November 15, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
JOBURGERS are reminded that Sunday is Cycle Challenge day. The city's roads will be closed as about 25 000 cyclists take to the streets in a fund-raising ride that has come to be known as Joburg's safest race.
Now in its eleventh year, the annual Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge takes place on Sunday, 18 November. It is endorsed by the City, which has pulled out the stops to ensure that come race day, cyclists and spectators can expect a well-organised, safe event, backed up by a full medical team and security.
It has been voted Road Race of the Year for 2003, 2005 and 2006 at the annual Pick 'n Pay Go Banking Cyclist of the Year Awards. It is the second largest annual cycling event of its kind in the world, and the biggest mass-participation, timed sporting event. It comprises of two races – one over 180 kilometres for professional riders and one over 94,7 kilometres for amateurs.
The route
The race starts in Woodmead, in northern Joburg, and heads for Newtown in the central business district; it passes through Parktown; over the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein; up Jan Smuts Avenue and through Diepsloot; to finish outside the Waterfall Equestrian Estate, back in Woodmead.
A full 77 percent of its proceeds is earmarked for charities, including the Homeless Talk pre-school in Joubert Pak, a daycare facility for the children of Homeless Talk vendors. The race is sponsored by Pick 'n Pay and 94.7 Highveld Stereo, a subsidiary of Primedia Broadcasting, which owns, among others Talk Radio 702.
On Saturday, 17 November there is a Children's Cycle Challenge sponsored by Spur Steak Ranches. It starts at 8.30am at the Waterfall Equestrian Estate, and more than 4 000 children between the ages of two and 15 are expected to participate.
On the same day about 2 500 cyclists are expected to take part in the Mountain Bike Challenge, which is sponsored by Energade. It takes place along a tough, specially designed bike track at the estate. The 40km race starts at 7am and the 20km race starts at 7.30am.
This year medals will be awarded to those cyclists who participate in both the Mountain Bike Challenge and the Cycle Challenge.
Cycle Challenge expo
Kicking off Cycle Challenge Sunday is the expo, where race registration takes place, from Thursday, 15 November to Saturday. Being held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Sandton, the expo is expected to attract up to 50 000 visitors.
Entry is free and the doors are open from 10am until 6pm on Thursday; from 10am until 7pm on Friday; and from 8am until 4pm on Saturday. All participating cyclists, including children, must collect their race packs and numbers at the expo, or they will not be allowed to ride. Cycling, nutrition and clothing stores will have stands at the three-day event.
Get ready for Jozi's annual Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge this weekend
Metro police chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar, the unit's spokesperson, says a contingent of metro police officers will be deployed for the race. "This is a Joburg race and it must be embraced as such. Just as the Comrades Marathon is big in Kwazulu-Natal, the Pick 'n Pay Cycle Challenge is the biggest sporting event in Joburg."
The City has given permission for full road closure, and many streets will be closed to cars for the duration of the race. A lot of motorists will be affected, Minnaar says; however, he has urged drivers to bear with the metro police, "see and take it in the right spirit".
Road closures
A list of road closures and a detailed route map can be downloaded from the
Cycle Challenge website. It includes a fully interactive route finder that maps routes motorists can take that bypass the closed roads.
Motorists and pedestrians have been encouraged to check the affected roads and plan their routes accordingly. The safety of cyclists and motorists is paramount, Minnaar says, and the Johannesburg Roads Agency and the Gauteng department of public transport, road, and works will also be on site to monitor the roads.
Affected roads include the R55 from the intersection of Maxwell and Woodmead Drives to the Summit Road intersection; the M1 South from the Buccleuch interchange to the Newtown onramp; the Nelson Mandela Bridge from the intersection of Carr Street to the Bertha Street intersection; and Jan Smuts Avenue, from Bertha Street until it joins Bram Fischer Drive.
The roads will be closed for different periods of time to accommodate motorists and cyclists; some will be closed for the duration of the race.
There will be a detour on Boundary Road in Honeydew because of extensive road works taking place there. It takes the riders off Northumberland Avenue at Aureole Road, to join Boundary Road further along. This means the halfway mark will now be at the intersection of Aureole Road and Northumberland Avenue. Despite the detour, the race is still exactly 94,7 kilometres long.
Tanya Harford, the race organiser, says that instead of finishing inside the Waterfall Equestrian Estate, as initially planned, cyclists will now cross the finish line at Maxwell Drive, just outside the estate, from where they will be directed to a hospitality area.
Star cyclists
While seven-times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is not taking part, the man many regard as the world's greatest cyclist of all time will join the race. Eddy Merckx has been named the World Cycling Governing Body's cyclist of the century. Team Barloworld, led by Robbie Hunter, a stage winner in this year's Tour de France, and Mauricio Soler is also taking part.
Although Team Barloworld is in its off-season, its riders have pledged to take a gentle ride around the city with anyone who wishes to join them in their special charity group. They can be joined for R1 800.
For the first time, this year's Cycle Challenge will be screened on SuperSport 1 from 1pm until 6pm, and will feature Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen, the popular Tour de France commentators. The broadcast will include highlights from earlier in the day.
Musical entertainment is also on the cards, with local bands such as Love Jones, Harris Tweed, Louise Carver and Voodoo Child scheduled to perform.
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