2020 Prudential PE PLETT

6-9 Feb 2020 H The TOUG

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One E T I L The

from the Sponsor It gives us great pleasure to continue our association with the Fedgroup PEPlett 4-day Mountainbike Stage Race. We firmly believe that it is South Africa's most scenic race and our hope is that all competitors hit that sweet spot between challenge and enjoyment.

Although Fedgroup is South Africa's leading independent financial services provider, we are committed to never lose the personal touch. We promote a healthy lifestyle among our staff members and many of them are avid cyclists. For this reason, our sponsorship of PEPlett feels like a natural fit.

As a company that has seen exceptional growth in recent years, which is set to continue in the future, we believe that PEPlett is on a similar growth path. The exceptional scenery and challenging terrain combine to make it an event that every self-respecting cyclist should have on their résumé.

Life is all about memorable experiences and Fedgroup's product range is designed to provide you with the ultimate peace of mind to allow you to focus on these experiences. Because our independence allows us to put people ahead of obscene profits, your benefit is maximised. Whether you need investment products, estate planning, risk cover or retirement savings for you or the employees of your business, our award-winning solutions have you covered. So come chat to us, we would love to show you what we can do f or you, visit us a t fedgroup.co.za or dr op us a line at sales@fedgroup.co.za or 011 305 2300.

Good luck with your race, may the ride be as smooth as possible!

Tim Allemann Fedgroup CMO

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from the Organiser As we move into the 8th year of the Prudential PE PLETT, we have worked hard at ensuring we create great memories and expose our riders to the most beautiful piece of mountain biking real estate that SA has to offer.

The adventure you are about to embark upon from Kurland to Crossways is an incredible journey with the Prudential PE PLETT memories not limiting itself to the ride but also our awesdome o vernight villages. Our Luxury Tents, infamous Chill Zone, new stretch area, the Free Beer on offer and Live music each night are just a few small things that make PE PLETT special.

We have also repositioned the brand, and as mush as the race and ride is important - we encourage you to “stop & smell the roses”. We live in a beautiful country and as you traverse the SANParks forest, MTO plantations and private lands of our hospitable farmers, I trust that you will realise that we are truly privileged. It’s not about who podiums but rather about creating great memories.

If you are a LITE rider, be proud of your achievement as you too at times will have to dig deep and hopefully in years to come you will return to conquer The Tough One. We have some new sponsors for the 2020 Prudential PE PLETT with Nutritech aligning itself with all Red Cherry brands. Our regulars of Woodlands Dairy, Tsitsikamma Crystal, African Pride, Namibian Breweries, Coca Cola, Squirt, Igen, Smhart Security and Titan Bikes all make the staging of this event possible ...

Thank You! The commitment by our title sponsor Prudential to PE PLETT is unbelievable and with Prudential moving into year 2 they have embraced and supported everything about this epic race and we have no doubt that numbers will grow each and every year .

We hopefully will make claim to one of the most incredible 7km finishes on any stage race as the 3 Rivers Trails team at Crossways have cut the most incredible single track downhill finish that any mountain biker could wish for ... ENJOY!!!

Our promise is a comfy mattress, spacious tent, great food ,cold beers, warm hospitality and most importantly … an insane 4 day route. Our biggest form of advertising is “Word of Mouth” so if you love what we have thrown at you ..spread the word!!. If things are not going to plan, please chat to the incredible Red Cherry Team and I will always be available to assist.

To our supportive sponsors, the loads of landowners, the vigilant volunteers and to you the riders ... Thank You Have a Blast and create some great memories !!!!!

Mike and the Red Cherry team

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Plan of Action Wed, 5 Feb: Kurland

14h00 - 20h00 18h30

Registration Opening and Riders Briefing

Thur, 6 Feb: Kurland to Tsitsikamma

07h15 07h45 08h00 11h00 - 17h00 18h00 - 20h00 19h00

Box drop-o ff closes Line-up in start shoot Start of Day 1 Lunch Supper Riders Briefing & Prize Giving

Fri, 7 Feb: Tsitsikamma to Suiderland

05h30 06h30 07h00 11h00 - 17h00 18h00 - 20h00 19h00

Breakfast station opens Box Drop-o ff closes Start of Day 2 Lunch Supper Riders Briefing & Prize Giving

Sat, 8 Feb: Suiderland to Zuurbron

05h30 06h30 07h00 11h00 - 17h00 18h00 - 20h00 19h00

Breakfast station opens Box Drop-o ff closes Start of Day 3 Lunch Supper Riders Briefing & Prize Giving

Sun, 9 Feb: Zuurbron to Crossways

05h30 06h30 07h00 11h00 - 14h00 12h00

Breakfast station opens Box Drop-o ff closes Start of Day 4 Lunch Prize Giving

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Tips for en Route • Hydration is important ... sip regularly and use the well stocked waterholes • Accept the fact that all roads are “live”, so ride responsibly.

