Latest Updates
Fairtree Simonsberg Contour MTB route update
15 December 2016
Scheduled for 4 & 5 February 2017, the Fairtree Simonsberg Contour MTB stage race is the only event that utilises the Never Say Neverending Again Trail in the Simonsberg and for the past month the team has focused on getting the trail in prime condition for the race. This 10km singletrack is one of the longest continuous pieces of trail in the Western Cape and offers unsurpassed views of the Boland and Peninsula.
Route designer Meurant Botha from Dirtopia, says: ‘We are now shifting our attention to adding more flow in the Knorhoek region of Day 2’s route to eliminate some of the stinging ascents and replacing them with singletrack. We are also excited to announce that Distell’s Groenhof Farm is becoming part of the permanent trail network and that we’ll be launching new singletrack with the 2017 Contour.”
With more than 26km of singletrack on Day 2, just shy of 50% of the days riding will be on the narrow stuff! Race distance for day two is approximately 56km and elevation between 1500 and 1600m. Because there is so much singletrack, rider numbers to this race is limited to 600 entries to ensure a premium rider experience, so do not delay to get your entries in as they will certainly sell out.
17 January 2017
Day 1
The route team has been working hard to finalise the first stage for the 2017 Contour.
The aim for for the day 1 is always to create a faster and technically easier day before Sunday’s singletrack extravaganza.
In a complete redesign of last year’s first stage, riders will head northeast and explore the farms on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg between Klapmuts and Simondium.
Riders who participated in the 2016 Absa Cape Epic will catch some glimpses of the final day’s Stage 7 as riders crossed from Boschendal to Delvera.
Apart from various singletrack sections around the Klapmutskop most of the routing is on farm roads and will make for fast riding. In terms of elevation 60km riders can expect a relatively easy day with around 1250m of climbing according to Google Earth. Short route riders can expect around 800m of climbing for the 40km option. Just note that the route does not take in the more technical blue/black singletracks on Klapmutskop
