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Durban – Cyclists get the freedom of Durban on Sunday when the annual aQuellé Tour Durban takes over the streets of the city on Freedom Day and thousands of cyclists can enjoy the chance to safely ride the M4 to Mdloti.
A full field of cyclists will tackle four distances ranging from the short 28km fun ride up to the long three-lap 110km race from Moses Mabhida to Mdloti, and spectators will get the chance to see the historic national champion Daniyal Matthews and his full team in action.
Matthews, from Paarl in the Western Cape, recently made history when he became the first cyclist of colour to claim the elite men’s title at the South African Road Championships. The recently crowned champion will be wearing his new national champions’ jersey with the support of the full squad from Team Siata.
The 110km race, which takes in two laps to Mdloti and a shorter loop up the M41 with a short, sharp climb, is always a fascinating test of cyclist’s full range of abilities: The rolling flat sections test teamwork and group riding and mean there is always a chance of a breakaway sneaking off the front; a few short sharp hills ensure climbers also get a chance to impose their power on the rest of the field; and the undulating profile ensures a bunch sprint is always on the cards for the speedsters.
Last year a three-man breakaway opened up a lead on the final lap, and had Josh Rheeders, Brent Yelland and Matome Machaba work together as a unit, they would almost certainly have secured the podium places. However, tactical games on the run in toward the finish allowed the bunch to catch and Rheeders had to unleash a potent final sprint to claim victory over Grant van der Walt and Thabiso Rengane.
Rheeders (Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team) and Van der Walt will be back to renew their rivalry on the Durban streets, but will once again have to watch out for the disruptive tactics of Team Siata.
The big team from Siata is sure to work hard to get their national champion on to the top step of the podium, which means Machaba may have to put his personal ambitions aside for the good of the team this time out. However, a squad of 12 riders, including Marius Coutaud who ended just outside the top ten 12 months ago, means a lot of tactical options are available for the team if Matthews is being marked too closely.
In the women’s race, Joanna van de Winkel has made the race her own in recent years with multiple victories. However the Queen of Tour Durban has not been racing as much recently and may find the going a bit tough this time out and the field is wide open.
The full road closures:
Sunday 27th April from 3.30am until up to 1.30pm
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 offramp from M41 and onramp to M41.
Sandile Thusi Road: Westbound lane closed from Ruth First Highway to Masabala Yengwa Avenue
Battery Beach Road: Closed in swimming pool area and no access to or from Masabala Yengwa Avenue.
