story by: Roadworx Communications 19 July 2010

Are you ready?

Boys and girls across Gauteng are busy with their final preparation for the first round of the Anatomic High School mountain bike series, which gets underway at Rietvlei Farm near Alberton on July 24.

 
Now in its fourth year and sanctioned by SAMTB – the mountain bike division of South Africa’s cycling federation, Cycling South Africa – since 2008, the three-round series is expected to attract around 300 riders at each event with riders are split into age and gender categories. Sub-junior caters for riders born in 1996/1997, Youth for those born ‘94/’95 and Junior for those born in ‘92/’93.
Racing takes a cross-country format with a number of laps of a closed circuit completed. The lap count varies depending on age and gender, with the objective being a riding time in the region of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Because the event is sanctioned, riders must have a licence to compete, but this also means events are properly organised in terms of medical support, timekeeping and marshalling.
 
“High school MTB is the first step towards finding the stars of the future and turning the sport into one where we can compete on the international stage,” says organiser Deon Steyn. “With riders like Burry Stander we have proved that South Africans can get to the very top and the Anatomic series not only allows young riders the chance to live that dream but also to make a meaningful contribution to their school.”
 
Points are allocated all the way done to 25^th position in the boys’ races, so there is individual as well as school honour at stake. The top school not only gets R5 000 and a floating trophy but also 10 sets of Anatomic cycling kit custom-made in their school colours.
In addition, a number of spot prizes and lucky draw prizes from the likes of Spur and Thule are up for grabs at each round, culminating in a Schwinn bicycle from West Rand Cycles being given away at the final round at Northern Farm on September 11. 
 
Enter on-line at www.weardirect.co.za. For more information contact Deon Steyn on 082 320 8878.