IN PICS: 23 000 cyclists ride the 947 in reverse
JOBURG – The elevation gain was lower on the reverse route, but cyclists still finished a little later than they did last year.
More than 23 000 cyclists rode the 22nd annual Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge, and this year riding the route in reverse.
Joburg was busy all morning on 18 November as thousands of social and professional cyclists left in groups at certain stages of the day.
They made their way from Riversands Commercial Park in Midrand, west to the R114 and then south on Malibongwe Drive, Jan Smuts and various other roads through Randburg all the way to Braamfontein.
Here the route turned around and headed northeast on the M1 through Rosebank, Sandton and Kyalami, later turning west at Blue Hills to return to Riversands.
READ: Carla Oberholzer is the first woman to cross the finish line at the 2018 Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge
The 94.7km ride was more than good exercise and fun, although the heat made it very difficult for some.
In the past six years, the challenge has help raise R75 million for Ride for a Purpose, a campaign that supports hundreds of registered charities.
With the route in reverse this year, the total climb dropped from 1 530m in previous years to 1 480m.
Still, the first elite riders finished about two minutes later than last year.
“We were riding for a bunch sprint and I put in a move at Kyalami and managed to stay away,” said Brandon Downes (BCX), the first man to finish in 02:15:26.
He was followed by teammate Steven van Heerden and Dylan Girdleston of OfficeGuru.
For a long time, mountain biker Theresa Ralph held the lead for the professional women riders, but she was overtaken shortly before the end by Carla Oberholzer (Team Demacon), Annriette Schoeman (Africa Silks) and Jo van der Winkel (Cycle Nation), who finished first, second and third respectively.
“It was a tougher route and a blank canvas [due to no one riding it before]. It made for interesting racing,” said Oberholzer, who finished in 02:43:49.
Race director, Tanya Harford said due to the heat, organisers hosted nine water points and asked residents for help spraying cyclists with hosepipes as they rode past, to cool them down.
The cyclists also showed great spirit in completing such a challenging ride for various good causes.
“We wanted to raise awareness that people with epilepsy can live full and fulfilling lives,” said Epilepsy South Africa national director, Marina Clarke, whose team of 11 cyclists finished injury-free.
Thando Makhunga, the station manager for 947, said the new route would be used every year going forward.
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