![\"ccs-58780-0-00691300-1479387718.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-58780-0-00691300-1479387718.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a> Several changes have been made to the opening stages of the 2017 TransCape mountain bike race to give the race better balance. Photo: Jacques Marais<\/span><\/p>\nThe third edition, which takes riders from the coastal hamlet of Knysna to Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, will take place from February 5 to 11.<\/p>\n
Route director Wayne Collett, who said they had been hard at work in recent weeks to tweak the route, assured riders the journey would remain a challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is to make sure the premium status of the race is not compromised and that features such as accommodation, food and evening functions can be fully enjoyed by a wider pool of riders,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
The result, said Collett, was to try and ensure that the nature of the route still provided a challenge, while maintaining a profile that did not \u201ckill most of your riders\u201d in the first three to four stages.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat makes them unable to enjoy all the great \u2018off the bike\u2019 aspects that make TransCape such a unique and enjoyable event. So it is all about the balance of the different stages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Collett said the first four days had all been tough in the past, which upset the balance of the event for too many of the participants.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough truly spectacular as individual stages, they were simply too tough as a combination and therefore needed some significant changes to ensure the maximum enjoyment for all our riders.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the conundrum faced by all route designers was that there was a direct correlation between \u201cincreasing beauty and decreasing enjoyment\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more spectacular you try to make your route, the more unobtainable you make it for more and more riders because the most beautiful sections are invariably also the toughest.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo no matter how beautiful a section is, if you are completely stuffed, you will not enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first stage, which last year covered 102km and 2 600m of vertical ascent, has been tweaked to offer an 80km ride from Knysna to Wilderness with an elevation of 1 700m.<\/p>\n
The second day is still the queen stage and remains a monster challenge at 135km, but the climbing has been reduced from 2 400m to 2 000m. It\u2019s also now sandwiched in-between two 80km stages.<\/p>\n
Collett said the total distance had been reduced from 675km to 650km, but cautioned that competitors should not mistake \u201cshorter\u201d and \u201ceasier\u201d for being \u201ceasy\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou only have to look at stage two to see that the TransCape still presents a great endurance challenge. It\u2019s simply the balance of the stages that now affords more recovery opportunity and therefore more forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
He felt the changes to the race, which was recently acquired by ASG Events, would add value in several ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally riders will be finishing more days earlier than in the past and will have more time to enjoy their accommodation, as well as the catering and entertainment on offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also believe the more balanced stages will give riders a better overall riding experience as they will generally be fresher and more able to appreciate the truly stunning landscapes they will be traversing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the amount of climbing had been reduced, Collett said there would be enough ascent to test the competitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no flat ground between Knysna and Franschhoek so although the 2017 course is flatter, it is definitely not flat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Entries close on November 23.<\/p>\n