After the devastating fire of January 2016, the inaugural Fairtree Simonsberg Contour MTB stage race overcame serious challenges and presented riders with a premier winelands riding experience. In February 2019, Fairtree in collaboration with the Simonsberg Conservancy, landowners and Stellenbosch event organisers Dirtopia, will present riders with the 4th edition of ‘The Fire Ride’ where riders will get a chance to experience the recovering Simonsberg Conservancy. The 2019 Mountain Bike event is set to take place on the 2nd & 3rd of February 2019 and the Trail Run is set to take place on the 9th & 10th of February 2019.

The Fairtree Contour has been created to continue the development of mountain biking routes and expose the incredible network of single-track trails on the Simonsberg Mountain. With over 25km of mountain single-track, connecting more than 10 wine estates, the region is set to become a hotspot for mountain bike trail riders as well as trail runners.

Dirtopia has spent the last 5 years developing new routes on Delheim and Muratie wine estates. These trails are now operated in partnership with the landowners and the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy being the primary beneficiary. The conservancy represents more than 20 farms around the mountain and is currently focused on a multi-million rand alien clearing project to return large tracts of the mountain to fynbos and renosterveld. In terms of routing; route designer Meurant Botha says riders can look forward to Simonsberg with the emphasis on making it the faster, easier route of the two. Sunday’s Queen Stage returns with new trails to eliminate one or two of the lung-busting vineyard climbs and replace them with flowing trails. The trail team is set to start construction in October, gearing up for a hot summer of building.