The Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, is set to take place on Saturday, 15 January 2022 – and the weather gods have seemingly upped the ante with a likely 30-degree temperature on the Oudtshoorn start line, heading to the mid-40s along the rugged 121km route. The 16^th edition of the race will see South Africa’s top mountain bikers go head-to-head in a battle to raise a stone from the Attakwaskloof above their heads. In so doing they will get their 2022 seasons off to the best possible starts.

The 121-kilometre race from Oudtshoorn to Pine Creek Resort, in Great Brak River, takes in 2 900-metres of climbing as it crosses four distinct biomes. Starting in the arid Klein Karoo the terrain under-wheel will be loose and rocky. The race then ascends into the high peaks of the Outeniqua Mountains and follows the ancient elephant paths and traders’ trails through the Attakwaskloof. On the southern side of the mountains indigenous and plantation forests await, as do roads which have euphemistically been dubbed, ‘rolling’. Finally, in the final kilometres the route descends towards the ocean and a cool sea breeze will likely greet riders as they make their way to Pine Creek. If only that cooling breeze was not a headwind, it would be pleasant… 

For amateurs and professional athletes alike, completing the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, is a litmus test of one’s festive season training. Neglected base miles will come back to haunt the ill-prepared. Fortunately, it has been only five months since the 2021 edition of the race. Everyone should thus know exactly what they are in for. 

Nobody will have a more recent idea of what it takes to win the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, than Imbuko {type]DEV equipped by Giant’s Wessel Botha. Making his debut for his new team Botha is among the favourites for the 2022 race. 

“You do feel a bit of pressure being the defending champion, but that hasn’t changed my preparation or approach to the race,” Botha noted. “It’s great having super strong riders like Matt [Beers], Alan [Hatherly] and Simon [Andreassen] on the start line. The Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, is very early in the year and it’s always a bit of a shock to the system. But the spirits are high in our new team and we’re all ready to give it our best shot! I’m really impressed with my new Giant Anthem. It’s a big change from my previous bike but so far I’m really happy and keen to see how it handles the tough Attakwas terrain!”

Botha will face stern competition if he is to defend his title. His major challenges are likely to come from South African marathon champion, Matt Beers, South African cross-country champion Alan Hatherly and the newly crowned Danish cyclocross champion, Simon Andreassen. Other men to watch include George local Tristan Nortje, Namibia’s Alexander Miller, and the rest of the newly formed Imbuko {type]DEV equipped by Giant super team. The new team includes Marco Joubert, Pieter du Toit and Franco van Zyl. 

PYGA Euro Steel’s Philip Buys and Wian van den Berg will also be starting their seasons at the Hell of the South. As will Rossouw Bekker, Keagan Bontekoning, CP Van Wyk and HB Kruger. The men’s race is therefore likely to be a hotly contested affair. 

In the women’s race defending champion Yolande de Villers will be tough to beat. The Oudtshoorn resident and reigning South African marathon champion thrives in hot conditions. Which is ominous for her rivals as the mercury is predicted to hit 35 degrees Celsius in Oudtshoorn on Saturday. “The Hell of the South is back to its original date as the season opener and I couldn’t be more excited,” De Villiers enthused. “I’m so grateful that events are back and that we can all enjoy what we love most – racing – once more. The women’s field is bigger and deeper than it was last year, so I’m expecting fierce competition this weekend.” 

“The Southern Cape has had a lot of rain in the last few months,” she warned. “All the trails have been damaged. There are lots more loose, rocky, sections than ever before. Along with rugged and corrugated sections along the route. Avoiding damaging your bike could be one of the biggest challenges of this year’s race.” 

De Villiers will be lining up against the multiple South African cross-country champion Mariske Strauss, Sarah Hill and Yolandi Swanepoel. Former South African marathon champion Samantha Sanders will be making her long-awaited return to racing, after an injury disrupted 2021, at the 2022 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen. While Amy Wakefield, formerly McDougall, will be racing for the first time since her late-December wedding. Catherine Colyn, Katie Lennard, Mandi Augustyn, Elrika Harmzen-Pretorius, Leone Verster, Kristina Madonna and the very talented Kelsey Van Schoor make up a 14-rider strong elite women’s field. 

Along with the hot temperatures predicted for the Klein Karoo there is a light headwind and 22 degrees expected for the late afternoon. It will certainly be anything but easy. Racing gets underway at 06:30 from the Oudtshoorn Civic Centre, with a provincial traffic enforced neutral zone to Chandelier Game Reserve. Mountain biking fans can follow the action on the event’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram handles at: Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen, @attakwas and @attakwasmtb. For more information, please visit www.atta.co.za. 

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