Sport

Msunduzi Challenge opens to corporates

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21 September 2011

Organisers of the Msunduzi Road Challenge – the only African leg of the new UCI World Cycling Tour – have enabled social road cyclists to participate by adding a corporate section to the event, which takes place in Pietermaritzburg in October.

In response to requests for corporate teams to take part in the prestigious 90 kilometre, Cycling South Africa and the race organising committee have formalised a five-rider corporate team event that can include unregistered riders.

"There is a great deal of interest in this event, even from road riders who are not currently registered," said race committee head Alec Lenferna.

'Prestigious and internationally recognised'

"It is a prestigious and internationally recognised event, and there will be a lot of riders taking part to try and qualify for the finals of the UCI World Cycling Tour. But, at the same time, we want to make it possible for the rank-and-file road riders to be able to enjoy the unique occasion as well."

The corporate entries will be restricted to the 90 kilometre race, and they won’t be allowed to enter the 111 kilometre and 126 kilometre races. Their race will begin once the other entrants have been set on their way.

"Other than that, the social and corporate riders will get the same benefits and will be able to enter as a team of five and get a 25% saving on the entry fee," said Lenferna, who has previously organised UCI-backed road, mountain bike and BMX events in South Africa.

Online entries

The corporate race entries must be done through the race website at Msunduzi Road Challenge before the closing date of normal entries at the end of September.

"It's very much part of our programme for the year," said Mr Price Cycle Club stalwart Kelvin du Sart. "t is two weeks after the Amashova, and before the 94.7 [Cycle Challenge] and we see it as part of our training for our annual 640 kilometre two-day ride from Nigel to Durban later in the year."

The UCI World Cycling Tour consists of a number of UCI-sanctioned age-group events around the world aimed at amateur riders, ultimately leading to qualification for the tour final at the end of the season, formerly known as the UCI Masters Road World Championships.

Event Information

Date: Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October
Venue: Alexander Park, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

Distances and Age Categories: Road Race
(Qualifiers for the UWCT Final must enter as per their age category below. Recreational riders may enter any distance they wish)

Men – 16-29 / 30-34 / 35-39 / 40-44 / 45-49 = 126km

Men – 50-54 / 55-59 / 60-64 = 111km

Men – 65+ = 90km

Women – 30-34 / 35-39 / 40-44 / 45-49 = 111km

Women – 50-54 / 55-59 / 60-64 / 65+ = 90km

Distance: Time Trial
27km

Entry Fees

Road Race – R200 ($30.00 or €25.00)

Time Trial – R120 ($20.00 or €15.00)

Start Times
To Be Confirmed

Enter here

Online Entries Close: Friday 30 September 2011 – first 2500 entries are guaranteed a sample bag

Late Entries Close: Friday 21 October 2011 and will incur the additional nominal charge of R50

Merchandise: Participants can purchase an exclusive commemorative event shirt together with their entry submission via the CyclingSA website - the shirt is to be collected at registration. The cost is R165.

SAinfo reporter



	Robbie Hunter celebrates victory on the third stage of the 2008 Intakatech World's View Challenge, a UCI-backed event, in Pietermaritzburg (Photo: Team Barloworld)