Scores of the country’s top cyclists will be touching down in the West Rand for the 102km Bestmed Berge en Dale national classic. This race is viewed as a dress rehearsal for the national road championships.
The 15th edition of the road race, which will also include a 55km component, will see around 5 000 riders assemble at Cradlestone Mall on 4 February.
ASG Events route director Darren Herbst said the event, which is presented by Optimum Financial Services, was strategically positioned the week before the national champs.
“Being placed one week ahead of the nationals gives it extra importance in terms of helping riders to peak at the right time. It also gives us an idea of who is going well,” he said.
RoadCover monopolised the podium at last year’s Berge en Dale when Gustav Basson won ahead of Clint Hendricks and Bradley Potgieter. Hendricks went on to place third in the elite men’s road race at the nationals.
The Berge en Dale is a premier seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the top riders will be heading to the nationals in Wellington from 7 to 12 February straight afterwards. Then they will be off to the Cycling South Africa sanctioned Bestmed Tour of Good Hope from 6 to 10 March in the Cape Winelands.
The route of Berge en Dale’s feature event will remain unchanged and the venue will offer various fun activities leading up to the race. The event has been extended to a second day this year to include a mountain biking component on the day after the road races.
“There will be 40km and 15km options. The longer route is intermediate with some undulations and a bit of a kick to it, with the short option aimed at families and social riders,” said Darren.
Entries close on 26 January. For more info, visit www.asgevents.co.za.
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