The Sabie Experience :: Lite Stage 2

Sabie Experience 2011 » Lite Stage 2

*"To the Escarpment Rim and Back - Your eyes will burn"*
Click to enlarge	Friday, 16 December 2011 Subject to change - 1 November 2011 Summary Despite the stage being shortened by 7 km and 100m of ascent, this stage will still be a bit of a wake-up call for some of the not-so-fit! After the initial ride up through town and down the single track to Sabi Star, the route follows the same technical climb past the beautiful Spitskop Falls that the Experience has done for the last 2 years. Once the riders reach the first refreshment station at 16km, the "Lite" route splits away and a great deal of downhill enjoyment is destined for the "Lite" riders until they get to town, where they then follow the same urban single tracks back to the finish.
Quick Releases
Total Distance : Accumulated Ascent : Time : Start and Finish : Start Altitude : ETA First Team : Stage 2 Cut-Off :	29 km (GPS) 750m 07h30 York Timbers Sports Grounds 1014 masl 9h55 (1 hour 55 minutes)
One Refreshment Station
First Point :	At approximately 16km after the Spitskop climb where the "Sabie Lite" route splits away
Media / Spectator / Supporter Points
As the riders ride through Sabie Town CBD towards White River ETA First Team : 08H06 At Sabi Star Chalets, about 1km off the Sabie-Hazyview R536 tar road. ETA First Team : 08H30 At the culvert under the White River-Sabie R537 road at the Spitskop Sawmill 8km from Sabie. ETA First Team : 09H20 At the railway bridge approximately 1km out of Sabie on the Sabie - Lydenburg R536 tar road, where the riders will negotiate some steep drop-offs and single tracks on either side of the road ETA First Team : 09H45 At the finish line at the York Timbers Sports grounds ETA First Team : 09H55 For safety reasons traveling in front of, or with the riders on the stages is not allowed. Any private vehicles doing this will be immediately stopped by race officials.
Stage Description
After the start in the York Sports Grounds, the route begins with an early morning tar ride through Sabie Town, with spectators cheering the teams on towards the outlying Harmony Hill village and across the Sabie Airstrip. Take wings with you if you want to avoid the single track! Here the trail suddenly becomes a steep, descending single track to the Sabi Star valley below. After crossing the bridge, the jeep track tips upwards for 4km, and a fairly technical and energy-sapping climb past a spectacular waterfall will provide some sweat for the eyes to start burning. Once out of the valley and into the young pine plantations above, the gradient relaxes somewhat for a faster pace on good surfaces to the first refreshment station, where the Sabie "Lite" turns away for their home run. From here some wonderful downhill sections will really get you moving, before a crossing under the main tar road by means of a concrete culvert. A short climb up to join the Sabie Experience route at the railway line takes riders over the ridge for a fast descent into Sabie town. Please try to keep left and out of the way of any leading "race snakes" making their maniac dash for glory! Follow the single tracks beneath the bridges, along the golf course donga and the urban single tracks of Mount Anderson. You will be rewarded with a well deserved finish after 29 kilometers of true mountain bike riding at the York Sports Grounds. Eat a proper meal, take a shower, get a massage, get the bike washed and polished by the Powasol team, a proper service if needed by Cycle Junkies and prepare for Stage Three of 28km of MTB heaven - a visit to the Maritzbos Hut, Jantjiesbos indigenous forest, and some lovely trails back down into Ceylon valley. Just pray for good weather! These trails are slippery in the wet. Stage Three briefing will take place in the Bambanani Indoor Sport Centre Hall next to the York Timbers Sports Grounds at 17h00.