Small tweaks to Tour Durban route confirmed
Race course director Andrew van Rensberg said that the decision to shorten the M4 loop had been made to minimise inconvenience to local residents
THE organisers of the aQuellé Tour Durban presented by Bridge Fund Manager have confirmed a few small changes to the route for the long road race principally aimed at keeping the safety of every rider as a top priority.
The main reason behind the change is the shifting of the top turn point on the loop up the M4 freeway from Desainager Circle to Umdloti, which has shortened the distance fast out-and-back section at the end of the race by 8km.
Race course director Andrew van Rensberg said that the decision to shorten the M4 loop had been made to minimise inconvenience to local residents using the M4 around Desainager Circle.
“We had a really fruitful and positive meeting with the local residents and Durban Metro Police representatives and quickly reached this decision,” said van Rensberg. “We have decided it is best to plan to turn the 100km race at the Mdloti bridge at the same place as the 45km race.
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To make up for the 8km lost, the race will now start with an 8km loop that will take the riders from the start at Moses Mabhida stadium onto Argyle Road then back to Blue Lagoon on the M4 before looping back to the start where they rejoin the route used last year heading through the city to the Esplanade.
He said that the race distance would remain the same, but added that the exact race distance was 100km, and not the 105km that had been mentioned in previous years.
“It turns out we have been overstating the race distance by five kilometres in the past,” he added.
The only other logistical change was moving the water point from Riverside Road to the start of the M4.
“The Cows, who are once again raising money for the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation, are manning this watering point, and this way they can service riders taking part in the 100km, 45km and 55km races, whereas the Riverside Road waterpoint only service the 100km riders,” said Van Rensberg.
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