The Sabie Experience

Sabie Experience 2011 » Stage 3

*Up and Over the Mountain - "Your Legs will burn"*
Click image to enlarge	Saturday, 17 December 2011 Subject to change - 2 December 2011 Summary This stage has been shortened by 17 km! This initial part of the stage is almost a replica of the route taken up the mountain last year, but it has a significant difference after the Mamba Switchback at 15km. A short new 3km climb to the new KOM at 18km (1850m elevation) sees the route tip downhill into the valley below where some 3km of the flowing Eland Trails will change the grimace on riders faces to grins from ear to ear. The rest of the route no longer goes down into the Blyde Valley, but returns to Stables Hiking Trail Hut before skirting around the Eastern slopes of the mountain to drop down to Tweefontein where some new surprises await riders!
Quick Releases
Total Distance : Accumulated Ascent : Time : Start and Finish : Start Altitude : ETA First Team : Stage 3 Cut-Off :	61 km (GPS) 1620 m 07h00 York Timbers Sports Grounds 1014 masl 10h00 (3 hours)
Three Refreshment Stations
First Point :	At approximately 11km at the Maritzbos Hiking Hut, just before the Sabie "Lite" route splits away. Most of the Experienced riders will ignore this station, and head straight up the mountain for the HotSpot at 18km, just before the drop down to the Eland Trail. ETA First Team : 07H30
Second Point :	At approximately 24km, at the Stables Hiking Trail Hut, just before the route starts to skirt around the mountain on a contour road to the East. ETA First Team : 08H10 Make sure you take on enough water here to carry you through to the next station, 22 km further.
Third Point :	At approximately 45km, at the Tweefontein Nursery ETA First Team : 09H05
Media / Spectator / Supporter Points
As the riders leave the Neutral Zone at the end of the tar in Ceylon Forestry Village, only 1,2km from the start. ETA : 07H03 After the final Refreshment Station at Tweefontein Forestry Village. Drive on the main tar road from Sabie to Graskop. At 2km turn left at the Klein Sabie sign to direct you past Simile Village to the spectator point some 5km up a main forestry road to the Tweefontein Forestry Village and the Nursery. Please take care not to run over cyclists passing through the village. ETA : 09H15 At the Castle Rock Caravan Park, only 5km from the finish line ETA : 09H40 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
The stage starts with a flat section on first tar and then dirt road for about 3km, before a gradual, undulating climb of 4 km to above Lone Creek Falls, with a beautiful view of the falls and valley below on the left. A fast, flat section alongside an indigenous riverine area ends at the Maritzbos Hiking Trail, where the first Refreshment Station at 11km may quench initial thirst before the next big effort up the Mamba Switchback for about 3,5km at 10% average gradient and short sections up to 22%! Once over the top, a gentle contour climb and sting in the tail brings riders out at the King of the Mountain at 18km. A further 5km of fun riding through the newly prepared Eland Trails brings riders to the second Refreshment Station at Stables at 23km. The next 23km or so will blow your mind, with a mixture of jeep track, single track and technical riding down the Eastern side of Mount Moodie to Tweefontein. In doing so, a number of new single track sections have been cut through the forest and along the old Iveron Gold Mine track, dating back to 1927. A few short sections of "Hike a Bike" in the forest will have you listening to the wonderful birdcalls and hundreds of Loeries in the area. The third Refreshment Station will be a welcome sight at Tweefontein Nursery, with some more single tracks and undulating tracks ending in an open road time trial section along the Bell Road for about 5km, before it turns towards Sabie in the South. From here onwards it is just plain fun, with some steep single track before the notorious "Headbreak Descent" down to Castle Rock, and along the well-known single tracks along the river bank to the finish 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 altitudes the organizers may, at any time, for safety reasons, re-route the stage by using a lower contour road. The Off Road Rescue Unit staff will also order riders to take cover at the 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 washedand polished by the Powasol crew, a proper service if needed by Cycle Junkies and prepare for the fourth and final stage over 57km - a visit to the high altitude grasslands of Hartebeesvlakte. Again, pray for good weather! The Stage Three award ceremony and Stage Four briefing will take place in the Bambanani Indoor Sport Centre Hall next to the York Timbers Sports Grounds at 17h00.