AMOHELA: SESOTHO – A WORD OF KIND WELCOMING, AS TO ONE WHOSE ARRIVAL GIVES PLEASURE
Update: Race entries have closed, your seedings are now available – click here
24 & 25 April 2021
Ride in the beauty of the foothills of the mighty Maluti mountains around one of SA’s most loved villages – Clarens. There is a race and distance option available for all levels of fitness and technicality. Come play…
For a full update on the race planning around Covid-19, please click here
For information regarding substitutions and deferrals from 2021, please click here
Thaba eKholo
Ride in he unrivaled beauty of the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. This is the signature race category at the event, taking you further, higher and deeper into the mountains than any other category.
The route is filled with single trail and breath taking panoramic views from start to finish.
Day 1 - 55km, 1150m of ascent
Day 2 - 66km, 950m of ascent
Entry fee - solo R1155
Entry fee - team R2140
Thaba eNyenyane
This category serves as the perfect introduction to stage racing for eager mtb enthusiasts. Thaba eNyenane means small mountain and that is just what you will get out there, all the fun, just with smaller mountains between you and the finish line.
Day 1 - 43km, 810m of ascent
Day 2 - 42km, 610m of ascent
Entry fee - solo R790
Entry fee - team R1400
Single day race options
Come for the weekend, race the Saturday and then relax in the village with friends and family.
The single day routes will provide you with plenty of amazing experiences to talk about after the ride.
Choose from:-
55km Saturday @ R390
- or -
43km Saturday @ R290
Please note: race distances and elevation may vary from what your device reads, this is subject to your GPS settings. The above routes are subject to change based on land conditions and operational safety factors. All riders will be provided with route files in the week prior to the event.
Race stats
About the race
The Medihelp Amohela MTB Classic delivers a weekend of adventure in one of SA’s most loved villages. The 2021 edition of the race happens over the long weekend of the 24th and 25th of April 2021. This provides the perfect opportunity for you to enjoy the thrill of the race along with a relaxing long weekend with your friends or family.
The race takes you along well groomed single trails on private farms and nature reserves. This is the only time that you as a rider will be able to experience these places.
The altitude takes attitude…
We cater for all levels of riders through the various event options on offer to you. Simply choose the event that is best suited to your riding fitness level, but be warned… The village of Clarens is around 2100m altitude making it just that little bit hard for you, this fact also plays into those looking for altitude training.
MEDICAL AID COVER FOR YOU
At Medihelp, you can be assured of best-in-class products combined with exceptional support services to help you make informed decisions about your healthcare cover. With more than a century’s experience in the medical aid industry, we maintain the stability and sustainability needed to ensure our members’ peace of mind – whether you are an individual, student, family or business.
Find out more about Medihelp’s impressive Multisport offering click here
Start times
| 07:00 | A – Batch Start Thaba eKholo, 10 minutes intervals between succeeding batches |
| 08:00 | A Batch Start Thaba eNyenyane, 10 minute gaps between following batches |
| 07:00 | A Batch Start Thaba e Kholo, succeeding batches will set off in 10 minute intervals |
| 07:40 | A Batch Start Thaba eNyenyane, succeeding batches will set off in 10 minute intervals |
Preview of stages
Day 1
This is the tougher of the 2 days as we take you east towards but not into Golden Gate National Park. This is the 1st and only race to ever take you out in this direction from the village. The rolling hills to the east are not to be taken lightly as we meander along the Little Caledon river from farm to farm.
The 1st 25km are blisteringly fast as it is majority downhill, with one or two kickers along the way. The action really starts at the 25km point at “thousand oak valley”, here the mountains start to swell around you as you will have to put your legs to work for the very 1st time.
Riders will be required to launch themselves up several punchy climbs and of course the the signature climb of each day, “No O2” and the “Mother-in-law”. These 2 beasts do reward you for your efforts with fast flowing single trails.
The top of “No 02” provides you with a panoramic view of the valley from Golden Gate to Clarens, from here you can almost map out your route home through “Cannibal Ridge” and “Clifton”. It is just a 15km effort before you will be able to relax back in the race village in the center of town.
