![\"ccs-62657-0-42394600-1484035128.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-42394600-1484035128.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The Bestmed Berge en Dale national cycling classic will be a dress rehearsal for the following week\u2019s national road championships. Photo: Supplied<\/span><\/p>\nASG Events route director Darren Herbst said the event, which is presented by Optimum Financial Services, was strategically positioned the week before the national champs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing placed one week ahead of the nationals gives it extra importance in terms of helping riders to peak at the right time. It also gives us an idea of who is going well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s Berge en Dale saw a podium lock-out by RoadCover when Gustav Basson won ahead of Clint Hendricks and Bradley Potgieter. Hendricks went on to place third in the elite men\u2019s road race at the nationals.<\/p>\n
With Berge en Dale a premier seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Herbst said it had always attracted a big field and they were again looking forward to hosting the participants.<\/p>\n
The top riders will be heading to the nationals in Wellington (February 7 to 12) straight afterwards and then to the Cycling South Africa-sanctioned Bestmed Tour of Good Hope (March 6 to 10) in the Cape Winelands, where they will come up against an international field.<\/p>\n
Herbst said the route of Berge en Dale\u2019s feature event would remain unchanged as they did not want to \u201cmess with a winning recipe\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to him, the venue would again offer various fun activities leading up to the race.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will have an expo, while Cradlestone Mall always make it a memorable experience for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Herbst said the event had been extended to a second day this year to include a mountain biking component on the day after the road races.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had a lot of requests over the years and feel this will broaden the appeal of the weekend,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fortunate to be in an area where there are beautiful mountain bike trails and we have joined hands with Hero Adventure Hobby Park in Krugersdorp to make this happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith areas such as the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens to work with, there are amazing trails with many features, so it was a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Herbst said there would be 40km and 15km options.<\/p>\n
He described the longer route as \u201cintermediate with some undulations and a bit of a kick to it\u201d, with the short option aimed at families and social riders.<\/p>\n