Biggest event in National Duathlon Series headed this way on 22 July
Duathlon hits the dirt for the third time with Race 5 at Waterfall Estate in Gauteng. The Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon Series 2012 powered by PeptoPro offers duathletes the unique opportunity to test their fitness and skills at three road and three offroad events at six different venues each year. It is also Africa’s richest duathlon series, offering a whopping R300,000 in prizemoney.
This event is held entirely off-road, so bring along your mountain bike, riding kit and trail running shoes. Cycling helmets are compulsory.
If you don’t have a bicycle, form a team with a friend. If you’re a cyclist, find a runner friend and take part together.
The terrain is described by the organisers as fast, with little in the way of climbing. Expect flowing singletrack, grassland tracks and some bridges. There are water crossings that are slippery and cold, to spice things up.
Waterfall Estate is situated 10 minutes north of Sandton CBD, with views of fields, dams and the distant Magaliesberg mountains. Run on part of the route of the hugely popular Momentum 94.7 MTB Challenge, it offers a safe environment for the whole family to enjoy a day together. Last year’s event attracted a large contingent of entrants and supporters and this year is expected to top that.
GPS coordinates: 26.01.171 S and 28.04.784 E
Duathletes who competed at Waterfall Estate last year should note that the bike leg on 22 July is almost identical. Race planner André de Beer says “We will cut and build 1km of singletrack next to the Jukskei River. The bike is a two laps of 15km circuit.”
“Over the 30km, there will be four river crossings, dirt roads and open grassveld. There are six climbs in total. Compared to Cape Town and Durban, this is far more rideable for novices, but still a nice test.”
André says that the run is also easier than the two previously mentioned events.
Two laps of 2.5km on the first run and one lap on the final run. Entrants should expect cobblestone, dirt road and grass surfaces.
The kids race will be harder than last year. They will have an exciting but safe river crossing and also wooden bridges to cross, some will be the same as the main race.
Who is In
“I think my form has improved throughout this year and I have three weeks to focus completely on training. I won SA Duathlon Champs a month ago in Worcester and am very happy with my current form. If the event is the same as last year I won’t mind. There were still some challenging parts on the course but I really enjoyed them. This event will be a huge challenge for me as Carla van Huyssteen will probably race!” Andrea Steyn
“I’m recovering from injury and illness but last few sessions went well! I’ll be back in time after my fifth-place at XTERRA France. I am really looking forward to it. I did not race at Waterfall Estate last year. I hope it’s technical!” Carla van Huyssteen
“After KZN I realised that in addition to being at a big disadvantage on the 26 inch bike, there was work to be done on my skills. So we’ve been doing a lot of work at Fountains as well as making sure the basics of the bike are set up properly – fork and shock settings, tyre pressures, bike position – small things which while they won’t make up the time lost to the 29ers, will at least make sure I’m getting the best from what we currently have. Coach Lindsey Perry and I are both working on my running, and it’s slowly picking up week by week.” Riana de Lange
Who is out
“Unfortunately I will not be able to attend event five. My training partners, the “Philistines” (Andrea and Wilhelm Steyn) will be there. But I am training again for the World Military Skills Competition in Denmark. We are leaving for a training camp in the UK on 20 July and then do the competition from 30 July. It consists of five disciplines: shooting (pistol and rifle), 400m ground obstacle course with 20 obstacles, a 50m water obstacles swim, 16km orienteering run and a grenade throw.” David Labuschagne
Start Times:
Brat Race 8:00am
Kiddies Race: 8:15am
Main Race: 9.15am
Distances (offroad):
Brat Race: 30m run, 500m MTB, 30m run
Kiddies Race: 1km run, 5km MTB, 1km run
Main Race: 5km run, 30km MTB, 2.5km run
Registration: Saturday before event at race venue from 1pm to 5pm and Sunday morning at race venue from 6am to 9am.
Directions
GPS coordinates: 26.01.171 S and 28.04.784 E
T-shirts to the first 450 entrants only. PeptoSport drink in cups available for all competitors to top up their fluid, carbohydrate and protein stores on completion of the race.
Timing by Finish Time/Mr Price timing chips (also known as Racetec). Chips will be available for sale. If you have a Winning Time chip, you do not need to get the Racetec chip, confirms finishtime.co.za. It uses the same 134 kHz Texas Instruments chip as the Racetec used by Finish Time. Champion Chip and Spectrum Sport chips are not compatible.
Enter the next race: duathlon.co.za
Overview
Last year’s Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon Series, powered by PeptoPro, was the most successful in its four-year history. It’s back for a fifth season and all indications point to a bigger and better experience for hundreds of competitors nationally. Total prizemoney is set at more than R300,000 for the Series.
In 2012, the National Duathlon Series, Africa’s largest and richest duathlon, plans to take its reputation for providing slick organisation, exceptional value for money and the safest venues available, to another level. The race continues to be powered by both Momentum Health’s HealthReturns plan and the leading technology of PeptoPro and i-Flex, two products highly regarded by discerning endurance athletes for protein replacement as well as joint care.
This year’s race is different in that timing will be handled by Mr Price Sport, meaning results will be available even faster than before. Working with a professional photographic company will ensure high-quality photos will be available for sale online to all competitors.
For more information, visit duathlon.co.za.
Direct link to entry portal: http://www.mrpriceheroes.co.za/RaceInfo.aspx?RaceId=75
Momentum Health members earn up to R5,400 in HealthReturns. Visit www.momentum.co.za/health for more, or http://momentumhealth.mobi on your cellphone.
Follow the race on Twitter.com/DuathlonSeries
Twitter.com/PeptoSport
Sponsors:
Momentum Health, I-Flex, PeptoPro
Partners:
Mr Price Sport, Triathlon SA, Go Multi magazine, ASG Sport Solutions, Revite Vit-T-Go, Bené, Planet Fitness, Franco Sport
Prize Money:
Open (Men and Women):
1st – R5000
2nd – R3000
3rd – R2000
Open Teams (men, women, mixed):
1st – R1500
2nd – R1000
Age 40 – 49 (men and women):
1st – R1000
2nd – R750
3rd – R500
Age 50+ (men and women):
1st – R1000
2nd – R750
3rd – R500
Scholars 16-18 (boys and girls)
1st – R600
2nd – R500
3rd – R400
School Teams 13+ (boys and girls):
1st – R450
2nd – R300
3rd – R150
Televised on SuperSport
Broadcast times: http://www.duathlon.co.za/contents/momentum_i-flex_duathlon_supersport_times.html
2012 Series dates:
Event 1: Sun 4 Mar, Kameelfontein, near Pretoria (road)
Event 2: Sun 15 Apr, Lourensford Wine Estate, Cape Town (offroad)
Event 3: Sun 6 May, Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth (road)
Event 4: Sun 10 Jun, KZN (offroad)
Event 5: Sun 22 Jul, Waterfall Estate, Johannesburg (offroad)
Event 6: Sun 19 Aug, North West Province (road)
Distance Formats
Three events are off-road (5km run / 30km mountain bike / 2.5km run – timed as one event)
Three events are road (5km run / 40km cycle / 2.5km run – timed as one event)
Fifth year (started 2008)
Full results at finishtime.co.za
Official Series site duathlon.co.za
Media images:
High-resolution images for media use are available from Series photographer Chris Hitchcock
chris@photobay.co.za
For more information:
On the event, course details: Andre de Beer 082 490 5061
Join the Duathlon Series Media List: Deon Braun 082 377 4669 deon@gomulti.co.za
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