20 MARCH
103KM BREAKDOWN
HOTSPOT
Singletrack: 17.8km, 17%
Farm road: 80.2km, 78%
Tar road: 5km, 5%
TECHNICAL
Groenlandberg TERRAIN
1000
STAGE 3
Die Nek
800
Nuweberg
600
South
Hill
400
Thandi
Switchbacks
200
0
0 0
10
20
30
Oak Valley Estate
40
50
RATING
60
70
80
90
103
Oak Valley Estate
WHERE TO WATCH
Race start: 07.00am
A Houw Hoek Hotel (63.5km)
Given that the fi rst riders are only
expected at 09.45am, you’ve got time
to enjoy some breakfast.
www.houwhoekhotel.com
Distance from race village: 15km
Leading men: 09.45am*
Leading women: 10.25am*
Last rider: 13.40pm*
B South Hill Vineyards
(85.5km)
Expect panoramic views across the
rolling orchards, plantations and
vineyards of the Elgin Valley.
There will be wine tasting on off er.
www.southhill.co.za
Distance from race village: 15km
Leading men: 10.40am*
Leading women: 11.30am*
Last rider: 15.30pm*
C Hickory Shack (99.5km)
Though just 4km from the fi nish, the
Hickory Shack is worth a stop. Drop
by before you expect your team and
enjoy pulled pork or belly ribs for
lunch, with a local craft beer.
www.hickoryshack.co.za
Distance from race village: 10km
Leading men: 11.15am*
Leading women: 12.00pm*
Last rider: 16.40pm*
Leading men fi nish: 11.25am*
Leading women fi nish: 12.20pm*
Last rider fi nish: 17.00pm*
*Predicted times only
RACE PREDICTION
It’s often the case that the biggest, most dreaded obstacle of the day shows
the least action (for that very reason). Groenlandberg is certainly the stuff of
legend, crowning many a hero and claiming a long list of victims. However, the
Grand Dame appears after the fearsome Nuweberg climb on the profi le and
at the top there’s still 70km to go, so it’s a mistake to cite it specifi cally as the
landmark that’ll defi ne the race. Still, top teams will want to stay attentive at
the front all the way to Die Nek, especially with Scott-SRAM’s favourite terrain
soon after, in Oak Valley. Nino Schurter has a voracious appetite for winning
and letting him and Andri Frischknecht loose means gifting them the stage.
It’s Stage 3 legs! With sore bodies all round, the younger and less
experienced teams will be the worst affl icted. Candice Lill and Adelheid
Morath will certainly hope that’s the case, looking to capitalise on this, if
they’re still in touch with a hard-charging Annika Langvad and Anna van der
Breggen in the latter half of the stage. They’ll look for any weakness in the
road cyclist when on the cross country style trails that suit them.
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 153