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Tough Cape course claims National Duathlon Series victims before it happensMonday, 11 April 2011 08:05 Big challenges at tough Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon Series eventIf the tough mountain bike course set for the second event in the R300,000 Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon Series isn't enough of a challenge, the top athletes have found themselves with either injury setbacks or race commitments that will make predicting winners difficult. It's almost like there's a Zevenwacht Triangle similar to the Bermuda Triangle, except this one affects elite athletes, not planes.The top contender in the women's race is undoubtedly last year's winner, Stellenbosch local Michelle Lombardi. The adventure racing, trail running, XTERRA and former Argus Cycle Tour winner is a force to be reckoned with, but will be racing the tough First Ascent Mast Challenge in Cape Town on Saturday. She will be anything but rested for Sunday but said she was looking forward to the challenge. "I loved the course last year, especially the MTB course. I believe the MTB legs of this series must be technical in nature as not to be just be an 'offroad road' event. The mountain bikers must have a chance over the roadies otherwise why bother having a mountain bike event? The Zevenwacht event last year was just that and very enjoyable." Unfortunately, women's 2010 Series winner Andrea Steyn of Pretoria will not be competing - on coach's orders - but told us she will be racing the third leg in Port Elizabeth on 15 May, which is her preferred road bike format instead of the mountain bike. Another Stellenbosch local, Alae Brand, is in with a good chance for a podium despite having recently battled a left achilles tendon niggle. She joked that she had claimed her "gazillionth fourth place" at the first event in the Series in February and was hoping to change that track record as soon as possible. In the men's race, Steyn's BSG teammate Richard Murray is stepping off a plane from Portugal two days before to compete. The talented two-time World Champion duathlete turned triathlete is returning from ITU Triathlon Continental Cups in Turkey and Quarteira, Portugal, to take on men's 2010 Series winner Brand du Plessis of Secunda. Last year at Zevenwacht Murray suffered a mechanical and in his eagerness to keep his two minute lead and take the win, borrowed another rider's bike. "I still managed to clench the win, but got a DQ (disqualification) because of outside assistance. Rules are rules!" he told us. "Mpumalanga Machine" du Plessis told us he had been tapering for the last month for Ironman South Africa, held this weekend. This, so close to the duathlon, should result in a very interesting outcome in the men's race. Murray's shorter Cup races will see his legs in sharper form than du Plessis, who will be fatigued after his 226km Ironman effort. That will give the young Capetonian a big advantage on the hilly Zevenwacht course. The BSG Elite Team (www.bsgmultisport.co.za) is now powered by PeptoPro and PeptoSport. The man who chased him at the Waterfall opener, Jean-Pierre ten Napel of Ladysmith in KZN, will not be attending. A recent high-speed crash on his mountain bike damaged ribs and caused internal injuries. He has confirmed he hopes to be ready for the Port Elizabeth event. Background:Testing mountain bike course for Cape leg of SA's richest multisport SeriesZevenwacht Estate on the Stellenbosch Wine Route plays host to the second event in the six-event, R300,000 Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon Series. Powered by scientifically-proven sports drink PeptoPro (the first sports drink in SA endorsed as drug- and contaminant-free by the UK's Informed-Sport body), the Duathlon Series has the enviable distinction of being South Africa's richest multisport series. Most of South Africa's leading duathletes have confirmed they will race on Sunday 17 April. Venue Zevenwacht has viticultural roots which stretch far back into South Africa's historic past. The name Zevenwacht means Seven Expectations, and hints at the abundance of culinary delights which await visitors to the Farm. The 450 hectare property has been a regular host of mountain biking events since 2003, including three National Cross-country and Downwhill Championships, several WP Championships and the 60km Tin Mine Challenge. In this mountain