huge shady trees and discuss the days riding or simply watch the river gently flowing past as they recover from a day in the saddle.
With a seemingly limitless supply of biltong and popcorn being handed out, and the Nottingham Brewery beers on site, the exertions of a day’s mountain biking ride soon fade away.
This year the champion of the traditional South African braai, Jan Braai was on hand to chat to riders and provide a mid-afternoon snack of boerewors rolls after the first stage.
Braai, an accomplished cyclist who regularly participates in MTB events around the country, took part Berg and Bush for the second time.
“This event for me is always a great holiday,” said Braai. “The riding is excellent, my favourite day being the bushveld trails of day 2, but what I really enjoy is the time off the bike. The race village is excellent, with many distractions. I can happily sit on the banks of river braaing boerewors rolls all day.”
For the second year running, Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush entrants were all given a unique rider jersey designed by the renowned artists of Ardmore Ceramic Art. The shirt is something of a collectors’ item, and not just because it is created by artists from the world-famous award-winning art studios, but because its unique design features cheeky monkeys and vivid florals that make it stand apart from other event apparel.
The jerseys have been manufactured by Enjoy, with the designs taking inspiration from Ardmore’s Qalakabusha range.
So, while the media will report on the race winners, the weekend warriors will cross the line hours behind the racing snakes with smiles shining out from their muddied faces.
Mountain bike safety and riding on the trail https://t.co/gkbkb5Ajo5 #ArriveAlive #Mountainbike @CapeEpic pic.twitter.com/RdQ7DnmM2W
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 21, 2018
