Route Map

Click here to download

Start:

Underberg school, Underberg
Time: 7:00am

Finish:

MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwold, Ixopo

Distance:

87km

Ascent:

1150m

Terrain:

After starting down the road from Underberg Primary School, we follow a quiet, undulating, district road for 7km before turn right into the farm of Graham and Sue Acutt. We wind through his pastures and past his dairy before the first climb which helps to separate the groups further. After 17km, we are back on familiar ground with the first "dual" single-track section through the Oak Maze. Remember keep left and pass right or just dice each other flat out. You will pass through green valleys filled with dairy cows lazily chewing the cud.
Thereafter, you will join the district road for some respite before the first significant climb up to the highest point of the event and the last time you will see the Southern Drakensberg. More keep-left-pass-right double single-track will lead you down from this point, through cool pine forests and double bridge crossings.

On the next forest section, one moves at an easy pace sweeping down towards the valley bottom roads and over the unique new, double, 200m, curved, submerged and floating bridge towards Bulwer. We leave Sappi Mossbank Plantation and enter Mondi Brooklands pines with the first single track known as Imbiba. A high speed descent with jumps leads one towards the Bulwer/Underberg underpass. This new single-track through the farm of Charlie James, allows us to pass under the road crossing and cuts out a long drag toward our friends at the Pevency water table.

By now your legs may begin to feel the strain for the first time. The first water table and spectator point of this stage will be found at the Donnybrook /Bulwer intersection with the R612 near Mondi Brooklands. After the bustle of the table, a long quiet forest road leads you up and on towards Sarnia plantation. Thereafter, a good climb opens the lungs before you take a cool and often wet descent through the Xumeni Forest, home of the Cape Parrot.

Soon after leaving the natural forest, you will be surprised by the fact that the second watering table and spectator point, historically situated at Donnybrook station, has now moved to the bottom of Bowman's climb some 2km further on.

As you take leave of your admiring supporters, your legs will feel the climb leading up Bowman's Hill and on to a short section of technical single track, included specially for the freeriding junkies. The next fast pine forest track will see you dropping in altitude as you enter the final valley for the day. You will find yourself passing through Muffin Top and Small Pines, as you descend all the way on single-track through the plantations. From here, some of the quietest back roads in the country will punish the untrained on the last short and nasty, tortuous climb to the finish at Mackenzie Country Club, which will be home and the first overnight stop.

Temp:

Cold nights and early mornings: 5 degrees celsius.
Day temp: 18 to 26 degrees celsius.

Average Max temp: 25 degrees celsius

Sunrise (Sani)

05h43

Sunset (MacKenzie):

18h35

Services:

Massage Services: Yes
ATM: No
Swimming Pool: No.

Route Maps:

Click here to download

Start:

MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwolds, Ixopo
Time: 6:30am

Finish

Jolivet, 10km south of Highflats.

Distance:

96km

Ascent

1786m

Terrain:

Soon after the 5.30am awakening, the reality of what lies ahead will jolt the senses into nervous anticipation. Day 2 of sani2c is long and arduous by any standards, and the early start will reaffirm the respect that this stage commands. The 6.30am batch start will see 'batch A' competitors hurtling down 7km of district Road before Ants Entrance and the start of the keep-left-pass-right double single-track.

Due to harvesting operations on Sappi Glenbain plantation, there are some changes to the route leading to the Umkomaas valley. These tracks will take one past some of the most spectacular views of the mighty Umkomaas Valley, provided the valley mist affords one this opportunity. The fast track is broken with short sections of forest roads, which allow overtaking opportunities.

At the 7km mark, competitors will find a route change for this year's event. 'Wow' single-track affords one the best views of the Umkomaas River, and one will realize that there is a lot of descending to do over the next 25km when you will find yourself on the river banks. 'Wow' is followed by Yankee Doodle, a highlight of the sani2c 2010.

A short heart pumping climb will lead you into Murray's meander. This new section of single-track has to be some of the most dramatically positioned single-track imaginable. At first glance it would seem that a route is not possible above the towering cliffs that drop down to the Mighty Umkomaas. After some breath-taking single-track along old cattle paths, riders will find themselves being lead straight into Nick's Pass overlooking the Umkomaas River Valley. Dropping into this valley, these fast, switchback descents, will have your brake pads sending hot whiffs of warning to those behind. After 8 switchbacks, you will enter the new Sosiba's section which calipults you towards the school.

After passing the cheering children of our adopted Msayana School, you will find yourselves being lead through the heart of sani2c country. Here you will find the pride of the sani2c 2007 route builders - a 3km bench cut mountain bike pass, built especially for the 2007 event. Thereafter, you will experience some of the most enjoyable single tracks to be found, including School Single-track with some technical rocky patches and short steep gravel decent that leads you through to Mchunu's Highway.

These fast flowing sweeping curves will allow you a quick glance at the Umkomaas River, which is slowly growing ever closer as you continue your descent. A sharp right bend takes you into MamTholo's Pride, a smooth, fast, bush-lined footpath leading you past the remote homesteads of Mchunu's two wives, many children and grandchildren. Leaving the dancing Mchunu's behind, you enter the real African bush where the flowing single track of Heaven Or Hell races through the thorn trees for 3km before the final climax of Tamika's Detour, which bottoms out on the banks of the Umkomaas River.

