aQuelle Tour Durban 2015

[tombeej]

To people who have not raced Tour Durban before and are looking at that big climb up the M7 with a bit of trepidation, look at it this way:

 

It's a 12 - 14km climb depending on where you'd categorise the top to be. But it's not a solid/sustained climb, more like a series of smaller bumps with lots of opportunity to take a breather in between each one. It really is not as bad as it looks on paper (there are even a couple of little downhill sections).

 

There is one sustained section that you need to plan your race strategy around, and that is the very first 2.5km of the climb. This section is a steady 6% ramp that doesn't relent. But there's relief at the top with a flat section where you can recover before the next little kick upwards.

 

That's were you need your full focus. Be willing to dig deep to stay with the bunch there and keep telling yourself it's only 2.5km long and then it's over. If you are still with the bunch there, then 80% of the job is done for the M7 climb. You just need to properly commit to the first 2.5km ramp, that's it. Yes there are more kickers after that, but if you're still in reasonable shape after the first ramp then you should be just fine for the rest of the way.

[Firozfx]

BL. How many batches are there? I'm going to get spat out of the batch on the Pinetown climb.

[Dazshell]

Stop playing mind games with them Tom.  When they get to the last little kick before Pinetown, they will curse you!

[ScottCM]

My arithmetic says the last batch is GL for the 105km.

 

Lots of Vets, A & B batch riders here, the hub is strong.

[ScottCM]

Stop playing mind games with them Tom.  When they get to the last little kick before Pinetown, they will curse you!

 

rather the last little kick heading out of Pinetown before the decent.

[Dazshell]

rather the last little kick heading out of Pinetown before the decent.

That one too.

[tombeej]

Stop playing mind games with them Tom.  When they get to the last little kick before Pinetown, they will curse you!

 

Not to mention that final bump to the highest point of the race after Otto Volek.

 

But by then everyone is just a bit relieved they've 'made it' and are looking forward to the manic drop back down the hill, so everyone is generally well behaved at that stage.

[Frosty]

Don't forget the last bump, after Pinetown - the one before the long descent down the M19. As Tombeej says, it depends where you consider the top of the climb. For me, that's the top.

 

edit: I am a slow typist 

[StevieL]

Seems like a nasty little kick at about 40km in too.

Then it's home free....

[tombeej]

BL. How many batches are there? I'm going to get spat out of the batch on the Pinetown climb.

 

Because we're on wide open highway with full road closure (even through the centre of town), the organisers are happy to have big bunches to start.

 

It's fine, because once you start the climb and the large main bunch starts to break up, everyone will eventually settle into groups of riders with equal strength. And that means once you drop back down to DBN the rest of the way becomes a lekker ride, because you're not being attacked all the time or just trying to hang on. You have a chance to settle down and really enjoy the magic ride along the coast.

[SL7]

VC. Looks like a fast finish. Can't wait

[tombeej]

The M7 climb:

 

[quintonb]

For those who may be interested, there is track racing on Saturday in Durban.

I think it starts at 12 and runs through most of the afternoon.

Will pop in after registration.

[Frosty]

The M7 climb:

Think that graphic will scare many people if they can't read the details. Perphaps they need to relate it to another race. So here is the start of the 947 Cycle Challenge (opening climb) vs the Tour Durban (opening climb).

 

Very similar elevation difference, and very similar distance.

 

 

edit:

Glass half full vs half empty.

If the 947 felt hard, then TD won't be much different.

 

My theory of burning a match or two to stay with the attacks early on is do-able. Looking forward to Sunday.

 

Another edit: It's a big chain ring climb, so it's not THAT hard.

[tombeej]

Also, for those who did the Emperors Palace Classic, that climb at 42km is very similar to the first section of the M7 climb.

 

The M7 section is about 200m longer and a tad steeper.

[Dazshell]

Only thing to be wary of are the moegoes who can't help but play with their brakes down the M19 mineshaft.  The front guys will be pushing 90+ kmh down there, maybe even 100!  Even the AL's will be in the 80's.