Single file is recommended.

• Acknowledge those faster riders and allow them to pass.

Faster riders please be respectful.

• Embrace the spirit of the event - you could sleep in heaven courtesy of Tempur.

• At all waterholes, chain lube is available ... Use it!

• Zero your odos before you start. This is useful to the organisers if you do have a problem as they will be able to get to you quickly.

• If a rider goes down, make them comfortable - DO NOT MOVE THEM - wait for medics to arrive on the scene.

• Please adhere to compulsory portages.

VERY IMPORTANT: THE LAND WE ARE RIDING ON IS MOSTLY PRIVATE. IF YOU DO USE A GPS, WE ASK THAT AFTER THE EVENT YOU DELETE YOUR TRACK LOG. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RIDE THESE ROUTES OR SHARE TRACK INFORMATION WITH FRIENDS. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO RETURN AND DON’T WANT TO UPSET LANDOWNERS.

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Day 1

Start: Kurland Polo Field Finish: Tsitsikamma Adventure Park

Wi eklip

K.O.M

WH1 WH2

Groot Rivier Storms River

Salt River 10km

20km

30km

40km

50km

60km

70km

80km

90km

Day 1 - Tough

The journey to Storms River Adventure Village will see the LITE and TOUGH routes split right after the start. The TOUGH will tackle the single track of SAN PARKS through Salt River and up to the summit of Grootrivier Pass whilst the LITE will do an easy tar road start on the R102, rejoining the TOUGH route at the top of the Pass. It’s a beautiful single track plummet to Natures Valley and then up and over. Next en route is the Bloukrans Pass designed around the Elephant migration trail and it is truly magnificent to say the least.

It’s the same route for the LITE and TOUGH as the field enter Witteklip in SANParks and the 2nd waterhole as we summit the Storms River Pass where the TOUGH again splits from the LITE. Tough heads to the coast while the LITE takes a more direct route to the Finish line at Tsitsikamm Falls Adventure Village.

A sumptuous lunch, massage, bike wash, hot shower, free beer, new stretch zone and the opportunity to zipline the gorge are just some of the offerings awaiting you.

Wi eklip

Storms River

WH1

Salt River

WH2

Groot Rivier

10km

20km

30km

40km

Day 1 - Lite

5

50km

60km

70km

Day 2

Start: Tsitsikamma Adventure Park Finish: Suiderland Dairy Farm

600m WH2

500m 400m

Regyne Protea

300m 200m

Clarkson

K.O.M

WH1

Robbehoek

100m

Grasslands

Day 2 - Tough

This day is brand new as both the TOUGH and LITE follow the route from the Tsitsikamma Falls Adventures throught th jeep tracks of MTO Forestry with the highlights being the cliffs of Robbehoek viewpoint. The journey takes you through the Regime Protea Farm and into our 1st split at Oudebosch Farm Stall.

The LITE breakaway down the R102 whilst the TOUGH do an epic KMO climb where the “50 shades of Green� views will blo w you away. The balance of the day to the dairy farm village of Suiderland is some great single track along the Sasayama Range near Clarkson.

600m

WH2

500m 400m 300m

Clarkson Woodlands

Regyne Protea

200m 100m

WH1

Day 2 - Lite

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Day 3

Start: Suiderland Dairy Farm Finish: Zuurbron Bike Park

450m

K.O.M

350m

Bramwell

250m 150m 50m

Happy Valley

Zwartenbosch Misgund WH2

Churchill Dam

WH1

Day 3 - Tough

Departing Suiderland, we do a fast ‘n furious descent into the Churchill Dam and then tackle the sheep farms all the way to Queens KOM climb at Happy Valley. The LITE riders will give this climb a miss as they weave their way through Protea ridden single track all the way to Woodland Dairy’s waterhole at Zwartenbosch Golf Course. The balance of the day through Misgund is a stunning combination of jeep and single track taking us all the way to our popular overnight village - Zuurbron.

The new Zuurbron bike park was a hit in previous years and the village infrastructure and chilled vibe is very popular with all our previous riders. Jono will entertain us all as we prepare for Day 4 to Crossways.

400m 300m 200m 100m

Bramwell

Happy Valley

Zwartenbosch

Churchill Dam

Misgund WH2

WH1

Day 3 - Lite

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Day 4

Start: Zuurbron Bike Park Finish: Crossways Farm Black Porcupine

Longmore K.O.M

WH3

Papies

Loerie

Gamtoos

WH1

WH2

10km

20km

30km

40km

50km

60km

70km

Day 4 - Tough Day 4 and the home run to the Crossways finish line begins with some new handcrafted single track courtesy of farmer Jacques. It’s all downhill for 15km as we descend into the Gamtoos Valley.

