2014 SA Road Championships – a race for all cyclists

The 2014 SA National Road Championships’ organisers are steamrolling ahead with their preparations, and are announcing the distances and routes for the prestigious event on the national calendar, which takes place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal from 4-9 February 2014.

Image credit: Mylene Loumeau

Dubbed as the “race for all cyclists”, the National Road Championships will see the elite, junior and under 23 categories, masters’ categories (30+), schools (from u10-u14), disabled cyclists and the tandem cyclists competing during the course of the week, offering a race for all to compete in at this level.

The organisers are pleased to announce the introduction of the schools’ categories, which will appeal to the u10, u12 and u14 boys and the u12 and u14 girls. Please note that this is not a SA Champs title race for the youth, but the school categories will be racing in their age groups and will be awarded age group trophies accordingly.

The event boasts full road closure for both the Time Trial and road races, which take place along the M4 from Durban to Umhlanga, and along the M13 in the Westville area.

Route distances currently advertised is the maximum that riders will be doing, and is subject to change. If there are any changes to the current routes and distances, it will result in a reduction in kilometres. The total race distance will be set according to each race category.

The 18km road race route will be almost the same as that of the successful 2012 SA Masters Road Championships held in the province. The race starts on the M13 west bound, 250 metres from the Blair Athol Road off-ramp. It continues on the M13 past the Dawncliffe turnoff to where the M13 almost meets N3, and turns back onto the eastbound carriageway to 45th Cutting,

Image credit: Karin Burns

where cyclists will make a U-turn and head back to the start/finish along the M13 west bound.

The time trial route presents a 20km circuit that starts in Athlone Drive and heads contraflow east bound to the M4 on ramp. Cyclists will turn right onto the M4 and head south on the M4 towards Sandile Thusi Road (Argyle Road) keeping in the left lane. They then make a U-turn and keep left, going contra flow in the southbound lane headed for Umhlanga Rocks. Competitors will turn and head back on the M4 to the Athlone Drive off ramp, turn right onto Athlone Drive and continue to the finish line.

For further detailed information such as the route maps, provisional programme of events and more, please visit the dedicated 2014 SA National Road Championships web page. The page will be continuously updated as we near the event date.