Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run – Sunday 24 April 2016

Take a serious mountain biking and trail run challenge for top notch professional athletes, add tough races for amateur sports lovers and finish with a dollop of family fun and you have the 2016 Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run.

This eagerly anticipated event, which is due to take place Sunday 24 April at the Mid-Illovo Club in KZN, will include a new challenge for serious mountain bikers – the 60km Husqvarna Classic MTB X-treme.

Seasoned riders, many of whom have already tested their endurance against the 40km Husqvarna Classic, can look forward to tackling what has been called “the best single track of any single day event”.

Less serious bikers can choose between the 18km Gwahumbe Family Experience or the 10km route where entry is free for the under 12s.

The 18km or the 9km iNsingizi trail routes, which were introduced three years ago, grow in popularity every year with more and more trail runners enjoying superlative routes through indigenous KZN bushlands and grasslands.

Event organizer, Shanon MacKenzie, pointed out that, for the first time, the Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run would take place two weeks before Sani2C, giving mountain bikers a perfect pre-Sani training opportunity, especially when it came to the new, longer riding route.

The Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge has more than earned its place as part of the prestigious Quattro ROAG Series which was created to develop the sport in KwaZulu-Natal. It has successfully focused on encouraging young and up-and-coming riders to enjoy mountain biking.

“The beauty of this event is that it is not exclusively for professional sportsmen and women. It has something for everyone, especially for those who love the outdoors and the beautiful scenery of KwaZulu-Natal. Most importantly, it offers something for partners and children which means that it can be a fun filled family experience,” said MacKenzie.

The Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge crosses two picturesque game reserves – the Gwahumbe Game & Spa and iNsingizi Game & Spa. A much anticipated feature of the route is the exciting 60 metre long floating bridge. Positioned at water level, it sinks slightly as riders enter it from the single track making for an unforgettable experience that feels a little like riding on water or even skimming across it.

As professional athlete, Eszter Erdelyi, who says she loved every metre of last year’s race, explained: “The MTB course is very versatile, it has everything from sugar cane to insane climbs to super fun single track.  You just never know what comes next!”

The 2012 winner, Patrick Belton was also enthusiastic about the race and said: “The course designers have put a lot of thought into the track and made it very special. Also, there’s a lot of variety as you get to look at zebras and spectacular scenery when you’re not concentrating on beating the rugged terrain!”

The 2014 overall mountain bike race winner, Callan Deacon, noted that the track is exceptionally well-marked and the single track is fast and flowing and well prepared.

Each year, the Mid-Illovo community benefits from hosting the race as all proceeds from the event go towards community upliftment.