The Amashova Durban Classic will be the first road cycling event to take place in KZN since 2019 and the deadline to enter is just 2 days away.

Two Salt Rock cyclers, Andrew Church and Sue Thompson, shared their excitement for the October 24 race.

Sixty-year-old Church will be taking part in the race for the 5th time, while Thompson (50) is to tackle her 2nd event.

Church is a regular mountain biker – which he does for fun rather than medals – with 30 years in the saddle.

He is an all-rounder with 22 Duzi’s, 3 full Iron Man races and lots of half Iron Mans, numerous surf ski, canoe, road bike and mountain bike races under his belt. He advised newbies not to start too hard, always keeping something in the tank for later.

“Be very aware of your fellow riders.

In a big event like the Amashova, you get numerous riders of different abilities so the possibility of rider error is always present,” said Church.

Also a social rider Thompson has been cycling for 6 years and has completed 2 Sani to Sea races, 3 Berg n Bush as well as the 3 day Berg n Bush and 3 Cape Argus races (now known as the Cape Town Cycle Tour), among others.

“To keep fit, I ride 3 to 4 times a week, mainly at Holla Trails, and try and do longer distances for training.

My advice to someone who has not taken part in this race before is to get your body used to doing time in the saddle.

“You need at least 3 months of training longer distances to prepare yourself. Rehydrate your body beforehand and drink plenty of water during the ride,” said Thompson.

She said she loved the camaraderie in cycling.

“We were so happy to hear about the change in route especially that the race is starting and ending in Durban this year,” she said.

Cyclists can ride either the 38km or 80km route with a full road closure on the M13 instead of the usual R103 route.

This out and back ride starts from outside Moses Mabhida Stadium to Shongweni and back again.

Amashova Durban Classic’s Race director Annie Batchelder said apart from the usual Covid-19 challenges that all events had been faced with, they have also had to factor in the more recent roadworks on the N3 between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, as well as the upgrade to the R103.

“We have never wanted to compromise on the riding experience that the Amashova race is so well known for, which is why we have reimagined the route and distances for this year.

“The safety of all participants must be prioritised while also making for an enjoyable cycling experience.

We have missed putting on this wonderful race and engaging with our loyal cyclists just as much as I am sure they have missed riding with full road closure,” said Batchelder.

To register for this year’s race, visit www.shova.co.za before noon on October 6.