Hier is die toer!!! The International Cycling Union (UCI) has approved a new international multi stage race for Cycling South Africa (CSA). The tour will be held for the first time in 2007 from 18 to 27 March and the UCI awarded the tour covering the picturesque Eastern Free State and majestic Lesotho mountains a 2.2 rating. Total prize money for the tour will be in excess of R1.7 million with the individual winner taking home R100 000.The tour will start and finish in Bloemfontein totaling 1 450 km over nine stages excluding the prologue over 8 km. The tour will accommodate 20 teams of six riders each. Eleven of these teams will be from abroad with the balance being made up of nine local teams including one from Lesotho.Participants will have their work cut out for them so early in the season with three stages going beyond 200 km. The first stage from Bloemfontein to Ladybrand will be 211 km, the sixth stage between Oxbow and Harrismith will be a massive 235 km followed by the seventh stage the next day from Phutjadithaba to Kroonstad over another murderous 226 km.Accept for the prologue, there will be no other individual time trial but a very strenuous team time trial will take place on the third day (second stage) from Ladybrand throught Clocolan back to Ladybrand over 74 km.Averaging 145 km per day this will be a true test of the riders? abilities with some of the most mountainous terrain in Southern Africa to overcome. Sixteen mountain primes will be contested with seven of them categorized ?Out of Category? climbing to altitudes in excess of 3220 metres above sea level. With two stages being decided on relative flat parts of the Central and Northern Free State, crosswinds and the well known Free State dust storms will also put the riders to the test.The stage are:Sunday 18 March: Prologue (Bloemfontein), 8 km.Monday 19 March, First Stage: Bloemfontein to Ladybrand, 211 km.Tuesday 20 March, Second Stage: Team Time Trial (Ladybrand through Clocolan back to Ladybrand), 74 km.Wednesday 21 March, Third Stage: Maseru to Mohali Dam, 120 km.Thursday 22 March, Fourth Stage: Katse to Maputsoe, 126 km.Friday 23 March, Fifth Stage: Hlotse to Mahlasela Hill, 121 km.Saturday 24 March, Sixth Stage: Oxbow to Harrismith, 235 km.Sunday 25 March, Seventh Stage: Phutjadithaba to Kroonstad, 226 km.Monday 26 March, Eighth Stage: Kroonstad to Bloemfontein, 188 km.Tuesday 27 March, Ninth Stage: Circuit Race (Bloemfontein), 149
