Dr Evil Stage 3 Just Went Next Level

Published: March 4th, 2022

MTO Trails Garden Route and the Dr Evil Classic 3 Stage Race – Stage 3 Just Went Next Level

There is just something about Plettenberg Bay that makes mountain bikers smile. A group of seasoned Plett locals have decided that synergy and collaboration makes sense and benefits this seaside town as a whole. CEO of Plett Tourism, Patty Butterworth said that she was happy to see partnerships forming to support Plett’s local economy throughout the year.

Since the recent inception of the MTO Trails Garden Route in 2021 – some world-class trail building has taken place in this already stunning cycling territory. This has been due to a very positive collaboration between MTO Trails – Garden Route and the team at Club 100. Due to a new partnership with Biogen, this trail-building initiative has become a reality.

**At the finish of the 2022 Dr Evil Stage 3**

It just made sense that Dr Evil, aka Leon Evans and his business partner, Zandile Meneses, who own the Dr Evil Classic 3 Day Stage Race have joined forces with this project to market Plett. The stage race is pooling marketing resources with Plett Tourism, MTO Trails Garden Route and the Bayview Hotel to promote all that the town has to offer cyclists.

Douw van der Merwe, who heads up this initiative on behalf of MTO Trails Garden Route explains that the overall Garden Route Trails stretch from Knysna through to Witelsbos in the Tsitsikamma. “The Trails boast over 1000km of plantation jeep tracks and linking single track. Riders have a choice of various trail permit options for single entry or multiple entry permits.”

The most recent build includes a 16km section of sublime single track in the Kranshoek area, bordering the Harkerville Forest and adjacent to Cairnbrogie Dairy Farm. The new single track and the existing Cairnbrogie single track along the coastline forms part of stage 3 of the Dr Evil Classic and takes this stage to new levels of rider bliss. Leon Evans describes the new sections as “simply amazing, flowing, handmade, properly bermed and manicured trail heaven!”

The BUCO Dr Evil Classic takes in the scenic coastal trails of the Robberg Coastal Corridor – a highly environmentally sensitive area – on the third and final stage of the race. Photo by Daron Chatz.

The MTO Garden Route Trails collaboration has created employment and skills development opportunities for four up-and-coming trail builders who work on the routes. It also means that there will be more and more beautiful trails being created as this project progresses. Cyclists can go to www.mtotrails.com to purchase a day pass for R50 or an annual pass for R400. You then receive a board that serves as your access pass.

As the official accommodation partner to the Dr Evil Classic, the Bayview Hotel has partnered up with MTO to offer guests an exciting opportunity to explore all the MTO trails on offer in Plett.

The centrally located Bayview Hotel is only minutes from the start of the Dr Evil race villages and 15 minutes from the incredible new trails. The hotel has a new addition of secure bicycle storage and a bike wash bay. Riders can enjoy a delicious pre-race breakfast at our onsite and independently-run restaurant Adi’s Kitchen, overlooking Lookout Beach and the majestic Tsitsikamma mountain range.

Check out www.bayviewhotel.co.za for cycling specials, where all access MTO trail passes are included in your stay.

***Medals are handed out to finishers at Cairnbrogie on the 3rd Stage of the Dr Evil Classic***

If you want to experience the best that Plett has to offer in terms of trails and hospitality at an affordable entry fee – take a look at www.drevilclassic.com. Limited entries, E-Bikes and Gravel bikes welcome. Riders who enter both the Dr Evil Classic 3 Day Stage Race and the Lions Karoo to Coast get a preferential start group in the K2C.