Reflective safety bibs issued to Diamond Classic participants
Participants in Sunday's Diamond Classic bike race will all be issued with reflective safety bibs.
In an amazing safety initiative, Diamond Classic headline sponsor, Ultimate Office National, will issue reflective safety bibs to almost the entire field for Pretoria’s newest national classic cycling race which takes place at the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre on Sunday.
Ultimate Office National owner, Stephan Corthing, has called on riders to wear the bibs and said it’s extremely important for them, as headline sponsor, to do what they can to increase rider safety in the event.
“The race is presented to highlight the safety of riders in light of the recent tragic death of Andrew Randall. Issuing riders with reflective bibs will underline how important it is for cyclists to be visible on the roads and it also falls in with the occasion of the race being presented in memory of Andrew,” said Corthing.
He said they will have the bibs ready for race number collection, which starts on Thursday at Cycle Lab in Fourways.
“We have made enough to ensure every pre-entrant will receive one. Our timeline was too tight to make more, so we unfortunately won’t have enough for late entrants.”
Corthing has called on participants to wear their bibs on race day to show their support and solidarity for cyclists’ safety and to commemorate the life of Randall.
“It really makes such a big difference to be visible. Every morning on my way to work I ride past so many commuters on their bikes who simply aren’t visible on the roads. We will be handing out bibs during morning traffic as well,” said Corthing.
The inaugural Ultimate Office National Diamond Classic takes place on Sunday, 26 May, at the Baviaanspoort Correctional Centre just off the Zambesi N1 off-ramp in Pretoria.
The Diamond Classic, which has already attracted almost 2000 cyclists, offers 110km and 50km route options. Family members who don’t ride, can take part in the fun walk or kids’ races which start at 09:00.
They can even go fishing in the dam. Entrance to the dam is a R20 donation and, once inside, visitors can make use of the stunning braai facilities.
The 110km route presents 1030 metres of elevation gain and is mildly undulating, except for a sharp climb on the outskirts of Cullinan at the Petra Diamond Mine up to the 18km mark, which is set to stretch the bunches early on.
The route starts on Zambezi Drive (R513) towards Cullinan from the Baviaanspoort Correctional Facility and runs from Cullinan towards Rayton and Bronkhorstspruit.
From Bronkhortspruit it loops back to Cullinan anti-clockwise to ensure predominantly left turns and then does a final loop around Cullinan before joining up with Zambezi Drive again to finish in the opposite direction to the start.
The 50km route presents 561metres of vertical ascent and cuts out the long-distance loop towards Bronkhorstspruit and back.
A kids’ race (3-4-year-olds and 5-7-year-olds) and 5km fun walk for the entire family is presented in conjunction with the road race inside the grounds of the Baviaanspoort Correctional Facility.
Participants can enter these fun ancillary events on the morning at the Rugby Stadium Race Office for a R10 donation towards the upkeep of the facility.
The kids race and 5km fun walk will start at 09:00.
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