Attakwas Extreme Postponed Due to Second Wave

Hosting an event of the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme presented by Biogen’s size is simply not possible within the current Garden Route regulations for combatting the spread of Covid-19. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.

Momentum Medical Scheme, Biogen and Dryland Event Management have taken

the decision to postpone the 2021 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme

presented by Biogen. Given the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases in the Garden

Route in general, and Oudtshoorn in particular, staging an event of this size would

not be responsible. After careful consideration to the possibility of staging a series of

reduced capacity races under the event’s banner it was determined that doing so

would not align with the ethics by which Dryland and the event sponsors conduct

their businesses.

“The upsurge in Covid-19 cases in our area in recent weeks, and the move to

localised restrictions to combat the spread of the virus, contributed to making it

impossible to stage the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme presented by

Biogen in January 2021” Henco Rademeyer of Dryland Event Management noted.

“We were working towards hosting a safe and successful event, in accordance with

Cycling South Africa and the national government’s directives, but the decision was

effectively taken out of our hands by the increased restrictions the Garden Route has

now been placed under. I’m sure everyone who had entered the sold-out 2021

edition share our disappointment but also understand that we cannot host an event

in contradiction with government regulations.”

It is Dryland Event Management’s hope that a move to an August date will give international riders the opportunity to participate as they build up to the postponed 2021 Absa Cape Epic. Photo by ZC Marketing Consulting.

“Health comes first” added Carel Bosman, Momentum Medical Scheme’s Lead

Sponsorships and Events. “I share the disappointment of my fellow mountain bikers.

The decision was really hard and heart-breaking. We had so much hope for the start

of the year; we explored every option at our disposal, looking for ways to host the

event and restructure it to adhere to the new regulations. Sadly, the only viable

option was to postpone the race; as it is important that we all do our bit to limit the

spread of the Corona Virus. Hosting the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas

Extreme presented by Biogen is not currently a responsible course of action. We, as

healthy people, need to make decisions which help keep the more vulnerable

members of our society safe.”

“Biogen fully supports the decision to postpone the Momentum Medical Scheme

Attakwas Extreme presented by Biogen” said Brandon Fairweather, the General

Manager of Biogen. “That said we also share in the disappointment of the riders. We

will however be working with Momentum Medical Scheme and Dryland Event

Management to ensure that the postponed 2021 edition of the Attakwas is a fitting

celebration of the Klein Karoo and extreme mountain biking.”

To that end the Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme presented by Biogen

will be rescheduled to August 2021. “The new date sets up the race as the perfect

tune-up for the postponed Absa Cape Epic” Rademeyer pointed out. “Taking place

about two months from the Epic it will be the ideal test of form and training for local

and international mountain bikers alike.”

“I would also like to reiterate that the postponement only affects the Momentum

Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme and Attakwas Half presented by Biogen”

Rademeyer highlighted. “The rest of Dryland’s events should proceed as scheduled.

The Momentum Medical Scheme Tankwa Trek presented by Biogen in particular is

still on for 4 to 7 February. We are working closely with the Witzenberg authorities

and monitoring the situation very closely. Unlike the Attakwas where thousands of

people stay in hotels and bed and breakfasts in Oudtshoorn, the Tankwa Trek riders

typically remain in the race village throughout the event, making it easier to create a

bubble of screened individuals at the race.”

All entrants to the 2021 Momentum Medical Scheme Attakwas Extreme presented

by Biogen will be contacted to explain the alternatives Dryland Event Management

have been able to create to offset the effect of the event’s postponement. “I’d like to

thank everyone for their understanding” Rademeyer concluded. “We are acutely

aware of the patience and continued support Dryland have received from the riders

who were looking forward to taking part in our events this year. I can only assure

them that we are planning a fantastic return for all our events which have been

affected by the pandemic!”