2012 Images now available on Facebook

Cyclists were tested to their limit on tough terrain over three days in the Zimbabwe bushveld - dusty, undulating tracks and roads were coupled with the promise of game sightings (particularly elephant) during the Vic Falls MTB annual challenge.

The event consisted of teams of 2 or more riders, cycling through areas one would usually not be allowed to access.

Day 1 was a 70km ride from Matetsi, through the Zambezi National park along the banks of the Zambezi river to end at the Victoria Falls Hotel, this day had a lot of kalahari sand to cycle through, so cyclists had their work cut out for them.

Day 2 was a flattish section out to the Woodlands community area and passing through the Nakavango Private Game Reserve where cyclists risked the Elephants, Buffalo, Lions and Rhinos, it was very fast but ended up a distance of 85km, again ending at the Vic Falls Hotel.

Finally day 3 consisting of 80km, all the riders circumnavigated the town to get to access the Wild Horizons private concession at their gate to Rapid number 11, here the cyclists rode along the top of the gorges, which provided spectacular scenery for all to behold.

The winners of the event and all 3 days stages was the botswana Team consisting of Sean McCormick and Kyle Poppleton in a TOTAL time of 9hours 57minutes and 12 seconds.

Every day was a close battle between these guys and the 2 teams close behind them every day, one team from Botswana (Angus Boxchall-Smith & Seamus O Neil) and the other team was a mixed team consisting of a Zimbabwean (Bruce McKinley) and a South African (Justin Dowdle).

So the riders from Botswana really dominated this years event.

All the riders had a great time end thoroughly enjoyed their visit to our area.