![\"ccs-62657-0-60749200-1426162904.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-60749200-1426162904.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nParticipants of the cross country, marathon, downhill and enduro events of the 2015 Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival can look forward to top class courses and a R280000-rich prize purse. \/\/ Photo: Chris van Lennep\/\u2028Gameplan Media.<\/span><\/p>\n R120000 of the pot will be on the line during the much anticipated elite men\u2019s and women\u2019s HC cross country events, R21000 for the various men\u2019s and women\u2019s masters cross country clashes and R80000 for the 50km and 20km marathon events while the remaining near-R60000 is up for grabs for the enduro and downhill adrenalin junkies.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very grateful for the generous support we have received from the KZN Department of Sport and Recreation for cycling in the region in general, especially the Pietermaritzburg MTB Festival,\u201d says event director Alec Lenferna.<\/p>\n \u201cWith no MTB World Cup coming to Pietermaritzburg this year we have been able to focus on the national scene a little more and we are thrilled to be able to put substantial prize money up across the various disciplines of the event,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Those tackling the HC cross country event can prepare themselves for a course of similar nature to that which hosted last year\u2019s opening leg of the UCI MTB World Cup.\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n \u201cThe cross country course will include about 90 percent of last year\u2019s World Cup track with one or two tweaks so it will still be fairly challenging and aimed primarily at the racing snakes,\u201d describes course designer Nick Floros.<\/p>\n \u201cOur racing is getting closer and closer to international standards all the time plus we are aware of all the internationals in the country at the moment so I\u2019m sure the HC course will be a good test for everyone!\u201d\u2028\u2028The 50km Classic route will also have a world class nature to it as it looks to include sections used for the 2014 UCI MTB Marathon World Championships whilst still be perfectly manageable for the \u2018average Joe\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2028\u201cThe 50km event is more of a longer Classic than a 60+ kilometre marathon,\u201d explains Floros. \u201cWe\u2019ll use a lot of last year\u2019s Worlds course but our challenge it to ensure that the course it set at the right level and is rewarding for the participants without being too difficult!\u201d\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n