Main image caption: Viewers worldwide will be able to catch all the daily action from the Old Mutual joBerg2c via the official event website at www.joberg2c.co.za. Pictured here is elite mountain biker Tyronne White, riding in the colours of broadcast partner Avis, during last year’s event. Photo: Kelvin Trautman.
The nine-day Old Mutual joBerg2c MTB event, which finishes up in Scottburgh on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on the 2nd May goes global.
Having set out on Friday 24th April from Heidelberg south of Johannesburg, mountain biking enthusiasts worldwide are now able to follow all the action since a newly launched platform on the official event website allows viewers to watch the daily television highlights and photographic slideshow on their smartphone, tablet or laptop. This also means one can track individual riders on the 900km journey in real time via the race app.
The traditional post-event show on SuperSport will still take place, however moving with the times and with the view that the future is online, race organisers have decided to go the YouTube route as well in order to share the race with international audiences without restrictions.
With thanks to partner, Avis Van Rental, the race report is available by 5pm each day, with the full-length TV production uploaded by 9pm. Footage is being shot by helicopters, off-road vehicles and motorbikes in order to bring viewers footage that is exciting, polished and creative.
The jhb2c has attracted 800 participants. With over R250 000 up for grabs for the first-placed men’s, women’s and mixed elite teams, in addition to the City Lodge Hotel Group who has sponsored accommodation prizes for the top vets and masters teams to the value of R140 000, this race is most definitely not for sissies. Title defenders Johann Rabie and Gawie Combrinck are looking strong and the vets and masters categories are according to race organiser Craig Wapnick `perhaps the most competitive the race has had since the event began’.
The finish line in Scottburgh on the KZN South Coast is expected to be filled with much emotion – a mix of exhaustion and celebration all in one, and of course, with a healthy dose of competition and camaraderie thrown in.
The new platform is available on www.joberg2c.co.za and will remain active for a few weeks after the event. For more information, follow @joberg2c_journo or find the race on Facebook.
Logistic information:
OLD MUTUAL JOBERG2C STAGES:
Day 1 (116km) – Karan Beef near Heidelberg to Frankfort
Day 2 (93km) – Frankfort to Reitz
Day 3 (122km) – Reitz to Sterkfontein Dam
Day 4 (121km) – Sterkfontein Dam to Winterton
Day 5 (112km) – Winterton to Clifton Prep Nottingham Rd
Day 6 (98km) – Clifton Prep to Glencairn Farm near Underberg
Day 7 (79km) – Glencairn Farm to MacKenzie Club near Ixopo
Day 8 (99km) – MacKenzie Club to Jolivet Farm near Highflats
Day 9 (84km) – Jolivet Farm to Scottburgh main beach
