Grabouw — Off-road triathletes are in for a treat at the Woolworths X Tri event on December 1st when they have the opportunity to take part in a “proper” cross triathlon at the beautiful Paul Cluver Estate in Grabouw.
The event includes four events with the X Tri and X Tri Lite the main attractions while the #Run4Fun fun run and #WalkForGood hike ensure a full day of activity for the entire family.
Besides being part of the Kogelberg Biosphere which is a UNESCO world heritage site, the Paul Cluver Estate is also well-known as one of the premier Western Cape destinations for mountain bikers and trail runners. With so many riders and runners already enjoying their favourite off-road activity at the historical estate, it makes sense to bring the two sets of athletes together with swimmers and hold a cross triathlon at the venue.
The Woolworths X Tri includes a one kilometre swim in the Groenrug Dam, a 27km mountain bike ride along some of the sublime Paul Cluver routes and a 12km trail run through the vineyards of the famous estate. The X Tri Lite includes a 400m swim, 12km MTB ride and 5km trail run.
Competitors can enter as individuals or in teams of two or three.
The #Run4Fun and #WalkForGood events are a 5km trail run and a 3km hike respectively.
The run follows the same route as the trail-run portion of the X Tri Lite course. The relatively flat route on Jeep tracks and farm roads is a perfect alternative for athletes looking for a gentle run while other family members take part in the longer and more arduous triathlons.
The walk is an opportunity for individuals or groups to take part for a good cause and participants can either walk on the designated route at Paul Cluver Estate, or participate at a location of their choice and connect via social media. Registration fees paid are donated towards the Woolworths Trust.
For the little people who want to play rather than race, the supervised Faircape Kids Zone kids area offers a cordoned-off play space for children to enjoy while the adults are taking part in their events. There will be jumping castles and other activities for the children to enjoy.
“We believe the Woolworths X Tri event is the best cross triathlon event on the multi-sport calendar,” said Lana Roets, the race spokesperson from Woolworths. “We have changed the routes from 2018 and improved the race village so all participants can have an even better experience this year with the four events making sure there is something for all members of the family.
“The X Tri bike leg provides a technical, challenging and tough mountain bike, while the X Tri Lite course is entry level difficulty. The Paul Cluver Estate has built some incredible trails for mountain bikers and trail runners and we have taken some of the best parts of that to create a route that is memorable for all levels of athletes.”
“And of course we cannot forget about the legendary goodie bags and race apparel which go to the first 2 000 entrants. I think it is worthwhile entering the event just for those.”
FinishTime will time the event.