Non-professional road cyclists will have the opportunity to participate in the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour, which takes place around the Panorama Route in January 2016. The organiser of the event has announced that a corporate challenge for all six stages of the event has been added.
Non-professional teams can join the pros on each of the stages covering a total of 749km around Mpumalanga. The route has climbs of more than 11,500 metres and takes riders from Loskop Dam, through Badplaas and Barberton to Hazyview, Pilgrim's Rest and all along the Panorama Route, including Blyde Canyon and Graskop, to end at the Forever Hotel at White River. The tour starts on Monday, 18 January and ends on Saturday, 23 January, 2016.
Forever Corporate Cycle Challenge
Companies or groups may enter a team of any size and all riders need not ride every stage. The best time of a team rider for each stage will be taken into account in determining the teams overall time for the tour. "We trust that companies will take up the challenge to allow their riders to participate in this tour de force and have the opportunity to ride in the tracks of the late Ertjies Bezuidenhout and other well-known South African cyclists," said Hendrik Wagner, tour organiser.
The challenge will be known as the Forever Corporate Cycle Challenge as Forever Resorts, together with the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation, and Europcar are the main sponsors of the event. The Forever Corporate Cycle Challenge will carry a first prize of R10,000, second prize of R5000 and the team finishing third will get R3000. The Mpumalanga Cycle Tour carries a total prize fund of R200,000.
Tour de Force Corporate Challenge will cost riders R100 per rider per stage and is presented in aid of Miss Deaf SA. The current Miss Deaf South Africa, Janie Erasmus, will assist at the start of the Race at Loskop Dam, a Forever Resort.
Rules:
- All six stages are in play;
- No restriction on number of riders per team;
- Best time of a team member on each stage to count;
- Best team time to win the corporate tour prize of R10,000, 2nd R7000, 3rd R3000;
- A minimum of one rider per team per day;
- At least one team member to complete each stage to qualify for official time;
- Entry R100 per stage per rider;
- Entries on registration day 17 January, 2016, at Loskopdam;
- Only membership and day licence holders can be part of the corporate challenge. No full licence. (No professional riders.)
Enquiries: race organiser Hendrik Wagener on +27 (0)82 741 1514.
