aQuellé Tour Durban /
aQuellé Tour Durban MTB

Date:  13/14 May 2023
Location: Cornubia / Moses Mabhida
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Format: Road Cycling & MTB
Pre-Entries Close: 10 May 2023

ENTRIES HAVE OPENED

The aQuellé Tour Durban opened entries last week with some riders with fast fingers quickly committing themselves to one of KZN's iconic sporting events within minutes of the entries opening on Wednesday, February 1st.

Within minutes of entries opening, ROAG saw an upswing in activity and since then there has been a steady stream of riders booking their place in the annual event on the streets of eThekwini.

The focus for the 2023 race has shifted to attracting entrants across the spectrum of riders with the organisers planning on creating a "cycling vibe" and turning the event into a weekend of "family fun for everyone".

Riders have a choice of six events, with three road race distances ranging from the longest 110km, through the 42km, down to the 28km. All the road rides take place on Sunday, May 14th, starting and finishing at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Mountain bikers in the aQuellé Tour Durban MTB powered by Cycle Lab also have three options for their event on Saturday, May 13th, with the more experienced and fittest riders most likely to opt for the 40km route. The intermediate 20km will suit the weekend warriors, while a 10km route has been added to cater for the young and less experienced. All the off-road races will start and finish at Cornubia Mall.

"We have changed the focus at the aQuellé Tour Durban this year and our aim is to make the event more inclusive and try and appeal to everybody who owns a bicycle," said Race Director Alec Lenferna.

"We want to attract the cyclists who have not ridden for a few years to take his or her bike out the garage and enjoy riding again. We want the person who trundles along the beachfront once a week to come and enjoy being part of the aQuellé Tour Durban vibe. We want the kids from the outlying areas near Durban to come and be part of the fun.

"By including the 28km on the road and adding a 10km mountain bike route we have provided events for the young, inexperienced and unfit riders who just want to be part of this iconic KZN event.

"We have changed the routes a bit this year and the long event will no longer go through the southern suburbs and Pinetown areas as we aim to create a route that is more rider- and spectator-friendly. With full road closure we anticipate this being one of the safest races in KZN.

"With that in mind, the entire route this year is based around the M4 with the 110km riders making a sortie up the M41, where we will probably have a King of the Mountains climb and are looking at some sprint points to create excitement and action for the elite riders."

The race registration for all events will take place at Cycle Lab at Cornubia Mall on Friday and Saturday May 12th and 13th.

Compendium Karkloof Road Race

Date:  19 February 2023
Location: La Petite France
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Format: Road Cycling
Pre-Entries Close: 16 February 2023

KARKLOOF ROAD RACE TO KICK OFF KZN SEASON

Sportsmen and women all over the world are hoping 2023 provides a great restart for a multitude of different sports, and that is particularly true for the KZN road cycling scene which suffered particularly badly over the past couple of years.

Early signs are that the bounce back is going to be good and the Compendium Karkloof Road Race is leading the way as the first club-organised road cycling race of 2023. Early entries suggest road riders are looking for some action with entries significantly up on the equivalent time period in 2022, and Burg Wheelers are looking forward to a healthy number of entries for their event.

The route will be similar to the 2022 course, with one significant difference: Riders will not be starting and finishing at the Karkloof country club. On February 19th, participants can enjoy all that La Petite France cafe and shop has to offer before and after their ride – and your entry comes with a coffee or food voucher to add to the temptations of the superb rural café and shop.

On the bike, riders will once again have the option of a 40km race or a two-lap 80km on an excellent road surface. The undulating route, with a couple of medium-length climbs, should ensure a fascinating battle. Sprinters, climbers and breakaway specialists all will have an opportunity to fight for the title and riders in each age group will have to use their respective strengths wisely to claim the prizes on offer.

Illovo Wartburg Classic
MTB & Trail Run

Date:  25 February 2023
Location: Wartburg Kirchdorf School
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Format:  MTB & Trail Run
Pre-Entries Close: 22 February 2023

ENTRIES HAVE OPENED

The KZN trail community is looking forward to kicking off the new year with the traditional season-opener in the KZN Midlands, the Illovo Wartburg Classic which takes place on February 25.

Organised with traditional efficiency by the Wartburg Kirchdorf School, this event always provides a great day of racing for both trail runners and mountain bikers with the organisers making sure all levels of skill and fitness are well catered for.

Mountain bikers can choose from no less than four different distances, ranging from a testing 60km event, through 45km and 25km events for the slightly less fit, down to the 10km which targets the new or younger riders. Trail runners can choose between the 14km and the 7km, while those athletes who need more of a challenge can opt for the multi-sport events and do one of the trail runs together with the 25km MTB.

Beside this event's reputation for slick German precision planning on the admin side, participants at this event always head back home happy after a day on the Illovo Wartburg Classic routes. The trail masters somehow always find that delicate balance of course preparations so riders and runners are able to enjoy the flow, but still find enough natural features to feel like this is a genuine off-road event.

With an entry of between 600 and 700 riders and runners expected, the event organisers are pulling out all the stops to welcome competitors once again.

This year's Illovo Wartburg Classic offers riders and runners in the ROAG series with an opportunity to pick up double points. Due to the scarcity of suitable events in 2022, the Quattro ROAG Series powered by Momentum has been extended into 2023 and this is the penultimate event in that series, and will also be the opening event of the official ROAG KZNMTB Marathon Series for 2023. Online pre-entries close on Wednesday, February 22.

Club ROAG Memberships

Date:  Jan - Dec 2023
Location: South Africa
Format: All Cycling Disciplines
 

CLUB ROAG MEMBERSHIPS OPEN

As the sports industry returns to a relative sense of familiarity, it is time to embrace the new normal and plan for an exciting, action-packed 2023. The past two years have seen some significant changes in the world at large, as well as the local sporting scene and, as always, ROAG is adapting and moving forward.

For cyclists, one of the biggest changes that will impact your competitive riding has nothing to do with the pandemic. Cycling SA's decision to enforce club memberships means you now have to belong to a club to purchase a CSA membership or CSA racing license.

Club ROAG, an extension of the standard, free ROAG Membership, is one of the most cost-effective ways to belong to a cycling club. As a virtual club, Club ROAG has been able to keep our prices to just R145 for an annual membership (which lasts from January 1 to December 31). As a member of Club ROAG, you can then get a full racing license or membership from CSA, which in turn enables you to enter any CSA-sanctioned event without purchasing a Day License; gives you medical and emergency evacuation cover at events; and includes accommodation and coaching discounts.

In contrast, Athletics South Africa's fee structures to register a club are so exorbitant that ROAG has opted to de-register from Athletics South Africa and we are no longer affiliated to ASA.

If you're interested in renewing your Club ROAG Membership now for 2023 then please CLICK HERE or for more information CLICK HERE. It will only take you a few minutes and will cost you as little as R145! PLUS your membership will include the following benefits:

Affiliation to various governing bodies. Club ROAG is officially affiliated to the following national bodies so you can join: CSA- Cycling South Africa, EMBA- Ethekwini Mountain Bike Association, TSA- Triathlon South Africa.

Discounts on all ROAG & Club ROAG Merchandise and sporting apparel (see package options below and CLICK HERE to purchase yours now!.

And … if you're hoping to be really organised and kitted out for the new season, please see the info page for details on our trendy, top quality cycling and running apparel still on offer at 2022 prices.