Tshwane Classic

[Nibali]

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.

 

Fair enough, the did state that access to Botha would only close at 05:15. Sorry man.

[Long Wheel Base]

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.

At 04h55 Eufees offramp was already closed. We also had to make another plan but it actually worked out better for us. LOL, we ended up finding a lekker spot right by the finish area.

[FlashJordan]

A few things I had issues with but for a first time I will take my hat off to the organisers. Well done guys. Those 3 climbs(wonderboom, TJ and that last little kicker into the monument) were BRUTAL. We decided to just rule #5 and stick with our usual gearing. 44t up front and 28 at the back. It was really tough in that gearing but we just put our heads down and crunched it up those hills. I actually don't think I would bother changing ratios next time, they so short you just hurt like made and its so close to the end you emptying yourself regardless.

Just before we turned right up wonderboom we had protest action with the idiots pushing the yellow barricades in front of us. Some of the cops were doing their best to prevent it(the bike cops) but some of the metro cops were just standing there watching. We were forced to pretty much stop and dodge bricks in the road, barricades and people. As we rode passed the one lady shouted at us "we doing this because of you white people, If I had a gun I would shoot you". Then up the climb we had taxis racing up on the left so we had to stick to the right lane. On the decent we were doing about 70kph and next second at the one intersection there was a car parked in the middle of the road. So I don't blame the organisers for this, In fact I commend them as they handled it quickly and well. 

What I would love to know is, Why o why do we have to have prize giving at 12h00???? We finished before 09h00 and a 3 hour wait is not lekker. Last week at carnival we finished at a similar time and prize giving kicked off at 10h30 IICR.

Well done on your win!!! You guys climbed really well, esp with THAT gearing.

[Spinnekop]

Heard there was some protest action that affected the VB bunch. Anyone else affected?

 

 

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Jip.

They barricaded the road and threw stones at us.  We grouped together.....counted them....counted us....then decided that this being a numbers game we will go THROUGH them on our merry little way.  They ran.

 

I don't think this was "organised" protest and I don't think the organisers could have planned for this.

Just citizen acting like idiots.

[Stefan_29]

Enjoyed the race, we did the 60 in 02:20 on our MTB's , quite happy with that. Managed to stay on my bike up TJ but man it was tough even with the granny gears. . 

 

Couple of small issues but I think they did really well for the 1st one, will be back next year!

[Spinnekop]

Loved the race.  Was fun and hard, challenging. 

This could grow.

 

Two suggestions:

Permanent numbers (this never gets old).  Make me pay to compete in all the ASG events at a discounted rate and give me a permanent number.  Then you have my loyalty.

 

Secondly.

Don't cut off 2 of the 3 main roads separating North and South.  It's just "bad for business"

And I think this is mostly the reason for the "protests"

Make us turn earlier and run us in the neighbourhood.  Les scenic but will go a long way with the motorists.

[Malduik]

Awesome race!

 

Probably the best road surface of any one I've done so far.

 

Sorry to hear about the 'protest', think it was just a few idiot Julius Malema impersonating individuals who saw an impromptu chance for causing ***. Luckily we didn't have any of it in A.

 

Parking will obviously be easier next year because now we know.

 

Really hope that ASG will tackle this immense challenge again next year. Personally believe that it has the potential to become huge! 

[Job]

_{Great route, awesome Marshalls, and the overall vibe was very good. I must say that of all the races I have done thus far, only 947 is a better race than Tshwane Classic. Well done to AGS for doing such an incredible job on the very first Pretoria roads closure race, it can only get better from here, looking forward to many more years of Tshwane classic!}

[Karooryder]

4 words about this event:

 

What a lekker ride.

 

Full road closures with a bit of everything; long drags, fast downhills and murderous climbs - and all of that in my own backyard. I suspect that Tom Jenkins will soon join the likes of Suikerbossie et al on the race killer climbs list locally. And I must admit that I got goose bumps when I descended into the Union Buildings with that view of Pretoria (not sure if it was the view or my legs thanking me for ending the TJ torture ).     

