KZN’s favourite weekend of cycling is just a week away when the new-look Tour Durban will take place with three road racing distances based around the M4 on Sunday 14 May, and three MTB events at Cornubia on Saturday 13 May.
The event organisers have shaken things up for 2023 with the decision to change the emphasis for the road race and have now unashamedly focused their attention on providing an overall experience for the bulk of the field and their families and friends, rather than catering primarily for the elite racing cyclists.
Tour Durban gets facelift
The Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab races will be similar to the previous events, although the addition of an easy, short 10km race, and the inclusion in KZN’s prestige MTB Marathon series has given that event a significant boost, both in numbers and interest from the MTB community.
ALSO READ: Tour Durban MTB set for a tweak for 2023
However, it is in the road race the participants will notice the biggest changes, and the new look and feel of the race has ensure the official event hashtag, #FamilyFunFor Everyone, is front and centre of all decisions regarding the event. As primarily a charity event, all proceeds from the Tour Durban will be donated to the Domino Foundation to assist with the community work they do in and around KZN.
This means that while the so-called racing snakes are still going to be aiming for the win, and will be recognised on the podium and the final results, the event organisers and partners have made a conscious decision to put their efforts into creating an event that caters for the so-called weekend warriors.
New-look event
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The most obvious alteration to the ethos of the event has been the route, which has seen the removal of the tough climbs inland that have always been a feature of the Tour Durban. The long grind up to Pinetown has been replaced with a spectator-friendly route with full road closure that concentrates the action around the M4, from the start-finish venue at Moses Mabhida to Umdloti.
The 110km riders will still have some climbs to test the legs, but the route is much more manageable for the mid-pack riders. There will still be plenty of intrigue out on the route for the top riders with the inclusion of some fascinating new racing features.
The event has introduced three new competitions – a six-person team event, a King of the Mountains points event, and a sprint points event – which will make for some fascinating tactics and give incentive to riders throughout the field.
The Gooderson Leisure Team Competition
The Gooderson Leisure Team Competition will give the riders in the 110km event an opportunity to represent their club, school, corporate team or even just join up with a bunch of friends and have a friendly challenge against rivals.
There is no entry fee to enter the team competition, where six riders (who are already entered in the 110km event as individuals) can join forces and ride as a team, with the time of the fifth person to cross the line being recorded as the team’s time.
While bragging rights are very much on offer – the unofficial title of KZN’s Team Champions is up for grabs – Gooderson Leisure have donated a huge prize which all entrants can win simply by participating. Each of the six members of one team drawn from all team entries will win a voucher for one family room accommodating two adults and two children for two nights (including breakfast) at Gooderson Monks Cowl Golf Resort.
King of the Mountain at Tour Durban
Then there will be two different King of the Mountain (KOM) sites on the route, providing three opportunities for the top climbers to pick up points for the KOM competition, which will then be totalled to decide the 2023 CMH Renault Ballito King of the Mountain.
ALSO READ: KOM and sprint points add to Tour Durban intrigue
The Captur KOM presented by CMH Renault Ballito will be situated at the top of the M41 on the second lap at about 54km. The Captur KOM presented by CMH Renault Ballito is situated at the highest elevation of the route and at the top of the longest climb on the first and third loops – just after the Sibaya circle following the climb out from the Umhlanga River.
For the slower riders who do not have a power-to-weight ratio that allows them to fight for KOM and sprint points, there will be lucky draw prizes on offer with a charity donation at registration all that is needed for riders to qualify for the hampers supplied by the CMH Nissan and Renault Ballito.
Sprinter’s delight
The speedsters also have an opportunity to collect points and win prizes based on their sprint speed, with the Magnite Sprint brought to you by CMH Nissan Ballito following a similar format as the KOM competition. There will be one sprint point early in the race route which will provide riders with an opportunity on each of the three laps of the route to collect points.
While the route is much more spectator friendly with family and friends of the riders able to see their loved-ones up to three times in the 110km, a big emphasis has been placed on creating a carnival-type of atmosphere at the finish venue.
The grassy park-like area, either side of the walkway just south of the Kings Park Swimming Pool, will be the scene of the finish festivities with the water truck, Domino Foundations activities, uShaka “celebrities” and ECR will be broadcasting from the venue. Clubs and team are encouraged to put up gazebos and vendors will be selling food, drink and other market items.
Tour Durban: EVENT DETAILS
The Tour Durban Road Race: Sunday May 14th from 6.15am
Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab: Saturday May 13th from 9am
OFFICIAL BENEFICIARY
All proceeds will go to The Domino Foundation
REGISTRATION
All riders must go to registration (or send an authorised representative) to collect race packs, race numbers and timing chips. Access is through the main entrance of the Cycle Lab store at Cornubia Mall.
- Friday 12th May: 9am-5pm (MTB and road)
- Saturday 13th May: 6am-7.30am (MTB only)
- Saturday 13th May: 9am-3pm (Road only)
WATER POINTS:
- Station 1: Fairway Avenue overpass on M4 North (northbound)
- Station 2: Portland Drive turnoff on M4 (northbound)
- Station 3: Umdloti Bridge on M4 (turnaround point)
- Station 4: Newlands Drive onramp on M4 (southbound)
- Station 5: Virginia Airport onramp on M4 (southbound)
Route and road closures
Full route maps can be found at https://tourdurban.co.za/
Main Road Closures
Sunday 14 May from 3:30am until 12:30 pm.
Masabala Yengwa Avenue: Southbound lane from Kings Park to Sandile Thusi Road.
Isaiah Ntshangase Road: Closed in both directions from Masabala Yengwa Avenue to Ruth First Highway.
Ruth First Highway (M4): Closed in both directions from Sandile Thusi Road to Umdloti.
M41: Closed in both directions from M4 to Ridgeside Drive.
Ridgeside Drive: Northbound between the offramp from M41 and the onramp to M41.
Sandile Thusi Road: Westbound lane closed from Ruth First Highway to Masabala Yengwa Avenue
Battery Beach Road: Closed in the swimming pool area and no access to or from Masabala Yengwa Avenue.
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