What goes down must go up as you enter the awesome Longmore Forest jeep tracks with vistas of Jeffre ys Bay and St Francis making it all worthwhile.

The route takes the LITE riders only half way up and they split onto the 3 Rivers trails and some of the best MTB single track one could wish for. The single track of Purple Cow, Black Porcupine and Yellow Monkey will make the finish at Crossways a memorable one. The TOUGH continue the climb and the massive descent onto 3 River trails, joining the LITE route some 8km out, will blow you away.

It’s a 4-day Roller Coaster ride of the most varied and diverse mountain biking one could wish for and is an Adventure of note … One not to be missed !!!

Thornhill

250m 200m

Loerie

Train Bridge

150m 100m

WH1

WH2

50m

10km

20km

30km

Day 4 - Lite

13

40km

50km

60km

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Route Marking

The route is marked with ORANGE dayglo stickers • • •

• •

A Left Turn Approaching is marked with 2 ORANGE stickers on LH side of path A Right Turn Approaching is marked with 2 ORANGE stickers on RH side of path Single confirmation markers are always on LH side of path.

(If you see a single marker on RH side ... you are going the wrong way) All areas that are No Go are marked with a GREEN sticker. So if you see a Green sticker ... you are on the wrong route.

Look out for these signs - they indicate the 2 routes.

Important Contact Numbers: Mike Shaun Leilani Eugene (medic)

: : : :

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083 601 3287 082 691 3515 076 890 4681 082 448 3231

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Spectator Guide Following a MTB stage race has some challenges and hopefully this specta tor guide will help you follow family and friends.

Day 1 1.

Salt River - From Kurland take the R102 to Natures Valley. The Tough One riders will be climbing out of Salt River and crossing the road to the big downhill into Natures Valley. This is also where LITE's meet the Tough One. Total distance is 19km en route so arrival time of 1st riders could be 8.45am .

2.

Grootrivier - Proceed down the Tar pass to Natures Valley and watch out for riders entering the tar at the bottom. Proceed slowly up the Grootrivier Pass and arrive at 1st Waterhole. This is the 26km mark.

3.

Witchers Sawmill - Stay on R102 and exit onto N2 at Toll Plaza. The Bloukras pass is closed to Traffic. After the Toll Plaza travel on N2 in a Easterly direction for 16km and turn left onto the R102 signposted C oldstream and travel for 6km. Waterhole is on your right . This is the 42kmmark

4.

StormsRiver Village – proceed back to N2 and turn left. Travel 8.6km and turn Right into Storms River Village and left onto the main road. Waterhole point will be on your left at Stormsriver Adventures. The riders in Tough One have now completed 60km.

Day 2 1.

Regyne Protea Farm – From Tsitsikamma Village turn Right on N2. Travel 20km till you get the Turnoff to Kareedouw (R402). At off ramp turn Right across the N2. You will see Oudebosch Farm stall ahead. Turn left and 1st right on main gravel road. Watch for riders from the front. After turnoff on Gravel, travel 1.2km and turn right to Regyne Protea Farm. Waterhole 1 awaits and the riders for Tough One are at the 37km mark. This is where the LITE and TOUGH ONE split.

2.

Palmietvlei – Wallys Waterhole – Proceed back to N2 and travel East for 22km till you see the Clarkson Palmietvlei turnoff. Turn Right over Highway and proceed onto Gravel turning left after 2.1km. Carry on for 10km on Gravel road and turn Right for 6km. The waterhole will be at farm house.

They are at the 81km mark ... 11km to go.

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Day 3 1.

Osbosch Water Hole – From Brakkeduine turn right and take the Oyster Bay road . At T junction turn Right and travel 13.6km and take turn left to St Francis. Proceed another 10k m till you get to the tar T Junction at St Francis.

Turn Left over bridge and 3.6km on Tar road turn Right into farm called Osbosch. Waterhole at Farm House. 34km

2.

J Bay Crossing – Exit farm road and turn Right onto Tar and proceed through Humansdorp. Turn Right onto R102 towards Jeffre ys Bay . Just before Fountain Mall you will see them crossing the road from Right to Left. Tough One have ridden 55km

3.

Tomato Farm - Staying on the R102 travel in Easterly direction to the Kabeljous turnoff. Turn left under N2 and waterhole 1km on Left Hand side.Tough One riders have 64kmin the bag.

Day 4 There are limited options on Day 4 1.

Loerie split – from Zuurbron turn left to Hankey. In Hankey turn right on R331 and travel for 15km to the road crossing. The Tough ones proceed down tar and turn left past Loerie Dam and LITE turn Right up Loerie Pass.

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