![\"ccs-62657-0-97483600-1609848695.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-97483600-1609848695.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The world’s best racers, including Cannondale Factory Racing’s Henrique Avancini and Manuel Fumic, are regular competitors at the annual Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen. Photo: ZC Marketing.<\/span><\/p>\nUnder current South African Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and facing an uncertain near future of the dynamic situation, Dryland Event Management, the company that organises the Tankwa Trek, came to the decision on Monday 4 January 2021 after extensive consultation with local officials and the event\u2019s primary sponsors, Momentum Medical Scheme and Biogen.<\/p>\n
After more than three months at a less restrictive Level 1, South Africa has been placed back into a Level 3 Lockdown in its quest to gain control over the Covid-19 pandemic that\u2019s put the country\u2019s health support systems under severe strain. This is currently in place until 15 January 2021, but there is no guarantee that it won\u2019t be extended as official case numbers and hospitalisation numbers continue to rise. By 4 January, there had been a recorded total of 1.1 million cases with 30 011 deaths, according to official statistics.<\/p>\n
Under Level 3 restrictions, no organised gatherings, including sports events, may take place. The 2021 Tankwa Trek had reached its entry limit and Dryland had put in place all appropriate Covid-19 protocols for the event, based on Cycling South Africa\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been in contact with the local authorities in the Witzenberg and Breede Valley regions. Unfortunately, the local hospitals are under severe strain. Even if the lockdown level is dialled back down to 1 in time for the first week of February, it would mean us having to send any seriously injured riders from the event to hospitals in the Cape Town area,\u201d said Henco Rademeyer, Managing Director of Dryland Event Management.<\/p>\n The area is also key fruit producing region of South Africa. The harvesting of the fruit will reach its peak over the next three months and any kind of spike in Covid-19 cases could place not only this industry, but the lives and livelihoods of many local residents at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving a few hundred mountain bikers arrive for Tankwa Trek in a month\u2019s time could well lead to the inadvertent transmission of the virus to the region. It really would be irresponsible of us to try and push ahead with the event on the planned 2021 dates,\u201d added Rademeyer.<\/p>\n<\/a>The Koue Bokkeveld delivers harsh conditions for the annual Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek, presented by Biogen. Photo: ZC Marketing<\/span><\/p>\n