RACE III

Kraans to Crags – 50km – Storm Ride

After the hardships of the previous day the competitive part of day 3 of the Storm only gets underway at the slightly more reasonable time of 9 am. Although intended to be a relatively easy day, the Storms first mountain biking leg begins with a rather steep 300m climb out of Natures Valley followed up with a winding route through the varied and magnificent indigenous vegetation of the Bloukrans Forest Station. Riders are taken onto single track sections normal off limits to mountain bikers.

Two sections of the days ride need to be undertaken as a compulsory “hike-a-bike” and riding on these sections is forbidden. For the 2^nd hike-a-bike section time will be neutralised (will be deducted from overall time) between the start and end of the section and is expected to take around 15 minutes.

The route eventually winds through plantations, onto the N2 for 3km and then into farmlands before turning back towards the coastal forests arriving, after 50km, at the host venue for the final four nights of the event, Forest Hall.

Riders are reminded that there is public traffic on many of the public & district roads traversed. Be exceptionally wary of traffic at intersections and blind corners.

RACE IV

“Run Forest Run” – 8km – Storm Run

The Forest Hall Estate boasts some of the finest unspoilt indigenous vegetation on our coastline and the “Run Forest Run” traverses the fynbos cliff tops right down to the remote pebble beaches and up through the climax form of the coastal forests.  The climb back up is on the infamous “Stepford Steps”, 3 sets of stepped inclines in the forest each one harder than the next and is nothing short of brutal to run up. Storm Runners will be relieved to once again enter the rolling lawns of the Manor House for the finish.