[Event] Emperors Palace Classic

[The Ouzo]

might need to rent a kayak for sunday

[CharlesZ]

might need to rent a kayak for sunday

think more a Land Rover to get through the possible pothole section that can easily be created by the rain experienced the past weekend when the trucks, etc use the roads especially to Heidelberg and heading back 

[Zatek]

I completely forgot to enter for this race.

[Zatek]

Would someone be willing to enter me at registration? I can arrange a courier to pickup my number.

[Opc_danny]

I think you got until midnight tonight to enter.

I completely forgot to enter for this race.

[Zatek]

 

I think you got until midnight tonight to enter.[/quote

It closed 15 April

[Zatek]

Bump

[CharlesZ]

Bump

there was an extension to 22 April but yesterday was also to late. Just email of fb message the organizers and find out if they will have line entries

[Zatek]

there was an extension to 22 April but yesterday was also to late. Just email of fb message the organizers and find out if they will have line entries

They have but I don't stay close to the city. Someone else can enter for me with number collection but to find that person is not easy.

[CharlesZ]

They have but I don't stay close to the city. Someone else can enter for me with number collection but to find that person is not easy.

just make contact with ASG, they might help you

[The Ouzo]

I’m not impressed.

It’s the East Rand Classic. Yet they show these wonderful number collections out north on Facebook, come to the east rand and there is a table and a gazebo. That’s it.

Sure that’s all that is really needed, but when you have a race with an area name in its title then surely the setup for that area should be priority and the other pickup point as satellite points ?

Even the half arsed gazebo/expo they used to have was 100 times better.

 

Sorry ASG, but this reeks of money making to me.

 

I can’t say I will support this event again, it’s a pity as it’s right on my doorstep.

[RFC311]

Totally agree it's ridiculous how expensive these racing are getting.

[Ozzie NL]

I’m not impressed.

It’s the East Rand Classic. Yet they show these wonderful number collections out north on Facebook, come to the east rand and there is a table and a gazebo. That’s it.

Sure that’s all that is really needed, but when you have a race with an area name in its title then surely the setup for that area should be priority and the other pickup point as satellite points ?

Even the half arsed gazebo/expo they used to have was 100 times better.

Sorry ASG, but this reeks of money making to me.

I can’t say I will support this event again, it’s a pity as it’s right on my doorstep.

ASG a money making scheme????....... naaaaver

[The Ouzo]

That broke me.

 

Was in a nice bunch, at the 45km mark our average was 40kph, I was feeling good even though I was putting in serious effort to stay with them.

At the 45km mark a truck came past and the idiots upfront were not listening to any of the keep lefts and truck warnings being shouted out. The result was lots of swerving and evasive actions.

 

I dropped back a bit as I didnt want to get tangled up in that, but that resulted in me being spat out.

 

I put my head down and a few km later latched onto a diesel engine on a bike. This guy was riding like a frog with his legs out but man oh man was he strong. He pulled a few of us along for about 40km. A couple of us tried to help where we could but this oke was to strong, eventually at around the 80km mark I thanked him for the help and dropped off.

 

From there I tried to hook up with one or 2 people but I was spent, I managed to drag myself over the line in 3:04.

 

My Garmin says I spent 53% of my time in Zone 5 and 44% in zone 4. Ouch.

 

 

The start and finish was a stuff up though, no clear signage of where to go for the start chutes, and starting and finishing in the parking lot was not ideal. IMHO, they should have the chutes in teh parking area, but the actual start/finish should be between Jones rd and the Circle.

[The Ouzo]

cant find a thread for 2025

Saw this on our cycling group

 

Emperor's Palace Classic Postponement – Rider Safety Remains Paramount
They say Murphy's Law is "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, that sentiment rings true for the 17th edition of the Emperor's Palace Classic, originally set for Sunday, 23 March 2025.
De Villiers National Cycling has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s event. After meeting with EMPD precinct representatives yesterday, we were informed that due to the ongoing dispute between the EMPD and its employees — even with Labour Court involvement — management cannot guarantee the presence of EMPD staff to manage traffic and ensure rider safety on race day. The matter is set for further adjudication in the Labour Court on Thursday, 20 March 2025, and consensus is that a resolution is unlikely before the weekend.
For us, rider safety is non-negotiable. Without the necessary traffic control, hosting the event under these circumstances would be reckless and contrary to our values. While road damage along parts of the route was a challenge, we were ready to tackle this. The added uncertainty surrounding traffic management makes it impossible to proceed responsibly.
We understand the disappointment and frustration this brings — not just to the riders but to the entire cycling community. This marks the second event this year impacted by factors beyond our control, and we share in your dismay. That said, we’re determined to offer riders flexibility regarding their entries:
Automatic Transfer – Rider entries will automatically move to the new event date once finalized.
Entry to 2026 – Riders may choose to transfer their entry to next year’s edition of the Emperor’s Palace Classic.
Partial Refund – Riders who prefer not to wait can request a refund, acknowledging that significant costs have already been incurred in the event’s preparation, making a 50% refund appropriate.
In consultation with Cycling SA, we have secured Sunday, 2 November 2025 as the new date and are awaiting final confirmation from Emperor’s Palace. This date falls two weeks before the Ride Jo’burg event, making it ideal for final race prep. Riders wishing to transfer to 2026 or request a partial refund can contact our support team directly at devillierscycling@mweb.co.za.
De Villiers National Cycling deeply respects the ongoing efforts to resolve the EMPD’s internal matters and remains hopeful for a swift resolution. We look forward to welcoming riders back to a safer and more secure race day.
To every rider who has trained tirelessly, the sponsors who have shown unwavering support, and the cycling community that rallies behind this iconic event — we thank you for your patience and understanding. When the Emperor's Palace Classic returns, it will do so stronger than ever.
For further updates and to manage your entry, please visit MyActive.co.za.
De Villiers National Cycling
Committed to Safety, Dedicated to Cycling

[Dexter-morgan]

Good thing that I did not enter this year, maybe my training will be up to scratch in November.