The winner of the women’s race at the 2016 Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge, Jeannie Dreyer, said after the event that she “did not think much more can be done to improve the route.” 

She was wrong.  

The race organisers have managed to tweak and develop the course for the showcase 60km race this year and have made it even better than last year according to course designer Bruce Smith. 

The 60km Husqvarna Classic MTB X-Treme on April 30 will attract the cream of KZN mountain biking and by all accounts the riders in the area are in for a treat with Smith saying the race has to “keep upgrading and changing the trails to remain competitive.”  

Smith, the father of last year’s race winner Derrin Smith, is a farmer in the Mid Illovo area and leads the team of local farmers who design and build the 60km course. He said they have introduced more free-flowing single track which is not as technical as in 2016. “The route for the first 30km is similar to last year with lots of single track going through iNsingizi game farm. These are technical but worth it. “After 30km last year the race went on a lot of dirt road,” added Smith.

“As we’re getting more competitive as a race we want to keep the riders coming back so we’ve got to keep upgrading and changing the trails, so we’ve introduced more free-flowing single track in this section. “The final 12km remains very similar to last year, except we have cut out some of the climbs which proved a bit tough for a lot of riders last year.” 

But the day is not just about the racing snakes who are looking to test their legs over 60km of challenging mountain biking.

This is the 10th anniversary Husqvarna Classic and over the past decade the race has developed into one of the must-do events on the calendar because it offers something for everybody. 

For those mountain bikers who feel 60km is too much of a challenge, there is a standard 45km Safire MTB race and a relatively gentle 18km Gwahumbe Family Ride. And the younger set are also catered for with two 10km fun rides, one for the over 12s and one for the under 12s. 

The Husqvarna Classic was also one of the early movers when it came to incorporating trail runs into the day’s activities and they have reaped the rewards with relatively big fields for their 18km and 9km iNsingizi Trail Runs. 

The Husqvarna Classic is the fourth leg of the prestigious nine-race Quattro ROAG Series which brings riders together for a Grand Prix-type series of events. Riders win points for each event depending on their finishing position at each race. Stuart Marais is currently leading the men’s MTB ROAG Series tables and is expected to line up and add to his points tally at this popular weekend race. 

For the first time this year the trail runs will be incorporated into a ROAG Trail Running Series as well. But perhaps the last word should belong to Dreyer, who has raced and won events all over the world. “Being able to do some game spotting while riding is a real treat,” she said after enjoying her ride to victory in 2016.

“The variety of tracks and scenery within the race keeps it interesting and exciting to ride.  “It is most definitely one of the most exciting races in KZN,” – and it now got even better for the 2017 riders. 

Entries are open via www.roag.co.za for all events and will close on April 26 at midnight, but late entries will be accepted on the day. 

Do your bit! Give an Uzwelo school bag to an underprivileged Mid-Illovo child, when you add a R130 donation to your entry.  Registration begins at 05.30 on the day, with the first MTB race (60km) starting at 07h30. 

Enter online at www.roag.co.za or contact ROAG on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 086 100 ROAG/7624.  

Entry Fees

60km Husqvarna Classic MTB X-treme - R190

45km Safire MTB Classic - R160

18km Gwahumbe MTB Family Experience - R140

10km Fun Ride - R70 (free for under 12s)

8km iNsingizi Trail Run - R115

9km iNsingizi Trail Run - R85 

For more information, visit www.husqvarnaclassic.co.za

Get into gear for one of the best-loved (and well-organised) races on the mountain biking and trail running calendar. The 2017 Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run is happening just less than two weeks before the gruelling Sani2C, making it a non-negotiable for those who are following a ruthless training schedule.  

“The best single track of any single day event” – that is how some riders have described this MTB route.  If that is not enough, the scenery is magnificent.  

Part of the ROAG series, there are various races, each of which run the gauntlet from relatively simple to strenuous.  

If a game viewing ride is on your sporting bucket list, don’t miss the 40km Safire MTB Classic that traverses two picturesque Game Reserves, Gwahumbe Game & Spa and iNsingizi.   

For serious riders, the 60km Husqvarna Classic MTB X-treme will test your resolve, but there are options for the whole family, including the 18km Gwahumbe Family Experience and the 10km Fun Ride.

It’s a great way to get the kids interested in sports and spending more time outdoors and as each of the tracks has different scenery, you could aim to do a different race every year.      

The 18km and the 9km iNsingizi trail runs cover rugged terrain through the game reserve.    

The trail run events will start early – at 6.30am – so that competitors have an opportunity to do a Biathlon by competing in both the run / walk and mountain bike races.   

Do your bit! Give an Uzwelo school bag to an underprivileged Mid-Illovo child, when you add a R130 donation to your entry.  

The first 800 entries will receive an Uzwelo goodie bag. Entries close on 26 April 2017 at midnight, but late entries will be accepted on the day.

Registration begins at 05.30 on the day, with the first MTB race (60km) starting at 07h30.  

Enter online at www.roag.co.za or contact ROAG on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 086 100 ROAG/7624.  

Entry Fees

• 60km Husqvarna Classic MTB X-treme - R190
• 40km Safire MTB Classic - R160
• 18km Gwahumbe MTB Family Experience - R140
• 10km Fun Ride - R70 (free for under 12s)
• 18km iNsingizi Trail Run - R115
• 9km iNsingizi Trail Run - R85  

For more information, visit www.husqvarnaclassic.co.za