No more N14 for Momentum Cycle Challenge

According to organisers, the move will benefit themselves, the cyclists and supporters as Riversands is an enormous site with multiple access routes, and will offer convenient access to and from the start and finish.

Of more interest to the cyclists is the fact that the venue change has necessitated a tweak of the route, and with the permission of Steyn City, the challenge will no longer take cyclists along the 14km stretch along the N14 Krugersdorp Highway.

This portion of the route has crushed many a cyclist’s spirit in the past, as it was a long, lonely, relentless uphill after nearly 80kms of cycling.

The new route, which will start on a fairly steep incline along Mnandi Road, will now approach the finish line with an even more challenging climb up to the King of the Mountains along Cedar Road, and then cruise through Steyn City Boulevard, a brand-new dual carriageway, before making its way back up to the finish along Riversands Boulevard on the Riversands property.

“The new route is certainly no easier as it includes an extra 400m climbing, but it is more scenic, more interesting and we hope, more enjoyable for the cyclists,” said Momentum’s Carel Bosman, head of Partner Relationships and Sponsorships.

The cyclists aren’t the only ones who will be smiling at the change. Residents around Joburg will also benefit from the new route which manages to avoid the N14 entirely. This means that those trying to navigate Joburg can avoid road closures fairly simply by travelling around the city using the national highways.

As a venue, Riversands presents the organisers with many opportunities to offer a better all-round experience. The area will also host the Kiddies Ride and the Mountain Bike Challenge on the weekend of the 8 and 9 November. The main race is on Sunday 16 November.

The Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge Expo will remain at the Coca-Cola Dome from 13 November to 15 November.

Details: www.cyclechallenge.co.za