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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.”
“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!”