Roof of Africa 2019

[shark_za]

The only other Gold Internationals are an SA dude who emigrated to Australia and another dude from New Zealand.
3 Solid looking Silver competitors going on Romaniacs and UK results, and a few Bronze guys from Europe and the USA.

 

[NUMSCH]

 

[NUMSCH]

Main Points
Avani Lesotho Hotel (Documentation) – S29°19'8.07" E27°29'17.89"
Thaba Bosiu Cultural Village (Start/Finish) – 29°20'50.44"S 27°39'46.42"E
Maseru Mall (EnduroX) – 29°20'5.10"S 27°29'1.34"E
Maseru Club Soccer Field (Round the Houses) - 29°18'45.57"S 27°28'36.54"E
Spectator Points
Thursday
SP 1 & 4 - 29°20'19.27"S 27°39'11.26"E
Steel bridge near start
SP 2 - 29°20'7.27"S 27°41'31.87"E
River crossing
SP 3 - 29°19'32.68"S 27°41'40.35"E
Top of Handle Bar Hill
Friday
SP 1 & 13 - 29°20'19.27"S 27°39'11.26"E
Steel bridge near start
SP 2 & 12 - 29°20'7.27"S 27°41'31.87"E
River crossing
SP 3 & 11 - 29°19'32.68"S 27°41'40.35"E
Top of Handle Bar Hill
SP 4 - 29°15'25.88"S 27°44'52.09"E
Top of Climb 1 – Lancers Gap Road
SP 5 - 29°15'9.31"S 27°47'41.25"E
Top of Climb 2 – Lancers Gap Road + Tar crossing
SP 6 - 29°11'56.15"S 27°48'50.11"E
Sand stone climb
SP 7 - 29°12'52.84"S 27°50'51.71"E
Tar Crossing
Refuel 1 (DSP) - 29°11'37.15"S 27°52'38.44"E
SP 8 (Bronze Only) - 29°14'5.69"S 27°55'7.82"E
Spectacular climb
Refuel 2 (Gold Only – Unassisted) - 29°11'44.58"S 28° 4'29.09"E
Refuel 2/3 (Unassisted) - 29°16'21.85"S 27°56'4.68"E
SP 9 - 29°18'19.51"S 27°50'25.97"E
Metelong Dam crossing
SP 10 - 29°18'14.66"S 27°46'40.84"E
Gravel crossing
Saturday
SP 1 & 16 - 29°20'19.27"S 27°39'11.26"E
Steel bridge near start
SP 2 - 29°20'19.69"S 27°41'19.41"E
Tar road crossing
SP 3 - 29°20'22.18"S 27°43'28.46"E
Top of 1st climb
Refuel 1 (Gold only – Unassisted) - 29°21'42.64"S 27°48'37.35"E
SP 4 - 29°25'23.60"S 27°53'5.87"E
Setibeng Valley
SP 5 & 9 - 29°25'33.51"S 27°51'36.94"E
Bushmans Major Point 1
SP 6 & 8 - 29°24'54.17"S 27°51'7.97"E
Top of Soldiers Way/Soldiers Slide
SP 7 - 29°24'42.58"S 27°50'38.05"E
Bottom of Soldiers Way
Refuel 2 (DSP) - 29°25'39.42"S 27°51'35.89"E
SP 10 - 29°25'37.52"S 27°51'2.59"E
Bushmans Major Point 2 (Pylon)
SP 11 - 29°25'33.76"S 27°43'28.41"E
Top of Fox Hole
SP 12 - 29°25'31.69"S 27°42'5.39"E
Top of Free Fall
SP 13 - 29°25'25.41"S 27°41'47.16"E
Tar Crossing
SP 14 - 29°22'4.04"S 27°38'41.08"E
Tar Crossing
SP 15 - 29°20'32.73"S 27°39'6.34"E
Major Final Point

 

[Mark800XC]

Long day on Friday for the Gold boys. Much like Charan's last Roof? It was fast and long...

 

[J37]

 

[NUMSCH]

Long day on Friday for the Gold boys. Much like Charan's last Roof? It was fast and long...

I don't think Charan planned this one fast!

 

[Pom17]

I don't think Charan planned this one fast!

Also dont think so.

See a 10hr ride for silver on Friday

 

[Ten Bar]

Long day on Friday for the Gold boys. Much like Charan's last Roof? It was fast and long...

Mark is 100 % correct, A LOOOT of lowland riding, everything in green is Lowlands, the run for Gold to Moslelemane Pass is at least 60-80ks of fast riding , actually this route is a bit sloppy. Whoever designed this route has used only old route, there is not one single new piece. All of it is old routes patched together. Jarvis will hate this, So if all goes well Wade is the winner. Agreed Silver are going to piss. Gold is 180km at around 30km/h will be 6-7 hr ride

 

[Tombstone]

E-mail me if you want a copy of the Google Earth kmz file I created this morning.

steve.lauter@iafrica.com

 

[shark_za]

So my observations of the route ,

TT is 1/2 of the 2012 TT , should be a breeze.

Friday for me is the only unknown, I don't know much about that north sections around Sefikeng but look at the little detours they are giving Bronze along the way.
As Ten Bar says this could be lowlands flow for a lot of the way but as these little detours show it could get hectic.

For Saturday the Bronze the route is basically the Qualifier in reverse with Belekomo thrown in to make it 20km longer.
For Silver+ it adds some of the woes stuff between Bushmans and Roma, not sure if Daltons Drop, Middle Pass etc are in as its not so clear.
Looks like Gold/Silver will go up Freefall or Fox Hole while Bronze will go up Sandstone/White and skirt along the top to get over the mountain to Thaba Bosiu.

 

[swazi_matt]

Mark is 100 % correct, A LOOOT of lowland riding, everything in green is Lowlands, the run for Gold to Moslelemane Pass is at least 60-80ks of fast riding , actually this route is a bit sloppy. Whoever designed this route has used only old route, there is not one single new piece. All of it is old routes patched together. Jarvis will hate this, So if all goes well Wade is the winner. Agreed Silver are going to piss. Gold is 180km at around 30km/h will be 6-7 hr ride

that will change my prediction then to favor the fitter younger wade and teasdale over trials skills

 

[Bush Wacker]

I predict 180km is still a.long way, and its going to be a mental game

 

[Marck]

Hi Guys.

So Bronze will be in the seat for how long? Any ideas?

 

[Naughty Ian]

Long day on Friday for the Gold boys. Much like Charan's last Roof? It was fast and long...

And then you get the people asking why The Roof is not part of the WESS series - here's the answer

 

[Bush Wacker]

Hi Guys.

So Bronze will be in the seat for how long? Any ideas?

long enough, I guess leaders in 4-5 hours

 

[whyme]

Ridiculous KM's to be honest for Enduro.

Last years route was awesome was hoping they would take it back there.

 

[Cheezy]

I Like it! This will bring back a lot of blasts from the past over the next few years. Welcome back Roof..very happy to see this.

 

[Bush Wacker]

I am getting excited!

 

[Cheezy]

I am getting excited!

I know the feeling boet! and i'm jealous

 

[shark_za]

Its all happening, excitement is growing. Lets go ride in the mountains !