2020 CYCLE VILLAGE

Pioneers Lodge – Opening April 2020

About three kilometres from the majestic Victoria Falls, in the tranquil heart of the small town’s residential area is where you’ll find Pioneers.

It is one of the few owner run establishments in Victoria Falls & is focused on delivering an honestly priced stay with a high level of service.

The style of the lodge, without compromising on comfort, captures the era of the early explorers & pioneers, and celebrates this rich diversity of cultures that surround us in Victoria Falls.

Neutral Zone, Technical Back up

The mechanical back up team, will also be situated at the Cycle Village and will be there to assist with any mechanical hiccups the riders may experience. They will only be charging for parts and consumables used. Please note that this team will not be offering bike washing as part of their service nor will they be doing routine servicing of bikes – they will be there to assist with serious mechanical faults only. Please bear in mind that there will be a limited stock of spares and the team will do the best they can with what
is available. There will be bike washers on hand, but please tip them as you
see fit.

THE PROGARMME

Pre- booked packages, you and your bikes will be met at the Victoria Falls airport and transferred to your hotels.

The registration desk will be open at The Cycle Village from 12.00hrs to 16.00hrs and then move to the to another venue to be advised for late comers. The welcome, safety and race briefing will be done at a venue to be advised at 18.00hrs. It is compulsory for all participants to attend this briefing.

Dinner will be provided after the briefing and drinks will be available at your own expense. Buses will be on hand to shuttle riders to and from the Cycle Village at the end of the evening.

Most importantly for those who do not have their own transport to the start, please ensure that your bikes are numbered and have been delivered to the Cycle Village before 16.00. Please place them on the bike racks available to you, so that they are loaded on the trucks that will deliver them to the starting point the following morning.

10th July Day 1 Distance approximately 80KMS Matetsi to Vic Falls

 

Bikes will be loaded the night before and entrants will depart the hotel at 6 am. The road transfer will take approximately 40 minutes along the Bulawayo Road. We aim to start the Days ride at 7.15am. The 80 km route starts on a gravel road and after 2-3 kms will enter a single track for approximately 10 kms. Thereafter you will cross the Matetsi river and be on a double track for about 20 kms or so. You will then be on single track again and double track through wildlife areas and community reserves until you get to the finish at The Cycle Village. Enjoy the natural surroundings and keep a respectable distance should you came across any wildlife.

Braai and drinks will be available at the finish.

Free afternoon at Leisure.

Meet at 18.00pm for  Day 2 briefing followed by dinner.  For the Cycle Village residents dinner is included and for non  residents welcome at own expense.

Make sure your bikes are delivered to the Cycle Village by 16.00hrs for loading if you do not have your own transport to get to the starting point for Day 2.

11th July Day 2 Distance 65kms – The Zambezi River

 

Your Bikes will be transported to the starting point which will be about 35kms from Vic Falls on the Kazungula Road. Riders will depart from Kingdom Hotel at 6.00 and the race will start once the safety marshals have given their Ok.

The ride will immediately take us down into the Westwood Vlei and follow double and single tracks through the Matetsi private concession down to the Zambezi river and into the Zambezi National Park. From here the route follows the river with the odd loop inland on a combination of gravel, single and double track all the way to Pioneers Lodge.

Free afternoon at your own leisure.

Briefing for Day 3 at 18.00 hrs at the Cycle Village

Make sure your bikes are delivered to the Cycle Village by 16.00hrs for loading if you do not have your own transport to get to the starting point for Day 2.

12th July Day 3 Distance 60km – Batoka Gorge, Riding on the edge

 

The buses will leave the Cycle Village at 6 am and transfer you to today’s start, approximately 30kms downstream from the Victoria Falls themselves. It’s just about all single track and the most technically challenging day of the event. The start has a 3 km stretch on gravel before entering a gentle single track through the rural villages.

You will then enter the Wild Horizons National Park concession and enjoy a single track that has been referred to as one of the best single track routes they have ever ridden! Interspersed regularly along this route are (some) breath taking views of the Zambezi river way below. As you approach the end of the ride, you will be greeted by the thunder and spray of the Victoria Falls before the final stretch to the Cycle Village.

This afternoon is spent relaxing and soothing tired muscles before meeting at 3.30pm for transportation to the sundowner cruise. The cruise takes place on the river above the falls and lasts until just after sunset. The cruise drops us off at the gala dinner venue on the banks of the Zambezi where we will enjoy prize giving, dinner and drinks.