The big news around this year’s Dusi Mfula mountain bike race is that two of the country’s most gifted riders, Brandon Stewart and Andrew McLean, have teamed up to take on The Unlimited Dusi Mfula 2011.
While these two are at opposite ends of exciting careers and have different specialties on the bike, it’s an exciting pairing and, according to Stewart, they are going all out to win the event, the last edition of the Dusi Mfula.
McLean, a cycling icon in South Africa and beyond, boasts a number of national titles, including The Cape Epic as a senior, a veteran and a master – a feat that no other rider can claim. His most recent achievement is winning the veterans section of the Sani2C and finishing in a phenomenal fifth place overall.
McLean took part in the inaugural Dusi Mfula in 2006. “I entered because I wanted to see what the Dusi Canoe Marathon route entailed and to take on a new race. It was rough and tough; we even had to swim some rivers. I am really pleased that it is a lot more sophisticated today and I am looking forward to riding with Brandon,” he said.
High achievers
“I have achieved many of my goals, but this is one that I haven’t yet mastered and am even more excited because I am riding with Andrew,” said the likeable Stewart. He commented that although he had never ridden with McLean in an event before, he knew Andrew well and had ridden with guys who had partnered him before in top events.
“If Andrew and I combine well, we should have a great two days of racing through the Dusi Valley” he said.
Mountain biking pundits are betting on McLean and Stewart being on the podium, if not winning the event outright come 25 and 26 June.
Pictures: The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon 2011
According to spokesman for the event, Ray de Vries, the final touches are being made to the route which takes riders from the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg, through the Valley of 1000 Hills and finishing at Inanda Dam, just outside Durban. The route follows much of The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon and, according to the organisers, “is absolutely unique and boasts more single track than most other races”.
Social responsibility
The build up to The Unlimited Dusi Mfula creates much excitement for the riders as well as for the local residents in the Valley of 1000 Hills. The Unlimited corporate social responsibility initiative, The Unlimited Child, is actively involved in the valley, providing educational toys and care-giver training to over 160 crèches.
There is a critical need in South Africa for effective stimulation, especially among children aged 0-7 years. The failure rate of primary school-aged children in the valley is high due to a lack of adequate stimulation before the child reaches school-going age.
“Deny a child pre-school learning and you deny our country a future. Through The Unlimited Child, we have the means in our hands to truly shift this country and its children’s lives now and forever,” says Iain Buchan, founder of The Unlimited Child.
The organisers said this would be the last race in the series, as they had achieved many of their goals in the valley, including the establishment of cycling clubs and community initiatives. A proud achievement indeed!
For more info or to enter, go to the race website.