[Event] Stellenbosch Cycle Tour

[Thomo]

My 1st. Helshoogte looks menacing. Seems much worse than Fox hill. Not as long, but twice as steep from the looks of it.

 

 

Hels really isn't that bad ... obviously dependent on the tempo.

It starts out steep and then eases a bit.

I must admit that I'm not a fan though, and preferred the old road much more.

[Maniax]

Hels really isn't that bad ... obviously dependent on the tempo.

It starts out steep and then eases a bit.

I must admit that I'm not a fan though, and preferred the old road much more.

Agree, if you are past the first kicker (on fresh, cold legs you'll feel the burn), you should be fine.  Actually a lekker climb, although Old Hells has more romance to it.

[carbon29er]

It's time these "bigger" events provide full road closure for the money.

 

CTCT (Argus) at R440 and 947 at R350 both have full road closure. Stellenbosch at R320/R350 does not.

 

Makes the one tonner at R180 early bird entry look like a bargain.  Even on open roads.

 

But road racing is the poor cousin in the Western Cape. Focus appears to be elsewhere. Even Dimension Data is moving their feeder team to Italy and withdrawing form World Cycling Centre Africa as perception is road scene here is poor.

[usxorf]

I'm not riding the stellies tour this year because of the origin of trails . Much more fun!

[Skubarra]

I was told by a reliably source yesterday they only had 5000 entries. Normally they get their 7000 entries easy. So why not this year?

 

1. Country going into recession?

 

2. Start on a tough climb - when it was the old road climb it was not as bad?

 

3. For the entry fee not full road closure?

 

4. Start way too early?

 

5.????

 

 

A few valid points

 

I think there are a few other road events in the WC who also had less entrants in total than last year - for me the economy & costs are probably the biggest reasons.

 

That said, this being one of my fav races on the calendars I'm disappointed that there are seemingly little being done by the organisers to innovate & grow the event.

 

If ever there was an event in the WC which had potential to be even bigger and get the numbers to justify full road closures it is this one - hopefully a wake-up call to those involved?

[Wannabe]

I'm voting with my wallet this year.

 

Gonna hit the Durbanville Mtb trails, should have them mostly for myself on the day.

[HenryS]

I'm doing this purely because it's a seeding ride for CTCT. It will be interesting because I haven't been on my road bike since the 2014 West Coast Express and in the last 3 months I haven't done any rides longer than about 30 km's. 

[GLuvsMtb]

A few valid points

 

I think there are a few other road events in the WC who also had less entrants in total than last year - for me the economy & costs are probably the biggest reasons.

 

That said, this being one of my fav races on the calendars I'm disappointed that there are seemingly little being done by the organisers to innovate & grow the event.

 

If ever there was an event in the WC which had potential to be even bigger and get the numbers to justify full road closures it is this one - hopefully a wake-up call to those involved?

I see fewer numbers at a higher price as a win for the orginisers (within reason of course). The locals are already mif about the disruptions in and around Stellies on the day. Perhaps if they can increase the entries to the point where only 3000 or so enter, they can push for full road closure.

[Skubarra]

I see fewer numbers at a higher price as a win for the orginisers (within reason of course). The locals are already mif about the disruptions in and around Stellies on the day. Perhaps if they can increase the entries to the point where only 3000 or so enter, they can push for full road closure.

 

I guess that would depend on how much of the costs are fixed or are incurred per rider?

 

But even if they just do partial road closure, close 2 lanes on Helz and close that backroad past Wemmershoek and Victor Verster (that dangerous section probably another reason people are avoiding this race) then it will be a massive improvement.

[Stoffies1]

I was the last person to get through in one peice before the big crash last year.  Still don't know how I made it.  Some of the youngsters just get too hot-headed and take too many chances.

One Tonner A group huge crash!!! Durbie dash massive crash that sent my mate to hospital for 2 weeks!!

Far too many twitchy youngsters these days. They really need to learn the ropes & understand that sometimes finishing upright is everything regardless of trying to finish few places higher in the race!!! The tar hurts....

[Meezo]

I'm doing this purely because it's a seeding ride for CTCT. It will be interesting because I haven't been on my road bike since the 2014 West Coast Express and in the last 3 months I haven't done any rides longer than about 30 km's. 

 

don't be 100% guaranteed of that, in previous years any of the ppa races counted towards argus seeding

 

this has been discussed to death on thebikehubsa

[z@z@]

One Tonner A group huge crash!!! Durbie dash massive crash that sent my mate to hospital for 2 weeks!!

Far too many twitchy youngsters these days. They really need to learn the ropes & understand that sometimes finishing upright is everything regardless of trying to finish few places higher in the race!!! The tar hurts....

 

agreed and all, but when was there a race accident free ? 

[Dazshell]

My 1st. Helshoogte looks menacing. Seems much worse than Fox hill. Not as long, but twice as steep from the looks of it. Oh well, it is the last one of the year, so plentiful, liquid, post-race nutrition shall be in order. (Also an opportunity to score some brownie points - in-laws stay in GB).

Fox is longer and I reckon harder.  If you're okay up the M19 or up to Ballito from the river, you will be 100's.

[HenryS]

don't be 100% guaranteed of that, in previous years any of the ppa races counted towards argus seeding

 

this has been discussed to death on thebikehubsa

 

That doesn't really help me because I haven't done many PPA rides this year; only the mini Cycle Tour and Hex Valley MTB 35 km. Before that was 2014 WCE 66 km. There are also too many penalty points because of short distance and how long ago I did them. 

[Sparkles]

A few valid points

 

I think there are a few other road events in the WC who also had less entrants in total than last year - for me the economy & costs are probably the biggest reasons.

 

That said, this being one of my fav races on the calendars I'm disappointed that there are seemingly little being done by the organisers to innovate & grow the event.

 

If ever there was an event in the WC which had potential to be even bigger and get the numbers to justify full road closures it is this one - hopefully a wake-up call to those involved?

 

I agree that economy and costs are the biggest reason.  I have noticed the same this season in triathlon events.  Races like Slanghoek and Jailbreak which are usually sold out long before the event did not sell out this year, and this was without a big price increase.

[Cadre]

Fox is longer and I reckon harder.  If you're okay up the M19 or up to Ballito from the river, you will be 100's.

I shall therefore pack more beers for post race nutrition and arrive at the Oyster bar at GB harbour in good Spirit. Klapmuts seems like a "it-was-also-there-somewhere" bump?