New route set for Tour Durban race
The route reverts back to the race's traditions but also incorporates some new sectors that riders have been asking for for many years, and that will make for better racing.
THE organisers of this year’s aQuellé Tour Durban have announced the route for the long road race after working in conjunction with all the traffic and local authorities.
The route reverts back to the race’s traditions but also incorporates some new sectors that riders have been asking for for many years, and that will make for better racing.
The 106km layout starts from the race base at Moses Mabhida Stadium and now heads up the popular M4 freeway from the off-ramp, but instead of making the turn at the uMdloti Bridge, it will now continue through to the Desainager circle before turning back towards Durban.
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The race returns to the city and progresses through the city centre and onto the M4 southern freeway that has been an a feature of the race for many years, then turning up for the climb up the M7 to Pinetown through Queensburgh.
Once in Pinetown the race turns onto a brand new sector as it uses the M13 freeway and the N3 to return to Durban, and the finish at Moses Mabhida stadium.
Event director Alec Lenferna says the new route is the result of extensive collaboration with all the stakeholders in the greater eThekwini metro, and answers many questions that he has been getting from eager road riders.
“Last year’s routes on the M4 was a solution to be able to stage the race in compliance with the Covid-19 regulations that were in place, so this year we finally get a chance to offer loyal aQuellé Tour Durban riders a route we have been working on for a long time,” said Lenferna.
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“It reverts to the traditional route, but with some marked improvements. We have sought out the best sections of freeway in the city for the long road race, and with the support and co-operation of the metro police and the city authorities I am delighted to confirm the route for the race on September 11,” he said.
With the signed off race plan offering the long race riders the extended ride up the M4 and the new return sector along the fast M13 freeway, Lenferna says he has been able to answer consistent requests and suggestions from regular supporters of the race.
“I get lots of phone calls and emails, messages through the race website and our social media channels, often with good constructive suggestions,” said Lenferna. “Many of these went onto the wishlist that we took to the city authorities, and I am delighted that they agreed to so many of them.”
Lenferna said the 106km road race would be closely managed to ensure riders cleared the various sectors to enable authorities to re-open the roads, and said the 106km road race entry would be limited to 1000 riders only.
Entries for the Tour Durban open on June 1.
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