2017 Liberty Waterberg Encounter
9 JUNE – 11 JUNE 2017
3 STAGES – 222KM JOURNEY
The three-day stage encounter will afford amateur higher net-worth mountain bikers with a passion for the sport the experience of a lifetime.
It’s worth mentioning again that it is within easy travel distance, along the N1 North highway, from the main metropolitan areas of Gauteng.
It’s a MTB Encounter where riders are treated as VIP’s and where they will have access to wonderful hospitality.
Spouses will also be able to book all meals with their riding counterparts, which creates a very unique and family orientated environment at meals and presentations.
Overview & Facts
Race villages
A unique feature of the Liberty Waterberg Encounter is its 5 star rated Race Villages, which will add a unique upmarket status to this event. These “Villages” not only offer high quality accommodation, but are some of the best and most stylish “Bosveld” venues;
- Appropriate ‘vibey’ music and a large venue where all riders can enjoy their lunches;
- Massage therapists are on hand to massage tired legs;
- Top-quality start/finish shoot;
- Easy access to parking, entertainment and restroom facilities;
- Spectator-friendly area;
- Bike-tech area;
- ‘Upbeat’ entertainment and an MC to keep everyone excited;
- Large dining area with eats and drinks where a big screen projects pictures and footage of the day’s action;
- Photograph area where you can order pictures that were taken along the route.
Route and rider experience
Route work started in October 2015 and the route will encompass some of the best features in the area, and include the surprisingly scenic riding over contoured terrain offered by the Waterberg.
Riders can expect wide open plains, strong contoured climbing challenges, deep ravines and fabulous cliff edges, indigenous forests and spectacular views.
The route is characterised by riveting jeep tracks, challenging rocky outcrops, fast flowing downhills, meandering river crossings and stunning single-track.
Special Services
Riders bikes will be washed after every stage and will be available for collection on the morning before the start of the next day in the secure bike park.
Jimmy from Jimmy’s Cycle and Sport in Bela-Bela is travelling with the event and he will set up a mobile workshop at every stage finish to assist with mechnicals and necessary sales items.
Scouts on mountain bikes will participate with riders in the event and they will have the necessary tools and spares with them to assist riders with breakdowns.
The perfect location
Bela-Bela, and in particular Sondela…
Bela-Bela, and in particular Sondela, is a well suited host city and venue for the event for the following reasons:
- Warm temperatures still characterise the area while the winter chill sets in elsewhere in Gauteng
- Bela-Bela is only a 90km from Pretoria on the N1 North highway, which makes it an easy commute for riders from the biggest MTB catchment area in the country
- Sondela is right next to the freeway and is signed from the off-ramp.
- There are no other stage races in the country over this time of the year, making the Waterberg Encounter a valuable “keep fit” option through winter.
The three-day stage encounter will afford amateur higher net-worth mountain bikers with a passion for the sport the experience of a lifetime. It’s worth mentioning again that it is within easy travel distance, along the N1 North highway, from the main metropolitan areas of Gauteng. It’s a MTB Encounter where riders are treated as VIP’s and where they will have access to wonderful hospitality. Spouses will also be able to book all meals with their riding counterparts, which creates a very unique and family orientated environment at meals and presentations.
Two are better than one!
Participate in Teams of Two
All riders enter as a two-rider team. Teams register in one of three different categories that include Men, Ladies and Mixed. The minimum age of participation is 18 on race day. The riders in a team must remain together at all times during the race.
The entry package per team includes an Ftech branded cycling jersey, event branded jacket and all 5 Star meals, but excludes accommodation. Sufficient accommodation is available at Sondela and Zebula.
Entries limited to 100 teams in the first year. We are going to “test” all aspects of the event with a smaller group and, importantly, establish an identity for the event within the Encounter Series.
