Lowveld Quest Stage Race

The Lowveld Quest is a four day stage race which traverses parts of the beautiful Lowveld. The event is also the region’s first mountain bike point 2 point stage race which makes the Lowveld Quest a real pioneering initiative.

Our bizhub team consists of 4 girls, so normally I would partner with one of my teammates for a stag

e race. This time things were a bit different and when the opportunity arose to ride with a good friend and local legend Francois Lourens, there was no way that I could let it slip.

Stage 1 - 80km & 1700m ascent

The first stage started in Lydenburg and finished 80km later at the renowned Mankele bike park. The clement conditions made for a great day of racing as one could appreciate the magnificent views along the way. Francois and I combined well as a team and it showed when we won the stage and took the lead in the mixed category by stage’s end.

Stage 2 – 70km & 1600m ascent

Fine rain fell throughout the stage which went from Mankele to Sabie making race conditions very tough.  The rain was quite unfortunate as this was another scenic stage and the low cloud meant visibility was quite limited, especially at the aptly named Misty Mountain lodge which lies at 2000m above sea level. Fortunately Francois and I coped with the muddy course and hilly terrain, making it safely to our camp ground at Merry Pebbles in Sabie for another stage win.

Stage 3 – 63km & 1600m ascent

From Sabie to Graskop we encountered some more big climbs rewarded with glimpses of big waterfalls through heavy mist. For once the restricted visibility was a good thing as one couldn’t see how long the climbs actually were - ignorance truly is bliss! I enjoyed the stage as there was quite a lot of single track criss-crossing the huge pine forests which made for some good fun riding. We finished at the environmental centre tugged away just outside of Graskop. Despite Francois disappearing under water in a mud “puddle” close to the finish, we still managed to win the stage and finish with smiles all around.

Stage 4 – 55km & 650m ascent

The last stage took us from Graskop to the finish at Induna Adventures just outside of Hazyview. Everything seemed to play along for the finale - the sun was out, a primarily downhill stage, plenty of single track and a hearty meal waiting at the finish – what more could you want?

Along the way there was an underwater forest which sadly I could only steal a glimpse of, a ride through the Lowveld Hedges (rock formations) and over the ‘drie klein varkies’(three little pigs ). This all added to the unique experience of the final stage. Team bizhub –Lion Sands ended the week on a high by winning the final stage and locking up the overall title as well.

A few things that stood out for me was the effort the organisers put into designing a spectacular race route building trails to link the route were necessary, delicious food and the sparkling atmosphere surrounding the event. Thanks to everyone involved in making the Lowveld Quest a unique experience! This is definitely an event you don’t want to miss out on.

Final results

1^st           Francois Lourens & Yolandi du Toit

2^nd          Garry McNaughton & Samantha Oosthuysen

3^rd           Gerhard Bersohn & Christine Jansen van Rensburg