2013 Bestmed Jock Cycle Classique (9 July 2013)

[Agteros]

Found this in my mailbox today:

151km in total, going up Long Tom Pass on stage 3

 

Best I start training?

 

The 2013 Bestmed Jock Cycle Classique, presented by ASG, takes place on 20 July 2013 and will feature a new route due to road works on the N4 highway between Nelspruit and Kaapmuiden.

 

The organization has been hard at work securing the de-tour route and all is in place for yet another memorable edition of South Africa’s toughest single day road bike challenge.

 

The 2013 Jock will start and finish at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit with the stages linking White River and Sabie to the Lowveld’s capital for a total 3-stage distance of 151km.

 

The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: Nelspruit – White River: 43km

Stage 2: White River – Sabie (via Spitskop): 45km

Stage 3: Sabie – Nelspruit (via Long Tom Pass): 63km

 

Stage 1:

The first stage, which starts at 6:30, goes out from the Mbombela Stadium towards the Sabie road around Nelspruit. Competitors will ride 20km out until they turn down onto the Brondal road, past Heidel Eggs and ending at the Rob Ferreira School in White River at 43 km.

 

Stage 2:

At 09:00 riders will start tackling the second stage (in the same order as the first. The race moves out of White River onto the Sabie road over Spitskop and will end at the entrance towards Sabie. It’s a 45km ride after which the field will settle down to lunch at the Sabie Primary School before gearing up for the final leg.

 

Stage 3:

The third stage starts at 12:30 from the School and riders almost immediately hit the first (and only) big obstacle - The Long Tom Pass. The pass is a monster, totaling 12km with an average gradient of 7 percent.

The good news is that – after Long Tom - the riding becomes easier as the stage progresses all the way back to Nelspruit to finish back at the Mbombela Stadium.

Edited November 27, 2012 by robox

[HappyMartin]

Looks like a great route. Did the Jock years ago when it was a single stage race but lost interest when it became a multi stage race. Might like to try this route though

[Agteros]

I'd really like to see how they get the Long Tom Pass into stage 3 between Sabie and Nelspruit and keep the distance down to 63km. Garmap tells me that Sabie to top of LTP, and u-turn back to Nelspruit is 115km?

[HappyMartin]

Doubt they go to the top of LTP. I seem to remember from the Panorama Tour that you turn left off the LTP road a short way outside Sabie and head for Nelspruit.

[Speed Racer]

Found this in my mailbox today:

151km in total, going up Long Tom Pass on stage 3

 

Best I start training?

 

Great route. Looking forward to this one!

[Brian Fantana]

Doubt they go to the top of LTP. I seem to remember from the Panorama Tour that you turn left off the LTP road a short way outside Sabie and head for Nelspruit.

 

Yes, stage 2 and 3 is almos the same as day 3 of the panorama tour.

 

Boulders kind of defines the Jock, but the alternative rout still contains some great riding.

[Agteros]

So maybe it will look something like this then?

 

Roughly mapped based on directions above seems to be in the general ballpark...

Jock Stage 1 41.5 km (Green going out from under the red)

Jock Stage 2 45.9 km (Pink)

Jock Stage 3 62.2 km (red back to Nelspruit)

 

[HappyMartin]

So no boulders and no Hilltop of course. Hardly the Jock at all but still a great route. Won't miss the icy cold start in Barbeton that's for sure. The old Jock route was really great until after Boulders. Did not enjoy the road in to Barbeton.

[Mellow]

So no boulders and no Hilltop of course. Hardly the Jock at all but still a great route. Won't miss the icy cold start in Barbeton that's for sure. The old Jock route was really great until after Boulders. Did not enjoy the road in to Barbeton.

 

Yes, Hilltop and Boulders was kind of iconic.

[Underachiever]

I'd really like to see how they get the Long Tom Pass into stage 3 between Sabie and Nelspruit and keep the distance down to 63km. Garmap tells me that Sabie to top of LTP, and u-turn back to Nelspruit is 115km?

 

From the bottom of the Longtom climb in Sabie to the turn-off is 9 km at 4.5% incline, last 2 kays or so is at 7%. The whole Longtom is 35 km long - be very glad we don't do the whole thing

 

This Jock might not be so iconic, but it will be tough for sure!!

[Falco]

This sounds like a soft Jock to me. Anyone got a profile?

[HappyMartin]

I don't think it will be soft. The ride to Sabie has some real grinding climbs.

[Agteros]

Sounds like it will be only during/because of the road works. Different? Yes! Easy? No!

Might make it easier to get accommodation (or more difficult with everybody staying in Nelspruit now)

[dirtchaser]

If you'd like to see the route profile etc, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jock-Cycle-Classique/155729481256140?ref=hl

[Nancy Drew]

This is actually happening on the 20th of July. Entries close 9 July

[Prince]

From the bottom of the Longtom climb in Sabie to the turn-off is 9 km at 4.5% incline, last 2 kays or so is at 7%. The whole Longtom is 35 km long - be very glad we don't do the whole thing

 

This Jock might not be so iconic, but it will be tough for sure!!

 

Are you sure its 4.5% as the race flyer says 'average 7%'?

Edited June 19, 2013 by Prince