 

I am reluctant to complain about (imo, petty) aspects of this event like parking, the hike up the amphitheatre after the finish, prize giving time etc. as the extent to which this must have been a monumental (pun intended) effort by ASG is so obvious. Thanks to all involved, ASG, the Metro Police, the spirited marshals and the Tshwane Municipality whose buy-in must have had a huge hand in making this happen.    

 

In all, I would suggest that for next year, the road closures be over-advertised across all available resources and channels well in advance, as this was the headache for the day for the organisers and some of the riders.

[carrera4s]

Access: 

 

Why was the Eeufees offramp closed for cyclists? 

 

On the website it said:

 

Option two (from Johannesburg/Midrand/West Rand): From the Ben Schoeman Freeway (N14) take the Eeufees Road offramp. Vehicles can only turn left onto Eeufees Road. This route leads to the main gate of the Voortrekker Monument and the bottom parking area at the amphitheatre on the R101.

 

 

 

I came from Centurion's side with Christina de Witt and all traffic was stopped at Hofmeyer Rd, but once you show your bike, you were let through.  Quick and easy to access the starting area from there.

 

Option three: From N1 take the Botha Avenue off ramp towards that heads towards town. This road becomes Christiana de Wit Avenue (M18). Vehicles can only turn left into Eeufees Road to gain access to the main entrance of the Voortrekker Monument and bottom parking space (via R101).

 

But really enjoyed the race!  Well done to ASG.  Definitely again next year.

[s14phoenix]

Fair enough, the did state that access to Botha would only close at 05:15. Sorry man.

 

 

At 04h55 Eufees offramp was already closed. We also had to make another plan but it actually worked out better for us. LOL, we ended up finding a lekker spot right by the finish area.

 

I probably should not have left that late so will need to just get up a bit earlier and have more packed and ready for the morning.

 

Looking at BL there was so many AL and V-cat riders - it could have just been a second AL batch

 

Made for a strong BL ride.

[Vetplant]

Loved the race.  Was fun and hard, challenging. 

This could grow.

 

Two suggestions:

Permanent numbers (this never gets old).  Make me pay to compete in all the ASG events at a discounted rate and give me a permanent number.  Then you have my loyalty.

 

Secondly.

Don't cut off 2 of the 3 main roads separating North and South.  It's just "bad for business"

And I think this is mostly the reason for the "protests"

Make us turn earlier and run us in the neighbourhood.  Les scenic but will go a long way with the motorists.

Agree with you. I'd say lets drop the Wonderboom climb, make Tom Jenkins your main climb and take us through some parts of the suburbs and maybe include Klapperkop somewhere.

 

Probably gonna take a couple of years to finalise the route which will have the right balance for a fun day on the bike while not upsetting the majority of motorists by cutting their routes off completely.

[Underachiever]

Analysing this race route little more.

 

Every second race title contains the word "Classic"  Very few, if any deserves to add it in.

 

This to me is probably as close as Gauteng can get to a Belgian style CLASSIC race, all because of those stunning but brutal climbs!

 

Again a special thanks to all the people that tried their upmost to make this a safe race!!!

[Nibali]

I probably should not have left that late so will need to just get up a bit earlier and have more packed and ready for the morning.

 

Looking at BL there was so many AL and V-cat riders - it could have just been a second AL batch

 

Made for a strong BL ride.

 

Well at least there was some positives then

[Pall Catt]

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.

 

Just for interest sake, who was the leading lady that got stopped twice?

 

Feel bad for the ladies who often seem to have something go wrong - I believe last year in the 947 the leading lady also had her race disrupted.

[kingalton]

The first year will always be tough with road closures, word will soon spread and people will make a plan around the event.. i am sure Jhb residents are aware and know where they can and cant go on race day for 947.. if they can do road closure in Jhb, they can do it in Pretoria.. they will obviously learn from this year and it will get better..
it was a top race, as Spinnekop said, we slowed down at the protest, but when they saw more than a 100 pissed of dudes in Lycra that werent intimidated by them, they decided they should rather back down..