We all know that mtb stage racing is a big deal in the local scene, and that events have sprung up to populate all parts of the country and calendar. There’s no shortage of events charging a premium and the ones that deliver have a waiting list that can extend to years. Every now and then an event pops up that can only be described as unique, and I get to check one of these babies out this week-end.

I cant believe that this is the last Happy Friday of 2010. Happy New Year! I hope that 2011 is filled with much happiness, bikes and singletrack. Be safe and see you next year.

The BC Bike Race is a seven day mountain bike stage race held in British Columbia, Canada and claims to have the most singletrack riding of any similar multi-day race.

The South African pair Max Knox and Brandon Stewart (Team DCM) won the final stage of the BC Bike Race at the weekend, giving them a second stage win in the international event and securing second place overall in the final General Classification.

The victory makes Stewart the only South African to have won stages at the Absa Cape Epic, the Transalp and the BC Bike Race.

South Africans Max Knox (DCM) and Philpp Buys (Team Garmin/Adidas) showed that they are forces to be reckoned with at international XCO races this past weekend when they competed in the third round of the International Mountain Bike Bundesliga Series in Albstadt, Germany. Max finished in 20th place in the mens race, 11:48 off the pace. Philipp finished in 18th position in the mens u23 race, 10:36 off the pace.

Its hard beating the feeling of riding in Deer Park with Table Mountain towering above you and the amazing view of Lions head, Cape Town CBD and the harbour. For those working in town its the perfect midweek evening ride. People of all levels can ride here although being on the slope of Table Mountain means that there is no escaping some serious climbing.

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that Burry Stander (Specialized/Mr Price) will win the MTN pro-elite cross country race for men at Mankele on Saturday (12 June).

Even if Stander should have a really bad day, the rest of the riders would have to produce a super-human effort to beat him. And, even then, there is no guarantee that they will win.

This past sunday saw the 2nd WP XC race, hosted by Tygerbery MTB club take place at the Nitida farm in Durbanville. Riders were welcomed by a chilly NW wind and a demanding lap that included 201m elevation gain within the 5.9km’s.