OUDTSHOORN NEWS - As South Africa gears down for the annual summer holidays the country's mountain bikers ramp up their training ahead of the infamously tough Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme, presented by Biogen.

Taking place on Saturday 20 January the Attakwas Extreme is the traditional season opener and is bound to test the legs of each of the 1 200 expected participants.

Challenging riders to a 121 km long route, which includes 2 900 meters of vertical elevation gain, the Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme has earned the title: 'The Hell of the South'. 

Starting in the Little Karoo and traversing the imposing barrier that is the Outeniqua Mountains, via Attakwaskloof, before taking on undulating roads through the southern foothills of the mountains towards the finish line, near the coast at Great Brak River.

Five times Attakwas Extreme winner and former women's course record holder Ariane Lüthi will once again be starting her season, which also includes the Momentum Health Tankwa Trek at the event. 

With seven Attakwas finishes on her palmarès, Lüthi has a strong affinity for the event: "The Attakwas isn't called 'The Hell of The South' for nothing. It's rough and it's a proper challenge. 

"At the finish line, your body feels like you've gone through hell – bruised from rocks flicking up, scratched from the thorn bushes, dehydrated and burned from the unforgiving sun, and completely rattled from those long kilometres through the rough Karoo. 

"As hard as it is to conquer it, the Attakwas race gives a unique opportunity to ride through this beautiful valley," she reflected.

Putting in the long and lonely December training miles will stand you in good stead come the Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme on 20 January 2018.

For the less competitive riders, the Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme is all about reaching personal objectives. Be they in the shape of simply finishing or a particular time. 

What remains key, for all riders, though is the appropriate training in December and early January. 

Putting in the long hours in the saddle and working on your core strength are musts for success at the Attakwas. 

Keep in mind the first 65 kilometres of the route are particularly rugged. So hours on the road bike on asphalt or sessions on the indoor trainer, though beneficial, will not match kilometres upon kilometres of training on your mountain biking in rough terrain.

With an eleven hour cut-off time and given that the average rider spends around eight hours on route nutrition is of vital importance at the Attakwas. 

With Dryland Event Management's famously well-stocked water points dotting the route, every 25 kilometres or so, your race day nutrition and hydration needs will be taken care of by Biogen.

There are limited entries to the Momentum Health Attakwas Extreme still available online. 

While for younger riders, and those not yet up to the full challenge the Spur Attakwas Mini offers a 52 kilometre long route, starting and finishing at the Pine Creek Resort, Great Brak, which is the perfect introduction to the Attakwas Extreme experience.

For more information and online entries please visit www.atta.co.za.

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