Tshwane Classic

[hilton_]

Great route and an awesome race. Looking forward to this growing into a 10000+ event. Beginnings of something very festive with the handful of spectators, especially on TJ. ???? With a bit of work and some decent additional sponsors, this could easily become a ‘big three’ race.

 

AL was very disciplined.

Parking/exit was painless, worlds apart from the Satellite mess.

Marshaling was top notch.

 

Only worry is the organisers stating plainly in the chitchat before the start that they want to move the race one week earlier next year so it falls in the city’s ‘mobility month’. AFAIK, Carnival’s date is locked in for 2018 already.

No wonder Gerald got sent his random VB entry, without entering ????

[bertusras]

I think a larger number of those on MTBs do not even own a Racetec chip or just dont care about their time having a a jol instead.

 

2400 in 98km, 900 in 60km, and all the people without timing chips would put this close to 4000 I would say.

[Cav']

I enjoyed the race. ASG did a great job.

 

There are a few things that needs attention before the next edition though.

 

Race itself was good, although it was a solo effort from Wonderboom nek. (managed 2h30) Max HR...202

[Jase619]

Great route and an awesome race. Looking forward to this growing into a 10000+ event. Beginnings of something very festive with the handful of spectators, especially on TJ. With a bit of work and some decent additional sponsors, this could easily become a ‘big three’ race.

 

AL was very disciplined.

Parking/exit was painless, worlds apart from the Satellite mess.

Marshaling was top notch.

 

Only worry is the organisers stating plainly in the chitchat before the start that they want to move the race one week earlier next year so it falls in the city’s ‘mobility month’. AFAIK, Carnival’s date is locked in for 2018 already.

No wonder Gerald got sent his random VB entry, without entering

 

No doubt they need to move it, with the effect that it had on the Wilro this year( not sure why it got cancelled obviously, just speculation) and the drop in entrants for the Mangaung( used to be Ofm). There are a lot of open weekends with nothing on it before this, so presume they will have a good look before next year!

[Supersix EVO]

I am not really sure that we were all in the same race here. 

 

The leading lady was stopped twice to a halt after breaking away from the bunch on the two main climbs due to people pushing barriers  into the road, fighting among each other and throwing stones. Two taxis stopped in the middle of the road blocking her once again after TJ. 

There was no lead vehicle for them after Wonderboom and the motorbike also disappeared after TJ to clear and show the way. The marshals did the best they could but unfortunately the "race" was still not safe.

 

Also heard that someone was pushed off their bike by a barrier being thrown at them.

 

We are just relieved that all of them are safe and not hurt.

 

Then having to wait 3 hours for prize giving was just ridiculous. Why cant they get it right and make it 30min after the last registered group finished.

 

Please don't get me wrong. I am not complaining about the outcome of the race but merely the safety aspect of it. Yzette deserved this win she worked hard and did an incredible job on the day.

[TALUS]

I am not really sure that we were all in the same race here. 

 

The leading lady was stopped twice to a halt after breaking away from the bunch on the two main climbs due to people pushing barriers  into the road, fighting among each other and throwing stones. Two taxis stopped in the middle of the road blocking her once again after TJ. 

There was no lead vehicle for them after Wonderboom and the motorbike also disappeared after TJ to clear and show the way. The marshals did the best they could but unfortunately the "race" was still not safe.

 

Also heard that someone was pushed off their bike by a barrier being thrown at them.

 

We are just relieved that all of them are safe and not hurt.

 

Then having to wait 3 hours for prize giving was just ridiculous. Why cant they get it right and make it 30min after the last registered group finished.

Obviously that is very bad. Luckily they sorted that out quickly. Most of the riders didn't experience those problems. I am just glad that they didn't cancel or shorten or stop the race.

[hilton_]

I am not really sure that we were all in the same race here.

 

The leading lady was stopped twice to a halt after breaking away from the bunch on the two main climbs due to people pushing barriers into the road, fighting among each other and throwing stones. Two taxis stopped in the middle of the road blocking her once again after TJ.

There was no lead vehicle for them after Wonderboom and the motorbike also disappeared after TJ to clear and show the way. The marshals did the best they could but unfortunately the "race" was still not safe.

 

Also heard that someone was pushed off their bike by a barrier being thrown at them.

 

We are just relieved that all of them are safe and not hurt.

