Race Categories and Entry Fees

Date:
Sunday 16 August 2009
R75 000 in Prizes!

A unique race including:
• 19 km Dikwiel race
• Decorated bikes exhibition
• 40 km fun ride *
• 80 km race *

* changes have been made to the original publicised route to facilitate a safe and exciting race.

Prize Giving
Racing groups prize giving: 11h00
Fun ride prize giving: 14h00

Start / Finish:
Mofolo Park, Soweto

Entry Fee:
19 km Dikwiel Entry Fee – R10
40 km Fun Ride Entry Fee - R50
80 km Race - R100

Registration Dates:
CYCLE LAB @ DESIGN QUARTER FOURWAYS – 13 & 14 AUGUST 2009
PRIMI BAZALLA MAPONYA MALL SOWETO – 15 AUGUST 2009
Please collect your number at these venues.

Entries close:
By Fax: 25 July 2009
Online: 05 August 2009

Route Map
Please click here to view and download the route map (pdf format)

Prize Money
Please click here to view and download the prize list (pdf format)

The Route

Route Plan: 2 laps of 40km

Times:
Race groups start at 07h00 and finish at 09.00
Fun cyclists start at 09h00 and finish at 13h00.

Distance of lap route: 40 Km

Route description:
From the start the race will move South down Mcube drive and turn left past the SPCA on Moroka Nancefield and then left onto Klipspruit Valley road past the sprawling Nancefield Migrant worker hostel on the right and on the left Orlando West home to Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela and Tutu. Soon the impressive new Orlando Stadium towers above us on our right.

The route now turns right onto the Soweto Highway before turning right through Diepkloof and out of Soweto past Nasrec and the incredible new Soccer City Stadium (previously FNB stadium) shaped like a giant calabash shell.

Turning around the route now makes a U turn and returns to the Soweto Highway and follows this up a long steep hill past Meadowlands into Dobsonville where we turn left down Dobsonville (now Elias Moatsoaledi road) to Moroka Nancefield and to the finish at Mofolo Park.

The 80 km route will feature two laps of this route whilst all the other races will feature one lap.

Amongst the historical landmarks on route will be the Orlando Stadium, Nancefield & Meadowlands Migrant Worker Hostels, Soccer City Stadium, Orlando West recent home of Winnie Mandela, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu as well as the unique vibe of hawkers, streetside churches, car washes and garages and the occasional shebeen. Adding to the colour and excitement of the race will be live entertainment on route such as Zulu, Gumboot and Pantsula Dancing – allowing cyclists to experience the township vibe.


Comments from last years race:

The Soweto vibe is what makes the Tour de Soweto cycle race different.

CAPRI WHEELERS - From the Dobsonville turnoff there were enthusiastic marshals directing you to the parking and the start. We gathered in the grey light of dawn ready to go off at 06h33 (04h15 wake-up!). The roads were clean (free of glass and sand); the marshals were extremely encouraging, well organized and managed to keep the traffic in the correct lanes; the Jhb Traffic officers had a good presence and they too kept the traffic in check; the roads were closed off with separate lanes for the cyclists allowing for safety on the ride; the taxis stuck to their temporary lanes; the Think Bikers were all over the place - roadside assistance was never far away; the new route was good the road surface was also for the most part in good condition; and the Soweto vibe was fun – everybody was most supportive and so keen to welcome the cyclists to their city!. All in all a great race; the organizers are really doing their utmost to make it a huge success and we need to support them.

Hats off to the organisers of the Tour de Soweto for good traffic control and marshalling. I recall there were problems last year, but to me (a first-timer in this event), I thought it was great.

The route was excellent and with the wind, the racing was seriously tough but what racing should be like!!! I have always been in favour of circuit racing as it is spectator friendly, creates more intense racing opportunities and obviously more controllable from a marshalling/organising point of view. If only we could have more races like this instead of disappearing into the "sticks" only to be a nuisance to most road users. Maybe a tad longer for elites!?!?

Only lady starting in the rather small B bunch it was always going to be tough - no chance for me to get into some kind of bunch to hide from the wind. Doing the route on my own I did not feel unsafe once. After turning for the last lap I had to stop to get a gel (was starving, the unexpected cold just took it out of me) and a JMPD cop backed up a long way to make sure I was okay. And the TB guys were up and down the route making sure all and everyone got help if they needed any.

Nic White Newsletter: Sunday seemed to be the first real day of winter since we have been back from Morocco in June! The day dawned overcast, windy and cold. What a day for a Belgian Kermesse koers! The Vodacom Tour de Soweto turned out to be just that - it just smacked of a Belgian race - similar weather, raced through the streets of Dobsonville, with corners, wind, and enough spectators to add great value to the four lap race. Waylon Woolcock of MTN Energade used his team to perfection to win the 100 km race! It turned out to be just as hard as the races I remember in Flanders. From the start things were on, and half way through the first lap, the race was split to pieces under pressure from my MTN Energade team. This event was very well organized considering the difficulties in staging a cycling event in the streets Soweto. The people put a lot of effort into the marshalling and street control, as well as creating some great atmosphere along the route with Gum boot dancers and other colourful traditional entertainment. It was just a pity the weather did not play along. Well done for the good job by the organizers!!


Route Safety & Management
 
• There will be road closure of specified routes with counter flow on most of the balance.
• Traffic management at specified key intersections
• Official Road Marshals will be provided by ThinkBike.