SA’s top cyclists to take on Lowveld hills
The elite men's group will include South African time-trial champion and Tour de France stage winner, Daryl Impey, Louis Meintjies and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg.
Local riders will have the perfect opportunity to test themselves against the crème de la crème of SA cyclists in one of the country’s largest road races in Mbombela from February 3 to 8.
The SA national road, time-trial and paracycling championships will be a showcase for fans to catch a glimpse of their heroes as they pedal through Mpumlanga’s capital city. The Lowveld can now continue to stake its claim as the ideal and most beautiful stretch of land to host premier biking events, as its warm climate and rolling hills add an extra dimension to the enduring challenge of road cycling.
The national championships will feature a time-trial race as well as a paracycling event on February 3 and 4. The road race will commence on February 5.
According to Cycling South Africa vice-president, Hendrik Wagener, this will be one the largest cycling events ever to occur in the Lowveld.
“The elite men’s group will include South African time-trial champion and Tour de France stage winner, Daryl Impey, Louis Meintjies and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg.
The ladies elite group will consist of proven winners, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, Daleen van der Leek and Heidi Dalton,” Wagener mentioned. One of the major selling points of the event is its capacity to include various age groups. Categories range from u/10 to 75 years.
“A valid SA cycling licence is required to compete in the race. Medals will be given only to riders with a valid South African ID,” he continued.
“It is vital to remember that certain roads will be closed for the duration of the race,” stated Wagener.
The 12,36km road-race route will start at the Mbombela Stadium in a south-easterly direction with a turn occurring at the intersection around the traffic circle on the P166.
This race will then go on until the traffic circle on the R37 where the riders will do the initial route in reverse, back to the stadium.
This road will be closed from February 5 to 8 on the P166 up to the R37 from 05:00 to 17:00.
The road race will consist of 14 laps, which will make it one of the toughest events on the cycling calendar, according to Wagener.
Registration will start on Monday February 2 from 09:00 until 16:00 and will occur at the same time for the duration of the event, at Hall’s Farm Stall.
Entry fees are R200 for single-seat entries while tandems will cost R400.
Entries close on January 25 at 23:00.
