![\"ccs-62657-0-50350600-1458631449.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-50350600-1458631449.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Athletes like defending Champion, Gawie Combrink, will battle for glory over picturesque landscapes at the 2016 South African Mountain Bike Marathon Championships in Clarens, Free State from 16-17 April.<\/span>\n<\/div>\nLittered with river crossings, rock pools and trails that are seemingly etched out of the rock, the trails meander through grasslands and \u201cgives the participants the feeling that they are riding in the shadow of these majestic giants. Lots of fauna and flora can be seen and it\u2019s great to experience places in our country where the beauty of nature remains untouched,\u201d says Advendurance event organiser, Wessel van der Walt.<\/p>\n
The term \u201cslick rock\u201d is well known amongst purist mountain bikers and refers to sandstone, mudstone, basalt and volcanic stone rock formations. Ancient desert dunes have hardened over hundreds of years to form the sandstone. \u201cThis rock has a very smooth appearance and is quite curvy in it\u2019s shape. Massive hills and outcrops have these smooth large rock plates. This is vey similar to rock formations in the Utah desert where the term \u201cslick rock\u201d was derived from,\u201d said Van Der Walt.<\/p>\n
He went on to explain the beauty of this rock: \u201cAlthough called\u201cslick rock\u201d, it doesn\u2019t mean the actual rock is slick.\u201d On the contrary, the texture is very grippy, which is why mountain bikers love it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll be amazed at the steep inclines you\u2019re able to ride. The slickness is actually the smoothness and flowing lines are created along the seemingly unending rock plates. It\u2019s really special to be able to ride on this type of surface, or even race on it, as most of it is found on private land and in nature reserves.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Van Der Walt, the race route this year has been condensed into a smaller area to allow for more spectator points. \u201cThe Ultra Marathon distance will come very close to the finish before heading out onto their second loop of about 36km. We are planning to have about five spectator points on route,\u201d he says.
Van Der Walt refers to Clarens as a 112 kilometre cross-country course and cautions the riders to pace themselves and to plan their attack.<\/p>\n
To encapsulate the essence of mountain bike marathon racing, Van der Walt adds: \u201cCross-country Marathons have climbs that are as long as, or up to three times as long, as a whole cross-country course. Here, the obstacle is surviving the distance, being self sufficient, and using team tactics also usually plays a big role. Many of the cross-country marathons suit climbers having a better power to body weight ratio, but Clarens is always won by an all-rounder.”<\/p>\n
Entries for the third round of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series, which plays host to the 2016 South African Mountain Bike Marathon Championships, are open. Elite, Junior and Youth categories can enter online here: https:\/\/www.saseeding.org\/Participants\/Entry?event_id=a4bef1cd-b19f-11e5-907e-08002773d9e3<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those riders competing on the 2016 Ashburton Investments National MTB Series can enter here: https:\/\/www.saseeding.org\/Participants\/Entry?event_id=a4bef26d-b19f-11e5-907e-08002773d9e3<\/a><\/p>\n