MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – Louis Trichardt was turned into a carnival town last weekend when over 1 500 cyclists and twice that number of supporters and family descended on it.

With every possible hotel and B&B bed in the region taken, 800 people were crammed into the caravan park for a party of cycling.

Exactly 1 212 cyclists entered for the main event of 175km, and at 08:00 on Saturday they snaked their way over the Soutpansberg to a breakfast in Waterpoort.

At 10:30, they set off across the Sand River for Vivo and lunch in the Blouberg Dutch Reformed Church. For a short period, Vivo was transformed from a "sleepy dorp" into a hive of activity, with cyclists, cars and trailers everywhere.

At 12:30, 251 juveniles, juniors, women and those less courageous than the participants in the main race, set off from Vivo for a separate 72km race back to Louis Trichardt.

At 13:00, the caravan of cyclists, officials and supporters of the main event departed to Schoemansdal. By the time they reached Schoemansdal, the cyclists had ridden 150km and were feeling the effects of sore legs and cramps, but as the tiredness increased, so the spirit and fellowship amongst the riders increased. When they departed at 15:30 for Louis Trichardt, their numbers were swelled by 100 fun riders.

In the meantime, back in town, a party was taking place at the Information Centre with entertainment for those visitors who did not travel the route. By the time the main group of cyclists arrived in Songozwi Street just after 16:00, the public party was in full swing and a large crowd was on hand to welcome back the exhausted but elated cyclists. As their race numbers were being removed, the most commonly heard remark was "Great race – I will be back next year!" And they will be back – many of them have already booked their accommodation and paid their deposit.

The Kremetart has put the Soutpansberg on the tourist map, as it brought almost 5 000 people to the region, many of whom did not even know where Louis Trichardt was. On Friday before the event, the organizers received dozens of phone calls asking the same question: "From Johannesburg, which direction do we go to reach Louis Trichardt?"