Route tweaks make cycling classic safer
There will be good road surfaces and full road closures for this year's aQuelle Tour Durban.
WITH a huge entry confirmed for the aQuellé Tour Durban on Sunday 24 April, organisers have confirmed that minor race route changes will improve the riding experience on the popular events by adding to the level of safety for the thousands of riders.
The 105 kilometer classic race route has settled on a format that is universally popular, starting with a trip down the Southern Freeway then up to Queensburgh and Pinetown before the fast descent to the Mngeni interchange that leads to the out-and-back loop to Mdloti that concludes with the loop finish at the Moses Mabhida stadium.
Race route director Andrew Van Rensberg says the Mngeni Interchange will be safer and smoother this year now that the road construction has been completed, and is confident that the smooth, fast fly-off at Inanda Road will be popular with the racers.
“Much of that section has been recently resurfaced which will make for great, fast racing,” said Van Rensberg.
He urged riders to follow the directions of marshalls at the start of the climb up the M7 on Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales) where they will be directed to the right hand lane of the concrete road surface better suited to the road bikes.
The coastal sector up the M4 that benefitted for the recent resurfacing of the freeway received rave reviews from the riders, and will remain unchanged this year.
The 55km cyclocross race will also feature one minor change that will take the MTB enthusiasts to a new river crossing. Van Rensberg confirmed that a new route will take the riders slightly inland to an alternate low level bridge as the construction site used for previous river crossings had gone.
“We are excited to be in a place where we feel we have our optimal route,” said Van Rensberg. “The road surface is generally excellent throughout, which I know the riders will really appreciate,” he said.
He added that the support from the Durban City Metro Police was superb, ensuring that the full road closure is enforced. Around 85 Metro police officers will be manning all the intersections with the race course, assisted by 185 Enforce Security marshalls. Each of the cluster commanders will be on duty in the race Venue Operation Centre to ensure the smooth execution of the road safety measures.
The 105km road race, 45km fun ride and 55km cyclocross are on Sunday 24 April. Late entries will be taken at registration at Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World from 10am to 6pm on Friday, 22 April and 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 23 April. Visit: www.tourdurban.co.za
Road closures and times for the 2016 aQuellé Tour Durban
Masabalala Yengwa (NMR) Avenue: 5.30am to 2.30pm.
Margaret Mncadi Avenue: 5.30am to 8am.
M4 South: 5.30am to 8.30am.
M7 Edwin Swales and M19 to Pinetown: 6am to 9.30am.
M19 Pinetown to Umgeni Road: 6.15am to 10am.
Inanda Road (Springfield Park): 6.30am to 10.15am.
Riverside Road: 6.30am to 10.30am.
M4 North and South bound from Argyle Road to Desainager Circle: 6.30am to 2pm.
