Roof of Africa Time Trial

ONLY THE FITTEST WILL SURVIVE 2011 ROOF OF AFRICA ENDURO IN LESOTHO

Excitement has reached fever pitch for the upcoming 2011 Roof of Africa, one of the most gruelling and yet prestigious dirt-bike races in the world that will take place in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho from 24 to 26 November.

While the group of organisers for this year’s event, consisting of Red Cherry Adventures and LORA (Lesotho Off-road Association) as well as experienced individuals, have been hard at work engineering the 44^th running of this event, the final entry list brims with 234 entries that include the names of 26 international competitors from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the UK and Portugal.

Red Cherry Adventure’s Mike Glover, who has taken the reigns at the head of the organising group, is still in Lesotho adding the final touches to the preparations for the Big Day – Thursday, 24 November when the 2011 Roof of Africa will kick off with the traditional street race, Round the Houses, in the Lesotho capital of Maseru. Glover has, however, unfolded some of the new developments for the race that will have spectators and riders chomping at the bit for the Big Day to arrive.

A group of experienced riders, who will not be competing, plotted the route this past weekend in hot weather conditions and it sounds like the routes for this year’s Roof of Africa race will ensure this race to be described with one word: EPIC!

“We really wanted to create a route that would not only challenge all of the competitors in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Classes, but also expose them to awesome new areas and some of the most beautiful riding scenery anyone could hope for,” Glover said.

The massive crowd will already experience the first change with the Round the Houses street race running in reverse while a Romaniacs type obstacle where riders will have to tackle some man-made obstacles before continuing on tar, will add to the excitement of the racing section in town.

Riders will then continue immediately to the Thaba Bosiu area about 20 kilometres outside Maseru where they will tackle a brand new Time Trial section. Their race times will determine the starting order for Friday’s racing section.

Riders will take on Friday’s Racing Section Two at 06h00 from Molangoane Lodge and the route will take them to Nyakosoba and Two Bridges with the “red carpet” finish after an action packed day for competitors in the Bronze and Silver Classes at ULI Forest. There will be another hurdle for competitors in the Gold Class who have entered to do the full race distance – it is called Free Fall close to Roma and this will be a name they will not easily forget – Hell Hill  would probably be more appropiate...

According to local Lesotho businessman, Seamus McCarthy, who has designed the route for this race last year and has competed in many Roof of Africa races, the only word to describe Free Fall is ‘extreme’ and spectators will welcome those riders who have managed to beat Black Neck Pass (in reverse); Spiderman; Hijack and Mad Cow Passes – to name but a few – at a spectacular finish on a 55 degree rocky gradient.

Survivors will line-up at 06h00 on Saturday, 26 November, at Molangoane Lodge knowing that a higher level of difficulty awaits them on the final day. Competitors in the Bronze Class will finish at Free Fall, but will have all day to get there. The fun and games start with the Silver Class section at Mankaluba Pass. This six kilometre climb has never been ridden up before and the summit is over 7 500ft. But wait, there is more…

More names that will haunt them after the race will include Seamus’ Slide; a new version of Poponyane; Belokomo; Cannibal Bridge and the dreaded Bushman’s Pass that will certainly get the heartbeat racing.

Except for experiencing the race, spectators and enthusiasts can prepare themselves for festive activities every night at the new Roof Fan Zone at Lesotho Sun where the day’s action will be featured on the big screen and the plans for the next day will be revealed. Shuttle busses will run between Free Fall and Bushman’s Pass and busses will run continually on Saturday.

It is quite clear that a massive organising team have got the extra mile to provide entrants with a route that will ensure they have the ride of their lives while spectators, supporters and enthusiasts can follow the race and be wined and dined.

For updated information, visit www.roofofafrica.co.ls