November 15, 2005
By Lucky Sindane
JOBURGERS have been urged to plan their Sunday routes ahead of time, as many roads will closed for the ninth annual Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge.
A record number of 28 000 cyclists will take to the city's streets of Joburg on Sunday, 20 November, with an 180km route for professional riders and the 94,7km race for others.
The City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng provincial government endorse the annual race, and the event is meticulously planned each year. There is full co-operation between all parties involved to ensure that Joburgers are aware of road closures and alternative routes.
This year the provincial department of transport, roads and works has given the go-ahead for the N14 highway to be closed between Hans Strijdom Drive and Diepsloot Road.
Full details of the road closures are available on the Highveld Stereo website, which also offers alternative routes.
"The race's location in Johannesburg, the sports capital of Africa, showcases yet again the relentless competitive urge and the unabated sporting abilities of the residents of the 'City of Champions,'" says Samantha Durkin, event co-ordinator for organisers Harford Sports Promotions.
Part of the build up to the main race is the children's Cycle Challenge, which takes place on Saturday, 19 November; the expo and registration at the AA Kyalami Exhibition and Conference Centre, which runs from 17 to 19 November; and the Team Time trials on Friday, 18 November.
For race pack collections cyclists are urged to bring their registration confirmation emails, smses or print-outs of the confirmation of their entries from the Highveld Stereo website.
The first group in the race starts at 5.30am on Cycle Challenge Sunday, Durkin says, while the last batch gets away at 10.14am. The prize giving is at 12.30pm, "which brings the curtain down on the greatest cycling weekend in Africa and, possibly, the world".
Organisers have identified several places where spectators can watch the race. These are at the intersection of Jan Smuts Avenue and Republic Road, The Pot Place on Witkoppen Road, at the Coca-Cola Dome at Northgate and on the island on the N14 Highway.
The main cycle challenge route remains unchanged from last year: the 94,7km race starts in Woodmead, next to Megawatt Park, runs through Houghton Estate, over the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein, up Jan Smuts Avenue, along Hans Strijdom Drive and through to Diepsloot to finish at the AA Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand.
Professional riders on the 180km circuit cycle an additional 85 kilometres towards Hartbeespoort.
This year there is also a 20km and a 40km mountain bike race, starting and finishing at the Kyalami racetrack.
The shorter route goes through the fields of the adjacent Leeukop Farm; the 40km race takes in the beautiful countryside of the Inanda Country Base, home of the famous Rand Hunt.
For more information contact the call centre on 0862 947 947.
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