biking paradise, duathletes should expect some challenging climbs and descents. According to Estate events manager John Johnson, there is 274m climbing for each of the two 9.5km laps. There is 1km of singletrack per lap, another 1.3km on a rutted 4x4 track and 700m of very sandy and loose road on an incline. The rest of the route is vineyard dirt road, a bit easier than the 4x4 jeep track, but also rutted and extremely tricky, more so in wet weather. Caution should be exercised at all times. There are only a couple of hundred metres of contour roads for resting. Entrants are either going up or concentrating on riding down. John says: "This farm, and all the others in the region for that matter, are not easy going, and even though there will be periods of rest for cyclists, it will be quickly followed by more work!" COMPETITOR EQUIPMENT TIPS Bring along your mountain bike, riding kit and trail running shoes. Helmets are compulsory. "Riders must also prepare for punctures. Clever use of slime and tyre liners will put you ahead. Invader Devil Thorns are eradicated where spotted, but some do slip through the net, to create devilish circumstance for riders who aren’t prepared," says John. If you don't have a bicycle, form a team with a friend who has. If you're a cyclist, find a runner friend and take part together. COURSE DETAIL There is 274m climbing for each of the two 15km laps. There is 1km of singletrack per lap, another 1.3km on a rutted 4x4 track and 700m of very sandy and loose road on an incline. The rest of the route is vineyard dirt road, a bit easier than the 4x4 jeep track, but also rutted and extremely tricky, more so in wet weather. Caution should be exercised at all times. There are only a couple of hundred metres of contour roads for resting. Entrants are either going up or concentrating on riding down. The sport of duathlon tests running and biking abilities with a gruelling run - bike - run format. The National Duathlon Series goes one step further by splitting the six events into three road and three off-road events. This gives all-rounder bragging rights to entrants who complete multiple events. Due to popular demand, this year's Series has increased its cycling distances, which is good news for strong and technical riders and has already attracted greater attention from the cycling fraternity. VITAL STATS Directions: Zevenwacht Estate GPS coordinates - 33 55’50.50” S 18 43’26.30” E Visit www.zevenwacht.co.za/zw_map.html for directions Entries: www.cycleLab.co.za or enter the day before at the venue from 1-5pm and from 6.30am on the morning of the race. Start times: 8am Kiddies, 9am main race Facilities: Showers: No Food stalls: Yes Free cold drinks on finish line: Yes, including Bene Water Bike shops in attendance for assistance: No Series overview Fourth year (started 2008) Total series prizemoney in excess of R300,000 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) Duathlon is run + bike + run (timed as one continuous event from the time you start the first run to the time you cross the finish line on the second run) Team option: Yes Categories: Open, Age 40-49, 50+ Prizemoney: The Grand Prix system awards 20 points for a win, 19 points for second etc. At the end of the Series, a bonus of R10,000 prizemoney is awarded to the winning man and the winning woman, R6,000 for second and R4,000 for third. See www.duathlon.co.za for more Medals: Only for Kiddies race Kids distances 1km run / 5km cycle / 1km run Goodie bag: New Balance moisture management t-shirt, Vit-T-Go energy supplements, Go Multi magazine (total value approx R300) Spot prizes: New Balance products, Rudy Project eyewear, PeptoPro and PeptoSport protein peptide products, Go Multi magazine subscriptions Race website www.duathlon.co.za Enter online www.cyclelab.co.za Online fees: R155 individual, R210 team, R50 kiddies, R80 kiddies team On the day entries: R200 / R250 / R60 / R100 Enquiries: Andre de Beer 082 490 5061 Televised on SuperSport 2011 Series dates: Event 1: Sun 27 Feb, Waterfall Country Estate, JHB (off-road) Event 2: Sun 17 Apr, Zevenwacht Wine Estate, Cape Town (off-road) Event 3: Sun 15 May, Pollock Beach, Port Elizabeth (road) Event 4: Sun 12 Jun, Roodeplaat Dam, Pretoria (road) Event 5: Sun 24 Jul, Holla Trails, Umhlali, 40 minutes north of Durban (off-road) Event 6: Sun 14 Aug, Potch Dam, North West Province (road)
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