Entries are filling up fast for the third edition of the Liberty Winelands Encounter, which takes place on 21-23 April this year. With the field limited to 250 teams, riders who would still like to get in on the act have to get clicking to www.winelandsencounter.co.za to secure an entry.
The Winelands Encounter links Stellenbosch, Franschoek, Paarl and Wellington in a sublime three-stage off-road experience with spectacular views, upmarket venues and the best trails on offer in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley.
It’s insightful how many of the 200 teams already entered have opted for the new luxury tented village option, which means the event will certainly boast a vibrant race village this year!
For riders who would like to stay in tents, our standard tented offering qualifies as a luxury compared to any other SA stage race. Big Safari tents are erected with two comfortable single beds with mattresses, ¾ pure white 200 thread count white linen, soft duvets and pillows, bed side tables, electric lanterns, blankets, carpets and chairs and towels.
The tents include a hand basin and hand towel as well as two bottles of water daily in tents. Riders book the tented package during the on-line entry process.
The tented village is at Le Franschhoek Hotel in Franschoek following stage 1 and at the beautiful Kleine Valleij in Wellington after stage 2.
The Winelands Encounter caters specifically for family. Riders can book meals for their spouses/friends to enjoy daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners with them.
Courtesy of Liberty’s sponsorship, we have managed to keep the basic entry fee of R8000 per team more affordable than other 3-stage events, which means you get bang for your buck.
The beauty of the route has led to the Encounter earning the tagline of “South Africa’s Most Beautiful Race. It has no equal anywhere in South Africa with the Simonsberg, Paarl Mountain and Drakenstein Mountain Range providing a backdrop which even the most skilled painter would struggle to reproduce. The scenery on all three stages is absolutely breath taking.
The mix on the route is perfectly balanced, providing strong but ridable uphill challenges and wonderful long downhill rewards, of which a lot is on fast and flowing single track. The notable epic riding spots that form part of the route are the following:
Skyfall single track on the beautiful Bartinney Estate on Helshoogte
- Boschendal single track, just below the slopes of the Simonsberg
- Bergriver Dam single track, which traverses the entire diameter of this monstrous dam just outside Franschhoek. This single track will be much more rideable than last year when our Winelands entrants were the first knobblies to traverse this section. It’s now been ridden out quite nicely
- Drakenstein Mountains single track just above Drakenstein Prison
- Cascades single track just above Paarl on the Du Toits Kloof Pass
- Welvanpas trails in Wellington, which have been masterfully sculpted by our route director Pieter van Wyk.
For further information on winelandsencounter.co.za/
For event info email winelands@mtb-adventures.co.za
