With only one week to go, excitement in cycling circles in and around Makhado (Louis Trichardt) is building up. “Everyone is working really hard to make this year’s PPC Kremetart Weekend one to remember, and we urge all our local citizens to get involved,” was the invitation from the hosts, the P&L Cycling Club.

The weekend will kick off on Friday afternoon, 6 June, while cyclists start to arrive for the big four-stage race on Saturday (7th). On Friday, a 10 km mountain bike fun ride will take place. This event will be hosted by MalJan of Jacaranda RMFM fame. Bits of the race will also be broadcast live on the Jacaranda FM.

Besides the major event on Saturday, two other events will also be staged. Shortly after the start of the 175km race, the 70km road race will take place on Saturday morning, followed by the KFC Kiddies Race, promising loads of fun for families. Both of these will be hosted at the Soutpansberg Tourism Info Centre, where a wide variety of stalls will be available to buy food and other goods.

The main event, the 175km one-day, four-stage race around the Soutpansberg, will also offer more supporter points and buses this year. You don't have to compete with the pro-cyclists, but just dust off your bike, or even be a supporter; there will be something for everybody’s taste, come the Kremetart weekend. 

On Sunday (8th), following the main event of the weekend, a mountain bike cross-country Olympic event wil take place. This event will display some of the most beautiful scenery that the Soutpansberg Mountains have to offer.

Late entries can be made online at www.kremetartcycling.co.za.

Apart from local residents stretching those winter muscles, the Kremetart also brings together various local charitable and other community organisations by getting them involved in projects during the race weekend. In doing so, the Kremetart not only promotes these organisations' causes, but also offers them the opportunity to raise funds. These include the local Ladies Circle, Round Table, schools and town/farm watch organisations.

“Our wish is that the community will be just as excited about the Kremetart as we are. The race is a financial injection into the town, and gives locals the opportunity to show off our area’s natural beauty,” say the organizers.