Durban – The star of the show at Sunday’s aQuellé Tour Durban is expected to be recently crowned South African Road Race Champion Daniyal Matthews, but the Paarl youngster will face a tough test on the fast, relatively flat route.

South Africa is currently blessed with an impressive crop of young cyclists who are raising the profile of the sport in the country and Matthews, who historically claimed the national title earlier this year, has proved why he should be included in any discussion about future stars.

As the first person of colour to win the national road race title, Matthews has already ensured he will always enjoy a place in the history of South African cycling. However, the Siata Team rider is justified in having aspirations that go far beyond one historical victory, and a win at this weekend’s aQuellé Tour Durban will prove his win was more than just a case of catching the big stars napping at the SA Champs.

One of those rising stars who was probably a bit surprised to finish the SA Champs behind Matthews, was Durban cycling hero Travis Stedman, who he will be highly motivated to add the aQuellé Tour Durban to his list of palmares. Stedman’s rise through the ranks from a top junior, to a race-winning U23 and into the senior ranks has been an impressive steady progression of success.

His victory in the 2019 947 Ride Joburg was followed up by a SA Championship title in 2023 while he successfully spent three years competing internationally with continental pro teams Q36.5 and Team Qhubeka. This year, riding for Toyota Specialized, the versatile 22-year-old has been collecting some impressive results in gravel, MTB and road, including a sensational top 10 finish in the Absa Cape Epic.

Matthews and Stedman may be the two favourites to claim victory on Sunday, but the undulating three-lap course along the M4 between Moses Mabhida Stadium and eMdloti has a habit of throwing up some surprises and last year’s winner Josh Rheeders (Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team) will be at the front of a long queue of riders eager to show this is no two-horse race.

Other strong podium contenders include last year’s runner up Grant van der Walt as well as a couple of riders from the big contingent from Team Siata, including Matome Machaba and Marius Coutaud, who were both prominent in the action last year.

In the women’s race, Joanna van de Winkel has been the dominant force at this event in recent years but she may face some stiff competition to hold on to her title as the Queen of Tour Durban in a wide open field.

The 110km race is the main feature on a full spectrum of events that also includes a short 28km fun ride, as well as the 42km and 68km events that ensure there is a race for just about every level of cycling ability and fitness.

Weather has played havoc with the event this year, and the mountain bike and trail running events scheduled for Saturday were cancelled due to safety concerns after flooding destroyed sections of the route. With that in mind the organiser are thankful that the weather predictions are for ideal cool, calm weather on Sunday.

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.