Dr Evil blessed with the perfect cycling weather

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The 2021 edition of the Dr Evil Classic 3-Day Stage Race took place successfully during the Heritage Day weekend.

The boutique style stage race sold out and saw 250 riders on the start line at the beautiful Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve on Thursday 23 September.

The arrival of spring timed perfectly with the easing of restrictions on mass sport events for the ninth edition of the event.

Stage one was hard and hot with beautiful scenery and an idyllic start among the wildlife at the Plettenberg Bay Game Reserve. Riders felt the heat as they completed the 71km course that had 1 400m of climbing.

Stage two kicked off at the grand Kurland Hotel and Polo Estate pavilion on Friday 24 September and with the cooler weather, some fierce racing took place among the front runners. Most of the field, however, participated purely for fun and it was fantastic to see people relaxing outdoors after 18 months of Covid-19 blues.

"It was a great day out on the course, perfect weather and lots of smiling faces," said Clint Cawood, the CEO of the CCPP Group and the race's title partner. Cawood has ridden the event many times and decided to come on board as the title partner in 2019.

Day three is known for its single track and spectacular ocean views as it traverses both indigenous forest sections and parts of the Robberg Coastal Corridor. Leon Evans, aka Dr Evil, had thrown riders a curveball by adding a new section of single track the day before race day.

This elevated the route and took racing to a new level, and there were many happy faces as riders relaxed at the end of the third and final stage at Cairnbrogie Dairy Farm in perfect weather.

The event ended on a joyful high note thanks to the Pay It Forward lucky draw, compliments of Scott Sports Africa. Riders were encouraged to put their names in the lucky draw 'hat' to stand a chance to win a Scott bike worth over R100 000.

The twist was that whoever won the bicycle, would have to give their current bicycle to a development rider.

Over 100 people entered the draw and the name drawn on stage was none other than up-and-coming local development rider from the Kwano Cycling Academy, Anelisa Aries. Colin Shave, who is a manager at the academy, was overjoyed as this also meant that Anelisa could give his bicycle, which was the best bicycle at the academy, to another development rider. It was a fitting end to three fantastic days of riding in Plett.

The entries for the 2022 edition will open on 25 January.