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About the Race
The Cell C Tour of South Africa will be a World Class Cycling event with a uniquely South African flavour and a sought after destination for cycling teams around the World.
The Tour of South Africa has been carefully timed to follow on from the tour Down Under in Australia and before the major events in Europe. It is an 8-day, 7-stage 2.2 Category cycling event in year 1, with plans to eventually turn it into a 9-day, 2.HC event within 5 years. It will be the ?Jewel in the Crown? of Pro Cycling in South Africa.
The prize money for the event will be R500 000, making this the richest road event in the country.
The inaugural Cell C Tour of South Africa will take place from the 19th to the 26th February, covering Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape. It will start inPretoria and end in Paarl.
The seven stages that make up the event have been carefully chosen and put together to showcase some os South Africa?s heritage sites and with the intention of keeping the riders in the race as long as possible by making the more difficult stages nearer the end.
The inclusion of Johannesburg as the business centre of Africa, the Eastern Cape for its unique Safari experience; the South Western Cape, the Karoo and the Western Cape and the Winelands
The route for The Cell C Tour of South Africa has been revised recently and will now pass through the following areas: |
Stage 1
Saturday 19 February: 167km ? Menlyn Park Shopping Mall to Montecasino - The first race day will start in Menlyn area, passing the Union Buildings before heading north and turning west behind the Magaliesberg ridges west of Pretoria. The race travels west through the tunnel at Hartebeespoort Dam to the Cradle of Humankind passing Maropeng before heading to the Fourways area for the finish on Witkoppen.
Stage 2
Sunday 20 February: 156km ? Montecasino to Montecasino ? a circuit route incorporating Soweto, Soccer City, Sandton and the Johannesburg CBD.
Stage 3
Tuesday 22 February: 173km ? Nelson Mandela Bay to Summer Strand? Starting at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, stage 3 heads towards the Addo Elephant National Park where one is sure to catch a few glimpses of wildlife (it is home to the Big Seven). From there the race returns to Port Elizabeth, where the route takes an interesting turn, with a city circuit, before finishing in Summer Strand on the beach front.
Stage 4
Wednesday 23 February: 153km ? Bloukrans Bridge to George - Stage 4 starts on the famous Bloukrans Bridge where many bungi jump enthusiasts are sure to be found. We head from there to Natures Valley and out on the climb towards the N2. Then on to Plettenberg Bay where we include a local loop before another climb out and back on the N2 passing through Knysna. At Wilderness the race leaves the N2 and heads over 3 passes of narrow twisty roads before finishing in George.
Stage 5
Thursday 24 February: 175km ? Oudtshoorn to Barrydale - The stage starts in Oudtshoorn and heads on to the famous Route 62 passing Calitzdorp and Ladismith with the finish in, Barrydale.
Stage 6
Friday 25 February: 140km ? Hermanus to Stellenbosch- The penultimate stage starts in Hermanus and winds its way through Gordens Bay over Sir Lowry?s Pass into Grabouw, to Threewaterskloof Dam and up Franschhoek pass. A speedy descent follows. After passing through Franschhoek the race will head over Helshoogte Pass.
Stage 7
Saturday 26 February: 100km ? Paarl to Paarl - Cycling through South Africa?s 3rd oldest town, cyclists will enjoy scenic views and historic buildings. A 10km circuit stage which will pass through the main streets of Paarl and Klein-Drakenstein finishing in Market Street. |
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Copyright CellC TourSA 2011
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