Joburg Classic Route ‘Best in the West!’
The Joburg Cycle Classic constitutes the best route design that he has done on the West Rand. That’s the message from seasoned Hectic Promotions route specialist Patrick Smit to entrants ahead of the inaugural Joburg Classic, which is presented in aid of CANSA in Lanseria on 29 March this year.
Patrick Smit is a familiar face for thousands of cyclists, ensuring cyclists’ safety at the major Gauteng races for the past 25 years.
Smit is a well-known figure in Gauteng based road racing. He is not just involved with route planning, but he has vast experience in route control and marshalling spanning more than 25 years.
He has worked on the Berge en Dale Classic, Krugersdorp Classic, Satellite Classic and Dome2Dome – all events that have formed part of the West Rand landscape over the past two decades.
Over this time, he has been the principle of a core team of experienced marshals from Pretoria West who have marshalled most major road races in Gauteng.
“Joburg Classic is different because of the balance and the tempered challenge it provides cyclists. There aren’t any senseless silly climbs. For lack of a better analogy; it’s like comparing Sani2C to the Cape Epic. It’s a delightfully forgiving route, but still poses a strong autumn challenge for cyclists.
“Notably it cuts out the Krugersdorp Ridge, which brings down the total ascent quite nicely. Krugersdorp Ridge really is such an unnecessary ascent, whether you do it past Silvestar Casino (Hillsnacks) or past Sterkfontein Hospital – either way the rewards aren’t worth the effort.
“The major climbs in Joburg Classic are lengthy but mild and cyclists can stay in a nice rhythm. The two major obstacles are the climb on the Hekpoort Road towards Maropeng and the rise past Valverde in the final 10km.
“There is a little tester on the Elandsdrift Road before riders link up with Malibongwe to head back the finish and this will provide a final platform to attack for the licenced riders.
“For fun riders and serious amateurs this won’t be a back breaking climb and is likely to be just about challenging enough to empty the tank completely before the finish at GOG Lifestyle Park.”
The Joburg Classic is the City of Gold’s brand-new mass participation race in the first half of the season and the crew at Hectic Promotions (NPC) have been hard at work preparing the offering for the day.
Hectic Promotions also present the Diamond Classic, Cycle4CANSA and Bestmed Tshwane Classic annually in Gauteng as well as the Paarl Boxing Day Track Challenge in Paarl.
“Nobody else seems to be launching new road events, but this is our passion and it’s so refreshing to work on a new race and offer cyclists a new experience,” said race organiser, Mauritz Meyer.
Meyer feels the need had arisen for Joburg to host its own mass participation race in the first half of the season as a result of the dwindling numbers of Gauteng participants in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
“Gauteng cyclists love riding their bikes over this time and with the decline in the Cape Town traveling contingent we feel the time is right to introduce a new big Joburg race in the first half of the season.
“The date of 29 March for the Joburg Classic makes sense for a few reasons, most notably because it falls two weeks after the Cape Town Cycle Tour, so it will also accommodate cyclists who also take part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Smit believes the route, which runs predominantly through the Cradle, is well thought out. “It’s nicely balanced and safe.
“We have strong support from Mogale City to ensure a controlled riding environment and a large part of the route takes place on roads that serve as training ground for thousands of Gauteng cyclists over weekends,” said Smit.
“This means motorists are used to staying away from these areas, which decreases traffic volumes and lays the platform for a safe riding environment. We look forward to establishing this wonderful bike race,” he concluded.
The venue for the Joburg Classic is the entertaining GOG Lifestyle Park just off Malibongwe Drive in Lanseria and the route offers distances over 95km, 45km and 20km.
The venue is central for riders from both Joburg and Pretoria. It sits on the corner of the first intersection towards Honeydew from the Malibongwe off-ramp off the N14 Krugersdorp Freeway.
GOG Lifestyle Park presents ample parking, ablutions and catering facilities to accommodate a mass participation cycling event.
It also boasts a wide array of adventure activities which will keep families entertained throughout the day.
Riders and families receive free entry into the park!
For more info on the venue go to https://gog.co.za/lifestyle-parks/
The Joburg Classic signature 95km distance offers a well-balanced route with 1100 metres of vertical ascent.
For most of the way the route meanders through the Cradle and has been designed to offer two shorter distances as well over 45km and 20km.
The starting times for these distances have been worked out nicely so that the short distance riders join after the fast groups in the 95km at the joining points.
Riders will be familiar with some sections of the route, which also form part of the Berge en Dale race, but the Joburg Classic doesn’t include the Hillsnacks or Sterkfontein climbs and it also cuts out the Brandvlei Road.
Joburg Classic – Quick Facts
Date: 29 March 2020
Time: 06h00
Venue: GOG Lifestyle Park, Lanseria (Malibongwe Drive off-ramp off the N14)
Distances: 95km, 45km, 20km
Kids Rides (2-4-year-olds and 5-7-year-olds) and 5km Fun Walk: 08h30 (enter on-line or at the venue on the morning)
Entry fees:
95km: R370 | 45km: R250 | 20km: R100 (Timed by RaceTec)
The event caters for all categories of licensed CSA cyclists as well as open/seeded riders. Riders will be seeded in bunches according to the Cycle Events National Seeding Ladder.
Number collection will take place at the following venues:
Tuesday 24 March: 2020: 10h00 – 16h00 Solomons Cycles (Lynwood, Pretoria)
Wednesday 25 March 2020: 10h00 – 16h00 Cycle Lab Boksburg Megastore (North Rand Road, Boksburg)
Thursday 26 March 2020: 10h00 – 16h00 Cycle Lab Fourways Megastore (Nicol Grove, Johannesburg)
Friday 27 March 2020: 10h00 – 16h00 The Bicycle Company (Larch Street, Centurion)
Saturday 28 March 2020: 09h00 – 13h00 Solomons Cycles (Gerrit Maritz Street, Pretoria North)
Entries for kids rides on the morning for R50.
More information and entries: www.hecticpromotions.co.za
Race office phone: 083 534 7979
Email: hecticpromotions101@gmail.com
About Hectic Promotions:
Hectic Promotions is a registered non-profit corporation and boasts a proven record of accomplishment in presenting mass participation cycling events which fulfil the requirements of sponsors, stakeholders and participants.
It is one of the foremost cycling event organisation companies in South Africa with a long history of presenting prestigious events on the national cycling calendar that benefit several community-based charity projects.
Released by De Villiers National Cycling, on behalf of the Joburg Classic.
Media enquiries email devillierscycling@mweb.co.za or phone 083 269 7659.
