The Sabie Experience

Sabie Experience 2011 » Stage 2

*"To the Lowveld and Back - Your eyes will burn"*
Click to enlarge	Friday, 16 December 2011 Subject to change - 2 December 2011 Summary A section of this stage was part of the inaugural 2004 Sabie Experience and again in 2010. The spectacular scenery from the Escarpment edge, overlooking the Lowveld and racing around the perimeter of beautiful Witklip Dam, brings back some memories, and so it will be revisited this year. For some, the memories of the intense 38degree heat, dehydration and the notorious "Wall" may be intimidating, but for the uninitiated, a new challenge awaits them. The return to Sabie after 35km to Witklip Dam presents a test of stamina and strength for all. For the "race snakes" it will be a matter of "redline" climbing and then breakneck descending skills down a new 1,2km section of awesome single track, specially built by the inhabitants of Harmony Hill, and then the urban single tracks through Sabie to the finish line.
Quick Releases
Total Distance : Accumulated Ascent : Time : Start and Finish : Start Altitude : ETA First Team : Stage 2 Cut-Off :	69 km (GPS) 1650m 07h00 York Timbers Sports Grounds 1014 masl 09h50 (2 hours 50 minutes)
Three Refreshment Points
First Point :	At approximately 16km above the Spitskop climb and road crossing where the "Sabie Lite" route splits away
Second Point :	At approximately 35km at the Witklip Dam.
Third Point :	At approximately 48 km, some 300m from the Hendriksdal intersection on the White River - Sabie R537 tar road.
Media / Spectator / Supporter Points
As the riders ride through Sabie Town CBD towards White River. ETA First Rider : 07H06 As the riders cross the D779 gravel road to Bakenkop. ETA First Rider : 08H00 As the riders pass through the tunnel under the Sabie - White River R536 tar road near the wooden cross at the bottom of the pass approximately 20km from Sabie ETA First Rider : 08H15 At the second refreshment station at the Witklip Dam. ETA First Rider : 08H35 At the third refreshment station, some 300m from the Hendriksdal/Witwater intersection on the White River - Sabie R537 tar road. ETA First Rider : 09H05 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 Rider : 09H40 At the finish line at the York Timbers Sportsgrounds ETA First Rider : 09H50 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 Chalets valley below. After crossing the bridge over the stream, 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 at 16km, where the "Sabie Lite" turns away for their home run. A few kilos further the Escarpment edge arrives with spectacular views of the Lowveld some 500m below. The ride down "Microwave Alley" will be MORE CHALLENGING this year due to some poor road surfaces and erosion ruts. Further down the road improves before negotiating "Kruisfontein Spaghetti Junction" and the tunnel under the tar road. An undulating section and the Bedrock single track across Tumbling Waters Plantation takes riders to the Witklip Forest boundary, to the main road, and on to the perimeter of the dam, with the second Refreshment Station on the banks of the dam at about 35km. Do not miss out on stocking up reserves here – the next 14km to the next opportunity cannot be underestimated, especially if it is hot and humid. This year we avoid riding right around the dam, hence 7km shorter in distance! The climb to the top of the Escarpment edge starts the minute riders leave the outskirts of the dam, and the gradient steepens with every kilometer until it reaches "The Wall" where your climbing skills will be tested fully for a further 1,2km and 150m after 44km. Once this test is passed, a few forest jeep tracks will have you at the third and final Refreshment Station which comes just in time at about 48km, before riders tackle the last 8km undulating stretch past Spitskop Forest Station, where the route becomes very downhill (and final short steep climb just to test the legs again!) with some swoopy new single tracks and switchbacks overlooking the beckoning Sabie town below. Be careful to keep your eyes on the trail! If you survive this bit of fun, a flat but fast section gets you to the outskirts of Sabie, where you may be catching up with some of the back markers on the "Sabie Lite" route. Please spare any back markers struggling through their final kilometers any frustrations which may have built up over the last hour, and politely ask for "track" space to pass on the single tracks beneath the bridges, past the golf course donga and through the urban spaces. You will be rewarded with a well deserved finish after 69 tough kilometers of true mountain bike racing at the York Sports Grounds. NB! Due to the unpredictable nature of the weather (lightning/hail storms) at this time of the year at high altitude the organizers may, at any time, for safety reasons, shorten the distance by using a lower contour road. The Off Road Rescue Unit staff will also order riders to take cover at the old hikers' hut, or load riders and bikes onto vehicles if they deem it necessary. All RIDERS ARE TO OBEY THESE COMMANDS WITHOUT HESITATION, OR BE PENALISED WITH A TIME PENALTY OR DISQUALIFICATION. Eat a proper meal, take a shower, get a massage, get the bike washed and polished by the Powasol team, a proper service by Cycle Junkies if needed and prepare for Stage Three over 63km - a visit to the old Mamba Switchback, The Eland Trails, and Iveron Gold Mine Trail all in one day! Just pray for good weather. The Stage Two award ceremony and Stage Three briefing will take place in the Bambanani Indoor Sport Centre Hall next to the York Timbers Sports Grounds at 17h00.