Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 96, July 2017 | Page 41

W
hat a pleasure it was to be on my way
to Mauritius, looking forward to three
days of mountain-biking fun mixed with
a tropical getaway. Ironically enough,
the in-flight movie was Moana, all about a mystical
spell surrounding a tropical island and its tribe!
A little over four hours later, I was making the
10-minute trip from the airport to the 5-star
Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa, along with
three fellow South Africans. Located on the south-
eastern coast of the island, this incredible hotel is set
on a private peninsula with three different beaches,
lapped by the Blue Bay Marine Park and its rich sea
life, and just a short boat ride from the famous Ile aux
Aigrettes Nature Reserve.
In the Lap of Luxury
The Shandrani has something for everyone when
it comes to sports and leisure, including a range of
water sports such as water-skiing, sailing and diving,
as well as land sports such as golf (the hotel features
a nine-hole ‘pitch & putt’ course). Other facilities
include a spa, as well as four restaurants that invite
you to sample sumptuous dishes served with a choice
of fine wines, and that is all accompanied by live
entertainment each evening on the terrace.
Meanwhile, my room was superb, incredibly spacious
and luxurious, with an awesome bathroom featuring
both bath and shower, a walk-in closet, and a balcony
overlooking the azure ocean. Having settled in, we
were treated to a s crumptious eat-as-much-as-you-
can buffet with a Thai themed menu, and then it was
off to prepare my chariot for the early morning start.
Oh yes, another massive bonus of this trip: My Air
Mauritius ticket included the transport of my bike at no
extra cost, which is an essential for cyclists, given that
there was no option to hire a mountain bike there for
the event.
An early start!
As the cock crowed the next morning, we met in the
foyer at 4:30am, with me still wiping the Sandman’s
beach deposit from my bloodshot eyes. I attempted
to wake my stomach from its slumber by forcing some
croissants down my throat, which was behaving like
a stubborn goose being fattened for foie gras ! The
bikes were loaded in the trucks two by two (Hoorah,
Hoorah), then we were winding our way to the start a
little over an hour’s drive away. The race briefing was
done in French, and to be honest, I felt as out of place
as Bakkies Botha ordering a baguette at a pavement
bistro in Toulon. Probably not a bad thing… otherwise
I would have known what lay ahead.
According to my race registration pack, we were
in for a 72km stage from Paradis Beachcomber
Golf Resort & Spa, via Chamarel, to Shandrani.
The hooter went and we were off like a herd of wild
horses, and the 29er stallions powered by Lycra-clad
warriors soon left me in a cloud of dust. Thankfully, I
wasn’t in last place, but not because I had a blistering
start, rather because the unfortunate rider behind me
had snapped his chain! What was to follow was simply
incredible.
The climb of 1400 metres weaving around a dormant
volcano was tough, to say the least. Like a coiled
snake, it sat poised to strike, almost teasing with
threat after threat around each bend. To be honest,
I was hoping it would strike, and mercifully put me
out of my (then) painful misery… but the sights were
majestic to behold! Pearl white beaches as far as the
eye could see, as turquoise waves gently caressed the
sand, and I felt like the King of the Jungle.
But wait, there’s more…
Having soaked my tired legs in the soothing water
of the resort’s pool, I was famished, and dinner that
evening was an absolute smorgasbord of Lebanese
cuisine. I ate so much I came close to telling my
stomach, “Slow down, Dude, the two of us still need
to ride again tomorrow!” Then it was back to the room
to rest up for day two, which (thankfully) began with a
much more leisurely start from our resort at 7:30am.
We rode a fast and pretty flat 29km route via Plein
Bois that found us chasing each other left and right
like Tom chasing Jerry through the meandering maze-
like sugar cane fields.
After a glorious shower back in my room and putting
my feet up in style, the evening saw us take on stage
three. What a great idea to add a 22.5km night
ride that once again started at the resort, with five
laps of 4.5km going through Le Bouchon – great for
spectators and families to be able to support at such
close range. Racing along the route with the full moon
illuminating the path before us like a giant candle,
creating an array of shadows across the ocean, we
were joined by Mother Nature’s nocturnal creatures,
scurrying to and fro like passengers at a crowded tube
station. They all seemed to need to be somewhere
urgently, which seemed appropriate as we raced our
way around the course.
One more day of majestic trails
Italian was on the menu that night, including pastas,
pizzas and desserts, and once again I ate and ate
until I felt like – and quite possibly resembled – the
Oros Man. The invitingly soft bed in my room was
calling my name as I called it a night, looking forward
to an incredibly comfortable sleep to prepare for the
third day’s riding and the final stage, which again
started and finished at Shandrani at 7:30am. This
time we faced a 57km stage via Etoile with so many
undulations, it felt like I was following the contours of
a Triceratops dinosaur’s tail! But again, unbelievable
scenery and stunning views made me forget about
tired legs or burning lungs.
That night it was pita breads, lamb kleftiko and
baklava… Yes, you guessed it, Greek was on the
menu, and as with the previous nights’ meals, it was
absolutely brilliant. Once again, I ate like a king, and
this time I knew I didn’t have to worry about carrying
any extra weight on the bike the next day. Let’s just
say I enjoyed myself! And then it was time to pamper
my body with a soak in the bath up in my room. Pure
bliss.
As I prepared to leave for the airport the next day,
I thought about the beauty of the island, with
colours so bright and oceans so blue that it looks
like something out of a painting, with time standing
still. The Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa is
superb, with amenities aplenty, and guests are made
to feel at home, wanting for nothing. While the daily
exertion of the mountain biking took its toll physically
and emotionally, the luxurious accommodation and
phenomenal variety of gourmet food that we were
presented each evening certainly made the trip all the
more memorable!
With eight of the finest resorts in Mauritius (and one in the
Seychelles), none less than 4-star and all located in year-round warm
climates, Beachcomber Tour’s portfolio of luxury resorts will cater to
your every need when you head to the island for a mountain-biking
or running holiday. Go to www.beachcomber.co.za for more info.
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