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It is great to have you involved in this year’s aQuellé Tour Durban in association with Cycle Lab.
Please note the following general information that I hope will assist you in your planning on Sunday 19th April 2026 and the days leading up to the event.
Registration
All entrants should collect their goodie bags and race numbers at the official registration area at Cycle Lab at Cornubia Mall. The registration area will operate as follows:
• Friday 17th April: 09h00 – 17h00
• Saturday 18th April: 09h00 – 15h00
There will be no race number collection on the day of event unfortunately, but it should be noted that people may collect race numbers for others.
Where to park on the day
The best parking area is at the Sun Coast Casino complex and entrants can then take a short ride to the start area which will be at the intersection of Masabalala Yengwa (old NMR Avenue) and Battery Beach Road. This is opposite the Moses Mabhida Stadium. The parking area is accessible from Snell Parade, and the start chutes will be accessible only from the Snell Parade side of Battery Beach Road to avoid congestion at the start line.
Event Makeup and Start Times
The event has a number of different activities that are part of the whole, and these are as follows:
KZN Cycling Schools Road Series Final:
• Start at 06h00
• Call up of riders to start chute from 05h45
• 42km route from Moses Mabhida to Umdloti turn point and back
• All riders to start at the same time but in different age groups
• U13, U15 & Open categories
• Males & Females will ride together
• Top 3 x positions in each category for boys & girls will receive prizes
Recreational Ride
• Starts at 06h30
• Full road closure on the 42km route from Moses Mabhida to the Umdloti turn point and back is available to riders
• Riders may start at any time they like, and the road is open to recreational riders from 06h30 – 10h30 and they can ride as far as they choose and at the pace that they choose
• There will be timed race batches going off together from the start point as follows:
06h30 – 84km timed batch 1
06h35 – 84km timed batch 2
06h40 – 84km timed batch 3
06h45 – 42km timed batch 1
06h50 – 42km timed batch 2
• These batches are dictated on a first come, first served basis on the day and will be approximately 100 x riders to a batch – there is no seeding for the recreational riders.
• People may do as many laps as they like and even if they are in a timed event, they have the right to continue riding after the designated distance
• Once riders go into the finish chute at the village and have their wristbands or race numbers removed in exchange for their medal and drinks, they may not go back onto the route.
• Everyone is invited and encouraged to stay after the recreational ride is complete to watch and support the main race riders – this race is to start at 10h30 and the riders will pass through the start / finish area and event village five times before the end of the race.
Route breakdown
As a reminder, the route breakdown and descriptions are on the event website and can be viewed using the links below:
https://tourdurban.co.za/42km/
Everyone has to start and finish at the official start & finish area on Masabalala Yengwa (old NMR Avenue) – there is no access to the route from any other points.
Refreshment stations
There are 5 x refreshment stations in total on the route, and at all stations, riders will have access to aQuellé still water and aQuellé flavoured sparkling water, bananas, chocolates and sweets.
Please remember that the event promotes sustainable practises and riders should have water bottles with them. They can decant product into their own bottles – cups will not be provided at the refreshment stations.
Neutral Service / Mechanical Support
There will once again be mechanical support for all riders provided by Farhad Sheikh and his team from Peerless Cycle World. Should you receive assistance and any spares from the team on the road, you will be invoiced by Peerless after the event.
Finish Village
The event finish village will be on the beach promenade alongside the Kings Park pool, and this is where the post event drinks and medals will be distributed, and where clubs and schools can erect gazebos if desired.
Food and drinks vendors will also be in the area.
Strava Competitions
All Riders in all recreational races who upload their rides to Strava before midnight on Monday, April 20th will be eligible for the Strava Prizes. These will be awarded solely according to Strava times on the official aQuellé Tour Durban segments over a 42km lap, two laps totalling 84km and the three-kilometre climb from the Umhlanga River (bridge to highest point just before the turn). Winners may only win one prize (ie the same rider cannot win the 42km, the 84 and the climb prize, or two prizes in the 42km race if he/she does two laps)
Prizegiving
Every effort will be made to ensure that the post event prizegiving takes place as soon as possible after the completion of the main races and will be dependent on the availability of the final and signed off results.
Prizegiving for the competitions are scheduled as follows:
• KZN Cycling Schools Road Series - 08h00
• Invitation Race and Inter – Club Challenge - 13h15 / 13h30
• Winners will be contacted after the event and prizes for Strava Competitions will be paid out at the end of April once the competition has been finalised
Etiquette on the road
• Slower riders should stay on the left hand side of the road and allow the quicker riders through
• Be polite on the road – riders should not shout at one another, and faster riders should not be having a go at slower riders
• Everyone has the right to be part of the event if they have entered so no one has any more rights than anyone else
• Only sprint at the end point if it is safe to do so and you are not going cause accidents
• Don’t sprint down the left hand side of the road…
ENJOY THE RIDE – TAKE IT EASY, IT’S A RECREATIONAL BIKE RACE
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