Boland 100 Miler

[Neville Bailey]

I'm surprised there has not yet been any discussion about the upcoming Boland 100 Miler on 18 April.

 

Anyone doing it?

 

The route looks amazing, although quite daunting, with most of the 2000m climbing after the 100km mark.

 

Although I have not yet committed to ride it, I have entered in order to secure my entry, as there is a 450 rider limit.

[Jbr]

I entered, when it was the old route. now they removed franschhoek pass

 

Not sure what legs I'm gonna have left if I do the bloemendal xco the day before though...

[Skubarra]

Was considering doing it when the Swartberg Gran Fondo got cancelled despite my personal misgivings about the organiser.

 

Then I saw last week that Franschoek pass is now cut out of the route with the organisers trying to sell it as an improvement (because the road around Rawsonville is apparently a bit flat & boring  ) 

 

I find that one hard to believe, more likely they didn't get permission for Franschoek and as usual don't have the inclination to just be upfront & honest with their clients.

 

Think I'll skip this year, if they can pull it off this year might give it a shot next year.

[Jbr]

they made it sound like it was due to popular demand haha, I'm not the only one who liked the old route better I see

[bleedToWin]

I actually think the route change is an improvement, regardless of the motivations behind it.

• Franschhoek was quite early in the old route which meant it wasn't a good place to make a strong move.
• Riders that aren't looking to make moves, just looking to not get dropped will suffer much less if they drop on Hels on new route vs Franschhoek on old route.
• The Paarl side of du Toits is really vastly superior.
• The distance being closer to an actual 100 miles is a big plus.
• Wasn't really sure where to refuel on the old route. Hels is the obvious stop on the new route.
• Old route was a long ride with a beautiful climb and descend fairly early, but mainly just tiring you out for the final climb. New route is challenging rollers into a climb and a shorter final approach to a beautiful final climb.

 All in all, I'm excited. 

[Skubarra]

I actually think the route change is an improvement, regardless of the motivations behind it.

• Franschhoek was quite early in the old route which meant it wasn't a good place to make a strong move.
• Riders that aren't looking to make moves, just looking to not get dropped will suffer much less if they drop on Hels on new route vs Franschhoek on old route.
• The Paarl side of du Toits is really vastly superior.
• The distance being closer to an actual 100 miles is a big plus.
• Wasn't really sure where to refuel on the old route. Hels is the obvious stop on the new route.
• Old route was a long ride with a beautiful climb and descend fairly early, but mainly just tiring you out for the final climb. New route is challenging rollers into a climb and a shorter final approach to a beautiful final climb.

 All in all, I'm excited. 

 

Did the old route twice with the TOGH, it's a great day out on the bike and a proper test. Doing 2 proper mountain passes is something unique with local road races, can't quite agree that zigzagging between Paarl & Stellenbosch on the usual PPA funride routes is nearly as much fun or challenging.

 

Guess I'm just disappointed with the route change    

 

But at least the race is still going ahead, not as if there are tons of racing options around nowadays. Hope they can pull it off.

[bleedToWin]

Did the old route twice with the TOGH, it's a great day out on the bike and a proper test. Doing 2 proper mountain passes is something unique with local road races, can't quite agree that zigzagging between Paarl & Stellenbosch on the usual PPA funride routes is nearly as much fun or challenging.

 

Guess I'm just disappointed with the route change    

 

But at least the race is still going ahead, not as if there are tons of racing options around nowadays. Hope they can pull it off.

 

Hopefully I'll get my first go at that route with the rebranded tour after the winter, then I'll be able to compare. :-)

[Skubarra]

Hopefully I'll get my first go at that route with the rebranded tour after the winter, then I'll be able to compare. :-)

 

If they manage to stick to the current Day 3 & 4 routes it will be some of your best days ever on a road bike 

[Jbr]

 

But at least the race is still going ahead, not as if there are tons of racing options around nowadays. Hope they can pull it off.

no, but we have two in the same weekend after 6 months of nothing though 

[Neville Bailey]

A little bird has just told me that the race has been postponed to 24 October.

[bleedToWin]

That would be disappointing.

[Skubarra]

A little bird has just told me that the race has been postponed to 24 October.

 

Your little bird is quite specific, did your little bird say why?

 

Do race organisers know something about a 3rd wave we don't know yet?

[Neville Bailey]

Apparently Govt have not gazetted the new 500 limit on sporting events (still 250) and now only a month to go so they can’t take a chance as they have 430 entries already.

 

They are making a formal announcement tomorrow.

[Jbr]

Apparently Govt have not gazetted the new 500 limit on sporting events (still 250) and now only a month to go so they can’t take a chance as they have 430 entries already.

 

They are making a formal announcement tomorrow.

well that sucks considering the entries are going to be split in I don't know how many groups and therefore there wont be more than 250 in the same location at a time...

 

Let's see tomorrow, looks like I lost my excuse to be slow at the Bloemies XCO...

Edited March 19, 2021 by Jbr

[bleedToWin]

... the entries are going to be split in I don't know how many groups and therefore there wond be more than 250 in the same location at a time...

...

This.

So much this.

 

We aren't gathered. We are cycling. 

Proper starting pens means only bunches should be considered gathered.

This isn't hard to understand.

 

A single Spur operating for 5 hours carries more risk than this cycling event, and the country has 569 Spur outlets that will all be open all day on April 18, and every day from now until then, and most likely every day thereafter also.

Cancelling would be such an illogical thing to do. 

[bleedToWin]

CSA said the SA champs has to limit bunches to 200 to allow for officials and support contacts to be below 250 total. By the looks of it they made bunches even smaller (splitting Masters into two smaller groups). There are more than 250 entrants for Sunday.