15th Anniversary Edition of Walkerville Classic

2012 sees the proud 15th anniversary of the Kia Walkerville Mountain Bike Classic, Gauteng biggest and favourite winter mountain bike event.

 

Please note that due to increased entry total on the event we are moving to a new venue this year. The race will start and finish at the Walkerville Showgrounds, just off the showgrounds road as you enter Walkerville from Alberton's side.

Co-ordinates for the new venue are:  

26 24 17S and 27 57 48E

The new venue sits 4km from the original start on the route from Lapeng. 

The Kia Walkerville Mountain Bike Classic attracts in excess of 1500 riders annually which, in the middle of winter, speaks volumes for the quality of the event organisation and route.

The Classic has earned itself the reputation as Gauteng's coldest mountain bike event, but it's also known for tons of smooth, flowing single track sections.

There are, however, real challenges on the route, which offers a wonderful array of riding terrain. As a result it's a true test for any mountain-biker while offering great rewards.

Walkerville is one of 5 MTB events making up the KIA MTB Series for 2012/2013. "Kia Motors' involvement in sport stems from being the official vehicle supplier to FIFA, the official partner of the Euro 2012 and the major sponsor of the Australian Open.

Locally Kia Motors South Africa is looking to make a difference in the hugely popular cycling scene with mountain biking as it's focus. Kia, as the title sponsor is proud to be working with ASG to bring you a series of memorable and exciting races.

"Our aim is to raise the overall experience for every rider within our race series and give them a sense of what the brand and our cars are all about. I look forward to seeing you on the trails." Says David Sieff, National Marketing Manager of KIA Motors.

One of the founding fathers of mountain biking in South Africa, Ken Davies, at the age of 68, is still at the helm of affairs as far as route design and control is concerned.

Ken still loves riding his bike and at the "entry level" age of 68, still does so better than most! Ken has mostly kept to the 2011 route, so riders are in for a treat to test themselves to try and better their 2011 times..

 

Distinctive features on the route are:

3km mark: The climb up to the top of the Platberg, which at almost 2000 metres above sea level, provides incredible views of the whole Witwatersrand.

11km mark: Great single track riding through the Eikenhof plots

28km mark: Technical, tough climb 1.5km climb following the Eikenhof single track section

32km mark: Wattle Alley climb: Wattle Alley is around 2km in length, but it's smooth climbing. It does present the final big obstacle on the route

41km mark: fast single track riding all the way to the Showgrounds road crossing

50km mark: welcome tarred road in Drumblade

1.5km climb drag after the dam to the finish at the showgrounds

(see route profile below)

The 40km riders don't do any one of the three climbs. The 40km takes a short cut through the back end of the Eye of Africa at the first waterpoint and joins the 60km riders at the second waterpoint.

The start and finish venue is at the Walkerville Showgroundswhich presents more parking than our prevous venue and a wonderful atmosphere with food, drinks and soft drinks for sale.

 

2012 Kia Walkerville Classic route description

 

The 60km route, as per usual, is a true challenge, boasting 890 metres of vertical ascent. The first 10km of the 60km route are the toughest with riders climbing all the way to the top of the Platberg, which sits at 1830 metres above sea level. The views from the top of this mountain are amazing, but watch out for the decent.

The decent down the Platberg has become very eroded over the past few years, and this year the drop boasts two concrete reinforced sections, which should make the going slightly easier. For drainage reasons there are some water troughs which riders have to watch out for.

The Platberg is a 3km climb which starts at 7km (at the spot where the 40km and 60km split). The riding on the other side of the Platberg is fast and boasts wonderful smooth single track sections through Eikenof.

A technical rocky climb awaits at the 31km mark and thereafter the traditional Walkerville back breaker – Wattle Alley! Wattle Alley presents itself around the 36.6km marker and it represents 2km of “slow poison”. It’s not a very steep climb (averaging 7%), but because it’s positioned where riders’ legs will start feeling the pressure, it’s a make or break climb for many riders on the course.

The single track section after the second waterpoint (where the 40km and 60km routes join) will be rideable all the way down to the Kraal this year – for the past two years riders had to portage over a small rocky section to get down. This year this section has been smoothed out to make it rideable, but only for those with good technical skills.

From the Kraal the riding is fast and furious, crossing the Walkerville dirt road before linking up with the new section before Drumblade. This section has been created to bypass the corrugated jeep track which always took riders up the hill before dropping into Drumblade.

The route through Drumblade is quick and gives riders some respite on a short tarred section before they have the tackle the gentle drag on the Walkerville road back to Lapeng.

REGISTRATION

Follow the R59 towards Vereeniging

Past the Blockhouse Engen 1-Stop

Take the Walkerville off-ramp (first one after the Blockhouse)

Right at the off-ramp stop sign. T-junction left.

Over the 4-way stop, take Kliprivier sign onto the Showgrounds road. The Showgrounds are 1km down on the left hand side.

There will be signage on the day indicating directions to the start.

All finishers receive a special commemorative 15th anniversary medal