The pace and adrenalin rush now changes. After some 20 odd kilometres of mountain biking euphoria, the reality of the day sets in. You will warm your legs on the tracks that lead along the river before opening up into a game farm that team with Kudu, Bush Pig and Nyala. From here we have the big change for 2011. Instead of Baby and Big Steabraes climbs leading you out of the valley, we have cut trails along the banks of the Umkomaas for a further 25km. Umko flats will lead you to our new floating bridge. 2011 will see the latest in mountain bike floating bridge design and you will be the first competitors to experience it: a semi-suspended floating bridge over the Mighty Umkomaas River. After consultation with engineers and being told that our idea was not feasible the route builders under the leadership of Ant Foster decided that this was a challenge like no other. 

Thereafter, it is Giraffe Alley and on through the farm of Dave Aardensgard. On William Mapstone's you will be slapped by the first sugar cane on the route. This farm is also the site of the specially constructed Wiehann's bridge which will take you back over to the south side of the river. It is here at the 39km mark, that you will find the Maritzburg College seconding table and realize that there is still a long way to go. Be concerned that you have done a lot of descending until this point.

Your heart rate, the altitude and temperature soar steadily as you climb out of the valley. This is a long hot climb that is challenging under the best of conditions. Be inspired by the fact that there is some great single-track along Steve's Spruit along the banks of the Inhlavini River. Here you are as far as one can get from civilization.

After crossing the River a number of times, you will follow the valley up through Dawn Valley and onto Lamb Legs Climb. Winding single-track takes you through Watervale Farm and on to a remote farmyard and the halfway mark and second watering stop for the day. All will welcome this unique Nando's break where you will have the opportunity to fill up, hydrate, eat and reduce your core temperature. In the past we have made this a compulsory stop, but due to the lower temperatures experienced in May, this stop will no longer be compulsory.

We keep in the bush and are punished by the climb fondly know as Push of a Climb. This is a technical and challenging climb which will reduce many to a push. The gradient becomes more manageable past Grand View Farm and the flatter trail through Hugh Humphries has been dubbed Out of Africa.
We then find ourselves out of the thorn veld and into the higher rainfall climate of Highflats. Be comforted by the fact that it only gets cooler as you leave the thornveld and approach the timber plantations on the tops.

From here it's onto fast downhill's timber roads towards Highflats Church where you will find the third seconding table for the day. From Highflats Church seconding table it is a further 15 km of undulating forest roads before we keep you off the original tar road down to Jolivet. This year we will for the first time send you up a nasty climb and down a tricky section to keep you off the potentially fatal tar road which leads down to Jolivet Race Village. 

This day will be remembered as one of your most challenging ever on a mountain bike.

Ave. Max. Temp:

Cold nights and early mornings: 5 degrees celsius.
Day temp: 18 to 26 degrees celsius.

Ave Max Temp: 35.4 degrees celsius

Sunrise (Sani):

05h43

Sunset (MacKenzie):

18h36

Services:

Massage Services: Yes
ATM: No
Swimming Pool: Yes

Route Maps:

Click here to download

Start:

Jolivet, 10km south of Highflats
Time: 7:00am

Finish:

Scottburgh High School, Scottburgh (South Coast)

Distance:

78km

Ascent:

1000m

Terrain:

Be buoyed by the knowledge that today's stage will be a great deal faster and less technical than yesterday's and should be the easiest of all three days.

The day starts by all squeezing through the dual single-track found at the 4km mark and then passing through one of the country's most manicured sugar cane farms, whose roads will afford you the opportunity to appreciate its beauty. A long, quick descent will split the field as will the first hard and fast climb of the day.

Soon after the climb the single track "roller coasts" you into new surroundings experiences at every turn. Sweeping cane roads will move the tour along at a surprisingly brisk pace from farm to farm on its sani2c journey to the coast.

A few short steep climbs will remind your legs why they needed the training, as will the steep technical climb fondly known as Work to be Done. An interesting change in terrain will lead you into the tracks of Vernon Crooke's Nature reserve and on to some spectacular single-track through coastal bush. Look out for the wildlife and appreciate the herd of cheeky Zebra that often escorts cyclists through their plains. Shortly after Vernon Crookes, prepare for two surprises that will punish those who start too ambitiously and who are now scratching in the bunch.

The cane lands will once again revert to easy and fast dirt road riding through coastal valleys. Just as you think that all the climbs are over for the day, there will be one last sting in the tail over Heart Rate Hill before an exhilarating finish over the new Wiehann Bridge and onto the grassed embankments of Scottburgh's main beach.

The last climb up to Scottburgh High School is a nasty little mother, which will ensure that the strongest team wins and will afford you time to appreciate that "life's not all downhill". The shady finish venue will allow you to celebrate with the sani2c family and reflect on the last three days.

Feel justifiably proud and thankful that you have achieved a feat that many would never consider. Be grateful that you are strong and healthy as you celebrate the successful completion of a sani2c experience. You are on your way to becoming a legend. Well done!

Temp:

Cold nights and early mornings: 5 degrees celsius.
Day temp: 18 to 26 degrees celsius.

Ave Max Temp: 28.2 degrees celsius

Sunrise (Sani):

06h44

Sunset (MacKenzie):

18h33

Services:

Laundry: Yes (in Scottburgh Town)
ATM: Yes (in Scottburgh Town)
Swimming Pool: Yes
Sea, tidal pool, showers and restaurants.