The Fairview Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge, now in its 11th year, is one of the toughest races on the South African MTB calendar. It’s long, grueling and requires immense fitness and technical skills to complete.

But nothing can prepare you (not even the perfect training block) for the harsh terrain and fierce African sun, which is why the spirit of perseverance and camaraderie among the riders is as famed as the race itself.  The rider who best displays this spirit of perseverance and camaraderie will be awarded the “Spirit of the Attakwas” trophy – an award dedicated to the late Douw Steyn, a rider who embodied the essence of the race in his riding and life. Steyn tragically passed away ahead of the 2015 race; he was seeded with the race number 121 which has since been retired out of respect.

Attakwas is the MTB equivalent of Paris-Roubaix or the Hell of the North as its been dubbed – road cycling’s ultimate classic. It’s only fitting then that Attakwas too, has been given the prestigious nickname of the Hell of the South. Like Roubaix and the fabled cobblestone winner’s trophy, Attakwas race winners are awarded (among other prizes) a rock from the remote Attakwaskloof, which the route traverses. Each year the Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge creates new trophies and, for 2017, the men’s trophy is bigger than ever weighing in at just over three kilograms. Victory at this incredible event carries a psychological advantage for the elite riders as it’s a litmus test for the ABSA Cape Epic. For the last two years the winner here has gone on to win the Cape Epic and so an interesting battle looms between Christoph Sauser and Karl Platt. Who’s your money on?