The Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen will kick off in Mossel Bay on 8 September.

South Africa’s ‘Race with Soul’ not only offers competitive cyclists the chance to participate in a UCI registered event, but also provides much-needed financial support to schools located along the seven-day route.

Van Kervel School for learners with special educational needs, Milkwood Primary andLangenhoven Gimnasium are some of the schools that will join the Cape Pioneer journey this year. A percentage of the event’s entries will be donated to each school in return for the use their facilities at that particular stage of the race. Learners help prepare food, set up tents for the cyclists and get to interact with some of the world’s top racing talent.

It is quite fitting, then, to announce that Spur will partner with three UCI registered events, namely the 2019 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek presented by Biogen, the Momentum Health Tankwa Trek presented by Biogen, and the Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme presented by Biogen.

Focusing on the upcoming Cape Pioneer Trek specifically, Spur’s Sponsorship Manager Khakhi Diala commented,“Continuing with the large footprint Spur Steak Ranches has within schools mountain biking, it is fitting that we entrench Spur within various mountain biking structures. The Cape Pioneer Trek is a wonderful event and has attracted elite riders as well as local weekend warriors, whom all enjoy our brand.”

Diala has witnessed first-hand how mountain biking has grown over the years with Spur’s investment in the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League. The league projected at 18 600 entries for 2019, having achieved over 16 000 entries in 2018.

As he anticipates a similar outcome for the ‘Race with Soul’, Diala added: “We are proud to have seen how the sport has developed immensely over the years and this is testament to Spur’s investment and the massive volunteer efforts of many parents, marshals and teachers. Getting more kids on bikes is our focus and we are proud to have seen the in-roads over the past 11 years of investment in schools mountain biking. We see our efforts in schools mountain biking being strengthened by our association with the Cape Pioneer Trek.” 

Spur’s support of professional mountain biking athletes in South Africa exists to clearly show the thousands of participating kids that the pinnacle of the sport exists both in South Africa and internationally. A case in point is Alan Hatherly, a rider who came through the Spur League and won the 2017 Cape Pioneer Trek for Team Spur. Hatherly had South African hearts soaring when he was crowned World XCO U/23 Champion last year – a feat that has inspired many upcoming riders that hope to follow in his footsteps.