There are 2 well stocked water points on day 2, here you will be able to enjoy the fine hospitality of the farmers, resorts and event partners.
Day 2
It is fast, it is furious and it is beautiful. Day 2 will catch those who cashed in too many chips on day one as we take you up “titanic” and out towards Bethlehem. Don’t worry though, it is a short punch to the top before we send you out on fast easy flowing district roads.
The average pace will be significantly faster than the day before as we head out towards the Ash river. This is a real treat as we meander you along the banks of the Ash river, here the mountains looming on the horison will grow bigger with each pedal stroke. It wont be long before you are in the thick of it at 30km in and dancing on the pedals up the 6km climb “No O2 too”. Be sure to look back as the view is incredible from the top.
Just over the top of the summit you will see the village of Clarens for the 1st time. You will actually look right down over the race village from a very high point. From the “Village view” you will have 11km of fast flowing single trail to navigate on your way down to the finish. The race is already won by this point, so just enjoy the drop off and the run in.
FOR A FULL DETAILED SUMMARY ON HOW IT WILL WORK, PLEASE CLICK HERE
– AT THE FINISH –
Our race village is something a little a different, it is literally the size of the entire village of Clarens. In 2021, we have taken the decision to move the race to the Clarens Golf Course, the immaculate venue means we do not have the risk of you racing through the street with potential traffic. It is just a stones throw away from the village and still within a very short riding distance from all immediate accommodation options. Take advantage of our massage stations, bike mechanics, refresh yourself with a cold brew or G & T, grab a snack or lunch from the club house and enjoy your achievements.
– RACE TECHNICALITY –
We build our races for all levels of riders and we want you to come back, so the routes are not overly technical by any means. We test our routes on humans in our team with average human skill sets who would not like us if we made it too hard.
– WHAT DO YOU GET WITH YOUR ENTRY? –
Each entrant to the race will receive the following:-
– Entry into the race category of your choosing
– Conservation passes for during the race
– Race pack, varies per distance entered
– Finishers medals, specific to the distance
Please note : Our race packs been altered since having to postpone the event twice, the sheer cost of this has led to the small sacrifice
– WATER POINTS ON ROUTE –
This is not our first rodeo and the people of the Eastern Freestate will be putting on a show with a well appointed water point at around every 30km on route for each race.
– TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION –
The village of Clarens boasts ample beautiful accommodation options throughout. Most of which are just a short pedal stroke away from the Start / Finish line on the village square. You will be able to kick back and relax in the guest house or B&B of your choosing, have a great nights rest in a comfy bed and enjoy morning racing the following day.
For the best accommodation options in town, we recommend you contact Mountain Odyssey
– e BIKES –
We do allow for e Bikes in this event, but please note that e bikes will not be permitted within the 1st 4 batches of the race and will not be legible for prize money. Kindly declare if you are riding on an e Bike at number collection.
– THE COVID-19 EVENT UPDATE –
We have the green light to go ahead on the 24th and 25th of April 2021. This will obviously be under certain Covid-19 compliance regulations that we will inform you of in the run up to the event. Time to get those wheels turning and rubber burning, there is no hiding in the mountains.
We can operate to full capacity safely at level 2 and lower, this is obviously subject to all safety protocols.
Planning for the 3rd wave…
We have no clue when or if a 3rd wave will happen, all we know is that we can no longer afford to postpone, each postponement costs the race dearly. In light of this, we have outline 2 scenarios that you can use for your planning.
Scenario 1.
The levels stay the same as of the start of April 2021, we then run the event as planned, there will be several changes to the normal operations that are outlined below : –
– No prize giving
– Race briefing will be live cast and posted to the website and social streams
– Riders must wear masks up until 90 seconds before their start
– All social distancing best practice needs to be followed
Scenario 2.
The levels change, events are barred again…
– We open the trails for you to race
– You will still be timed
– All normal race facilities will be in place, start/finish, medics, etc…
– There will be no batch starts, just rolling starts across times provided to you by sms