Online entries for this year’s Grahamstown to Sea (G2C) mountain bike race are open until midnight tonight (Wednesday 5 July) for anyone who would still like to enter.
The fifth annual G2C takes place on the final day of the National Arts Festival, Sunday 9 July.
Commencing at 8.30am, the race is organised by Albany Saints & Sinners Multi-Sport Club, and sponsored by the BUCO branches in Grahamstown and Port Alfred. Described on the event website as “track, dirt and serious fun,” the race often attracts over 350 entries from the Eastern Cape and beyond. Last year’s race had 385 entrants.
Organisers stated this week that only a few shuttle seats are still available which can be booked with ones entry. “The shuttle leaves Port Alfred after the race and returns you with your bike to the start,” said Cathy Gorham of the organising committee.
Late entries will be taken at registration (Saturday from 2 to 6pm and Sunday morning 6.30 to 7.30am) but avoid the queues (and extra cost) and enter before midnight.
Visit www.grahamstown2sea.co.za for entries and all race info.
Cost is R200 for pre entries and R260 for late entries.
The route is steep and challenging, possibly seeing riders descending from 643 metres above sea level outside Grahamstown, to just 69 metres at the finish outside Port Alfred, and it won’t be all smooth sailing. There are a number of hills to climb, plus several fast downhill sections.
Beginning at the BUCO warehouse on Rautenbach Road in the industrial area, riders will make their way to the top of Mountain Drive, riding along the ridge road towards the toposcope, the highest point of the mountain.
Then it’s a downhill rush on rough single-track to Woesthill Pass, where the three-kilometre tarred downhill section will no-doubt be a welcome sight. Before the riders get too comfortable, this section comprises sharp twists and turns, requiring plenty of nerve and skill.
The bridge at the bottom of the pass sees gears being changed for the two-kilometre uphill slog, still on tar, taking the field to the gravel road that is the entry point to the rural district of Southwell. From here it is undulating gravel road, with a couple of tough passes thrown in to test riders’ stamina.
As soon as they catch a whiff of the sea air, riders turn left onto a farm road leading to the finish at Rosehill Mall shopping centre outside Port Alfred. The proceeds will be donated to local charity initiatives.
