![\"ccs-58780-0-42548400-1488445650.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-42548400-1488445650.jpg\")
<\/a> \u201cIf there twenty 20km races on the local calendar, at least eighteen of them are really easy. The Sappi Howick MTB Classic 20km is meant to be a meaningful stepping stone for the intermediate rider aiming to race a 40km marathon in the near future and looking for a benchmark to see if they are ready,\u201d said Course designer Gavin Ryan. Photo credit: Anthony Grote\/ Gameplan Media<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe have taken the view that our 20km race needs to be more challenging,\u201d said course designer Gavin Ryan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there twenty 20km races on the local calendar, at least eighteen of them are really easy. We want to provide a meaningful stepping stone for the intermediate rider aiming to race a 40km marathon in the near future and looking for a benchmark to see if they are ready,\u201d said Ryan.<\/p>\n
The shift in the route has been largely to accommodate the harvesting of the Sappi plantations that play host to much of the oldest MTB race on the KZN calendar, but Ryan says the change has been a very positive one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t usually use track on the other side of the Currie\u2019s Post Road,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be starting from the Howick High School as usual, but then taking the 20m riders into a fun new section called \u2018Goblin\u2019s Glen\u2019,\u201d said Ryan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the route heads into quite a technical section called \u2018Harry\u2019s\u2019 where they will be going over quite a lot or rocks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 20km race then goes up to a section called \u2018Dam Fine View\u2019 which overlooks Midmar Dam,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Ryan said he was confident the 20km riders would enjoy the new offering. \u201cThe trails are a lot more compacted, and I am sure they will go down well,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
The Sappi Howick MTB Classic has always pitched itself as \u201cRaw and Unplugged\u201d, building on its legacy as the oldest race on the provincial MTB calendar.<\/p>\n
The Sappi Howick MTB Classic takes place on Sunday 5 March and consists of a S0km Marathon, 20km Half-Marathon, and a 10km Fun Ride, with a five stage Enduro on Saturday 4 March. All entries are through ROAG.<\/p>\n