MTN BARBERTON - XCM #1 driven by NISSAN

Saturday:

The 1st leg of the 2012 MTN National Marathon Series driven by NISSAN will take place in Barberton, Mpumalanga, on Saturday 28 January 2012. This event has been part of the National MTB Series since it's inception in 2001! .. and for good reason! It's one of the best!

Barberton is widely regarded as the start to the season and the first big tester after the relaxing holidays! This year we expect close to 2000 enthusiastic recreational mountain bikers lining-up alongside the country’s top professionals at the MTN National Marathon, at the Barberton High School, in Barberton. Fine tuning new routes introduced in 2009, the course has been improved and polished with a couple new short sections. Barberton is set to stage South Africa's best to tackle the daunting Barberton Mountain.

• All races will start and end at the Barberton High School! (S25º46'31,7" E31º03'04,5") 
• All documentation, meals, bar facility and functions will be held at the Barberton High School.
• Registration will be held in the Barberton High School hall at the following times:

Friday 27th January - 17h00 - 21h00

Saturday 28th January - 05h30 - 09h00

Entry Fees:

Entries close -  24th January

Early Bird entries close - 07th January

• The routes follow district, plantation and country roads and tracks.The races are run over three routes. All four races use parts of the same route:
• The ultra marathon (120 Km) is a combination of the marathon and half marathon routes.
• The marathon (75km) for the professional, tough and hardy (Single Speed category also available). 
• The half marathon (45km) for the average mountain bike rider and 
• The fun race (21km) for the family group, the joyful of heart and the not so tough.

• The marathon routes (120Km, 75km and 45km)  go into the first range of the Makhonjwa Mountains and passes some really splendid scenery. In places one gets magnificent views over the Great De Kaap Valley and Eastern Mpumalanga. The routes take the cyclist through many of the old mining areas.
• Most climbing is done on the outward journey and the return passes through the beautiful Mountainlands Nature Reserve and the Greenstone Wildlife Estate. Have a look at some photos taken of the area and the routes.

• The start and finish altitude is at 790m
• On the marathon route the cyclist climbs to a height of 1800m (5904 feet).
• On the half marathon route (45km) the cyclist climbs to an altitude of 1600m (5248 feet).

• As this event is held in the summer, the cyclist may experience hot or rainy weather and should be prepared to cope with these conditions. 
• Seven water points will be provided along the marathon (75km) route, five water points on the half marathon route (45km) and one on the fun ride (20Km).
• First Aid Services will be provided to the cyclists on the routes and at the finish.
• The organisers may, at their discretion, shorten, lengthen or change the course if the weather, or the safety of the cyclist, deem this necessary.

Prize Money*:

• Prize money & Points will be calculated for the Elite Men in this distance only.
• Elite ladies will earn points & prize money in the usual 75km marathon distance only.
• All other categories will only be eligible for points and prize money in the usual distance.

Routes:

Ultra Marathon

Marathon

Half Marathon

20km Fun Race

Approximate riding times:

• 120km:  5h00min – 8 hours
• 75km:   3 – 6 hours
• 45km:  2 – 4 hours
• 75km Brightonkop – 26km 11:00am
• 12km has cut-off at the Tech Zone after 4h30min
• 120km has a cut-off at the finish of 8hours.

Ultra Marathon Tech Zones:

Tech 1 - 48km

Tech 2 - 73km (4h30 cut off)

Tech 3 - 102km (same point as tech 1)

Start Venue: Barberton High School, Barberton, Mpumalanga - GPS coordinates: S25º46'31,7" E31º03'04,5"

Teams / Riders / Public Parking Location

Teams have access to the Event Venue, and setup in the teams designated area next to the finish area. Riders will park just adjacent to Shiba road along Little Shiba rd, and the public at the designated public parking zones, outside the riders parking zone, outside of the Barberton High School.

Nearest Hospital and Medical Information

A wide range of professional medical services are available, including:

• Barberton Medi-Clinic
  • Cnr Sheba & Havelock Street, Barberton, Mpumalanga, 1300, South Africa, Tel: +27 13 712 4279, http://www.barbertonmc.co.za/, hospmngrbarbe@mediclinic.co.za 
• Barberton Hospital
  • Tel: +27 13 712 3011

Directions:

View Directions on Google Maps

If traveling from JHB or Pretoria, take the N4 "Witbank" freeway to Machadadorp.

• Take the Machadadorp / Badplaas turnoff. If you get to the Machadadorp Toll Gate then you have gone past the turn offs of which there are two. (You can take either the first or second turn off).
• Go through Machadadorp and continue towards Badplass on the R541 through mountain pass (apx.60km) to a "T" junction.
• At "T" junction turn left onto the R38 towards Barberton over the Nelshoogte mountain pass until road again ends at a "T" junction (apx 60km).
• At "T" junction turn right onto the R40 towards Barberton. Follow the road ignore all other signs, cross the Stop street until you get to a fourway crossing with Sheba rd. Turn right and follow this road for about 1.2km and you will see the Barberton High School sign board on your right.

Information on all available accommodation can be obtained from Barberton Information Web Site or from Barberton Tourism, Booking Officer ,   Tel: (013) 712 2880 or book online on Web site: http://www.barberton.co.za.

Accommodation at Barberton High School can be booked from Monday, 10 January 2011 by calling Wandie at 0137121120.