An autumn of cycling to look forward to
The KZN Autumn Series delivers three UCI Cat1.2 road races in one week.
PREPARATIONS are well under way in KwaZulu-Natal for three brand new road cycling events during one week at the end of April and early May, each of them carrying a UCI Category 1.2 rating for Elite and U23 Men and Elite Women categories, and they will form part of the KZN Autumn Series.
The string of top-quality road events will be held in KwaZulu-Natal as part of KZN Sport and Recreation’s programme to continue bringing prestigious cycling events to the province.
This includes the cross-country mountain biking event scheduled for Easter weekend, which carries the high-status UCI HC rating.
Following on from the well-established aQuelle Tour Durban (Sunday, April 26) the first of the UCI Cat 1.2 events is the brand new Freedom Day Classic, which takes place on South Africa’s national holiday, Freedom Day, on Monday, April 27.
The Freedom Day Classic, categorised 1.2 for both Elite/U23 men and women, will start and finish in Pietermartizburg’s Alexandra Park and traverse the surrounding areas of Pietermaritzburg.
The next UCI Cat 1.2 event is the Maritzburg Margate Mayday Classic, which starts in Pietermaritzburg and finishes in Margate via Ixopo, on South Africa’s national holiday, Workers’ Day (Friday, May 1).
The distance is 203km and will it be open to Elite Men/U23 only. Participants will enjoy rolling road closure along the route.
Margate will welcome road cyclists for the third and final event of the KZN Autumn Series, the Hibiscus Coast Cycle Challenge.
This will also comprise UCI cat 1.2 events for both Elite/U23 men and women.
The race will receive full road closure and will take place along sections of the toll route.
As part of the KZN Autumn Series, the veteran, junior and youth categories will be able to compete in their own event in Margate on Saturday, May 2.
