The Isuzu 3 Towers was hosted by Mankele Mountain biking, situated near the Sudwala caves in Mpumalanga. Each stage would take us to a different radio tower on top of a mountain (hence the name 3 Towers) where we were rewarded with some of the most breathtaking views in South Africa. The lowveld is truly a beautiful part of our country.
Mankele mountain biking is renowned for its sometimes technical, but always flowing single track and mountain trail riding. The riding over the three days of the race definitely confirmed this and left me with a sense of awe.
I teamed up with Caitlin de Wet from the Mr Price/Specialized team for the race. We soon formed a good understanding on the bike and this made for an even more unforgettable experience.
On day 1 we set off in cold, wet conditions which created a very muddy and slippery track. The biggest challenge on the day was actually trying to see where you are going as the conditions left us riding half blind with eyes burning from all the mud. Tip: don’t rub your eyes with your gloves, your fingers are probably a bit cleaner.
The route also provided some moments of humour... At one point we had to portage through a deep water crossing where half of my body was submerged. I went in first and slipped on the slick rocks which left me wet from head to toe. Needless to say we were freezing by the time we reached the finish line 4h25min later.
Despite the weather not playing along, everyone still commented on the great riding over the 80km’s of stage 1. The only regret of the day was that we missed out on the spectacular view from the top as we just stared into a cloud of mist.
Day 2 dawned with sunshine!! Everyone was all smiles as they left the start line to tackle the 75km ahead in dry conditions. The route was amazing as it included climbs (as always!), technical single track and on top of that bush tunnels! A Bush tunnel can be quite intimidating as it includes a drop off going into the bush tunnel, but if you have the guts to just let go of the brakes it is really fun flying through it! The great weather made the kilometres tick by much quicker than the previous day, giving us a riding time of 4h10min.
Day 3 we had another beautiful day with sunshine and only a light, cool breeze creating ideal riding conditions. The last 53km stage was packed with mostly single and jeep track.
During the night a stomach bug got hold of Caitlin and left her feeling really drained for the last stage. Still, Caitlin was determined to finish what she started and courageously kept on riding. Unfortunately things never happen in one’s and around 20km from the finish Caitlin’s cassette came loose. Luckily for us a guy stopped to help tighten it a bit. Tip: Remember to carry a Cassette tool, ha-ha.
Soon we were back on our bikes and finished the last stage in 3h10min. Securing our second overall place in the Woman’s Category.
It’s been great to be part of such a remarkable event, one where you leave feeling you receive much more than expected. You have to visit Mankele and ride their trails to truly grasp the passion these people have for the sport!
Next for me will be the Telkom Satellite Challenge.
