Dirtopia's new venue a huge success
2005-05-05
THIS year the Dirtopia Mountain Bike Festival moved to a new venue in the Simonsberg Wine Ward near Stellenbosch.
All activities started and finished from the Festival Village at Groenhof Farm. Adrenalin-boosting events included endurance races, cross-country courses, dirt jumping contests, downhill racing, a freeride challenge and bicycle polo.
The spectator highlights of the festival were undoubtedly the Observed Trials Competition on Saturday which tested the balancing skills of riders.
This was followed by the FreeRide Challenge which saw participants jump their modified full-suspension bicycles off bridges, ramps and other obstacles.
Eighteen-year-old Jonty Neethling of Somerset West won the 2005 Dirtopia Freeride Champion title.
Saturday evening saw riders taking part in the Dirty Street Slalom. Consisting of two courses of about 200 metres that run parallel to each other, this event saw two riders racing against each other.
Sunday morning it was time for the start of the Simonsberg Enduro where riders could choose between a 15km, 30km or 60km cross country route through the beautiful Simonsberg region.
Junior rider Max Knox (18) made waves at this year’s Dirtopia MTB Festival by winning the 60km Enduro race in the Elite Men’s category.
Knox also obtained a third place in the Cross-Country Trophy Race in the Elite Men's category.
The Dirtopia Downhill that took place Sunday afternoon was an extreme MTB discipline that pitted the riders against the clock and a challenging downhill course down Simonsberg mountain.
The 2005 overall Dirtopia Downhill winner, Johann Potgieter, obtained a time of 3 minutes, 35 seconds and 19 split seconds beating second place winner, Riaan Bosman by 8 seconds and 54 split seconds.
The Getaway Weekend Warrior title, a title awarded to the mountainbiker who shows true Dirtopian spirit, was awarded to Hannes Neethling (20) of George.
More
News
|