 

Then having to wait 3 hours for prize giving was just ridiculous. Why cant they get it right and make it 30min after the last registered group finished.

We weren’t in the same race. By the time we got past this (which sounds horrifying) in AL, there was the odd yellow barrier that looked out of place but nothing resembling the dangerous chaos that some of the licensed groups experienced.

Glad no one was badly hurt.

[bobby]

I was at the bottom of Wonderboom nek, and you have no idea what the marshals and Metro had to deal with to keep the Taxis under control just 100m away

 

personal i feel that did a super job, there were at one stage a lot of people and the Metro stayed there and tried there best to keep them calm.

 

Well done Metro and Marshals.   

[shaper]

Great route and an awesome race. Looking forward to this growing into a 10000+ event. Beginnings of something very festive with the handful of spectators, especially on TJ. With a bit of work and some decent additional sponsors, this could easily become a ‘big three’ race.

 

AL was very disciplined.

Parking/exit was painless, worlds apart from the Satellite mess.

Marshaling was top notch.

 

Only worry is the organisers stating plainly in the chitchat before the start that they want to move the race one week earlier next year so it falls in the city’s ‘mobility month’. AFAIK, Carnival’s date is locked in for 2018 already.

No wonder Gerald got sent his random VB entry, without entering

When I went up TJ (BL batch) passed a couple of guys in fancy dress with whistles and bells..... so could well become festive on that climb (aka TdF).

 

Could be something ASG could promote in coming years perhaps?

[s14phoenix]

Well done on the first time for this event but some logistics need addressing.

 

Finish area vs parking was a fiasco - being told to "walk over the hill" by a marshall to the start parking - This was a big mess - I even asked if there is no other way back to that parking and the marshall told me - "Jy wou mos daar park" - Road shoes are great for hiking - thanks!

 

The traffic control may have been a lot better with more closure indicators and signage put up before the event and then the route directions/suggestions supplied was also not great at all had to re-route and go all the way around thus missing my start by 5min.

 

the 1/2 closure on some sections was also not as advertised "full road closure".

 

The ambulance trying to climb onto the N4 right as the BL group came past the onramp was also not very clever - we had to tell the driver to stop.

 

Good Route - yes - enjoyed the challenge of the steeps.

 

Some work would need to be done before this would be one of the really BIG events but they still young...

[s14phoenix]

When I went up TJ (BL batch) passed a couple of guys in fancy dress with whistles and bells..... so could well become festive on that climb (aka TdF).

 

Could be something ASG could promote in coming years perhaps?

 

That made light of the climb - some humour was needed there - hats off (excuse the pun) to those boys.

 

  :lol:  

[the_other_guy]

We weren’t in the same race. By the time we got past this (which sounds horrifying) in AL, there was the odd yellow barrier that looked out of place but nothing resembling the dangerous chaos that some of the licensed groups experienced.

Glad no one was badly hurt.

Didn't AL start before the Licensed Ladies? 

 

I have to agree with Supersix EVO. It was quite dangerous for the ladies bunch after Wonderboom. Barriers, Taxi's and pedestrians.  

 

[Nibali]

By far my favourite race I have ever done, had an absolute blast! Really hope this grows into a big one, but I'm definitely going to be supporting this going forward.

 

Knowing the roads was a big help, some of those sweeping corners going through the CBD was the most fun I've had in along time. 

 

Sorry to hear about the groups encountering issues on the road, but I think the metro and marshals should still be commended for doing an incredible job, especially keeping everyone at bay later in the day.

[Nibali]

The traffic control may have been a lot better with more closure indicators and signage put up before the event and then the route directions/suggestions supplied was also not great at all had to re-route and go all the way around thus missing my start by 5min.

 

 

So the email and information on the website saying which roads would be closed at what times wasn't enough info?

[bertusras]

Knowing the roads was a big help, some of those sweeping corners going through the CBD was the most fun I've had in along time. 

 

Totally agreed! Flying down from the top of TJ all the way to the CBD was amazing.

[s14phoenix]

So the email and information on the website saying which roads would be closed at what times wasn't enough info?

 

I am saying some of the information didn't seem accurate. I was at the fountains circle around 5:10 and thought I just made it but was turned away.

 

Which combined with finding another way other than I had planned wasn't great for making my start time.