Pure Adventures - SkyRide 2016

Press Release / 21.10.2016

Outside of Ficksburg lies a pristine Witteberg mountain range, where cyclists from all over South Africa descended; testing their mind and body on the unrelenting yet magnificent and captivating terrain known as the SA Truck Bodies SkyRide.

The immaculate mountain range surrounding the Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve played host to 2016’s SkyRide where over 150 cyclists took on the three day MTB stage race in true ‘Mountain Country’.
The Pure Adventures dynamic duo; Michael De Haast ad Adrian Saffy identified a niche opportunity to take traditional mountain biking up a notch by introducing ridge riding in a slightly more intense terrain and birthed the ‘SkyRide’ in 2015. Since its debut the event has doubled in entries and offers a new take on mountain biking to those riders looking to explore something more adventurous.

The SkyRide officially kicked off on Friday; 14 October 2016 where cyclists tackled the 14km prologue event. As the afternoon sun showed off this magnificent mountain range, cyclists took on this adventurous playground by exploring the terrain, air and style of SkyRide racing before the official event took place the following day.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the route! It was tough, but completely worth the view once you reached the top of each climb” shares mountain biker Michelle Powell proving testament to the events tagline #becausetheviewisworthit.

Individuals and teams took to these glorious mountains completing 70km of mountain climbing and valley free-wheeling on Day 1. SkyRide Day 2 sent athletes on a 50km adventure through farmlands and new mountain ranges exploring more of what this ‘Mountain Country’ has on offer. Many Horses, birdlife, and a variety of buck roam these lands freely; adding to the adventure aspect this race has to offer.

Claiming the winning title for this year’s SkyRide - Mens Division is Paseka Makhebesela; racing the two day stage race in an overall winning time of 05:41:06. Pieter Korkie chased Makhebesela and crossed the finish claiming second place and Jean Fourie followed closely taking third place.

Christo Roos and Tanya Kirstein raced extremely well knocking up their ranking from second on Day 1 of the stage event to winners of the Mixed Duo division overall. Team Black Knight featuring Pierre and Ettienne Dymant won the Mens Team Division, and Elizma Kock claimed the winning title for the individual ladies category.