Pietermaritzburg – As the BSi Steel dusi2c continues to attract mountain bikers from around South Africa, ‘Farmer Glen’ Haw is determined to see the race maintain its low-key, adventure orientated charm when the two day event takes place from Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg to Blue Lagoon in Durban from 11-12 June 2016.
The KAP sani2c recently came to an end, providing Farmer Glen with a slither of breathing space before he dives into preparing the dusi2c route and overnight stop at the iconic Mfula Store deep in the heart of the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
In his bid to retain the event’s distinct character, Haw doesn’t foresee many changes occurring to the route, or any other elements of the race, as the event’s popularity suggests that the organisers have got the balance right over the past three years.
“I don’t think that we are going to make many changes to the route this year at all,” Haw mentioned. “We have made sure over the years that there are some curve balls for riders and some of those, and a few new ones, will be back this year but at the end of the day the race is all about the riding experience.”
“The race will continue to follow very closely to the banks of the uMsundusi and uMngeni Rivers and we feel that the riders appreciate the course that they ride,” he added.
The team that are responsible for clearing the track and setting up the overnight stop at the Mfula Store are all members of the local Valley of a Thousand Hills community, something Haw takes pride in.
“The race is really unique in the fact that the community do all the work – from clearing the trails to making the trophies, putting up tents to cleaning the overnight stop – they are heavily involved and that is something that we appreciate as we aim to give back to the rural communities along the route.
“We partner with Durban Green Corridor and employ local people from the Valley to hand build the entire route down to the sea.
“The layout and design of this route is key to the success of the event and we appreciate how important this is not only in creating employment for the rural communities in the valley but, more importantly, in gaining their support and trust,” Haw stressed.
The 600-strong field that will take on the 120 kilometre journey is an exclusive bunch as the race is capped at 300 pairs and has been fully subscribed in the past, indicating the prestige of a ‘Farmer’ Glen event within the mountain biking community.
“If we compared the race to sani2c, the focus at dusi2c is purely on the riding and there are no distractions or frills.
“There are also a lot less riders at the dusi2c which gives the event a low-key atmosphere, although word is now getting out there and so we could be expecting a number of the country’s top riders this year!
“It’s a really unique experience from a riding perspective, which adds to the appeal of the event and we are expecting this year to be another hugely successful edition of the race,” an expectant Haw added.
For more information visit www.dusi2c.co.za