[Event] 99er Cycle Tour

[NicholasH]

For those of you on the media machine Facebook see if you see yourself 

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EoxLMz64t/

Apparently SuperSport is going to do a segment showcasing this year's 99er on their Cadence cycling show. It is a first for us. Provisional airing date is Tuesday 18th of February, subject to final confirmation 

This shared clip is only a small part of what will be shown. We had 2 video crews and a still photographer fron SuperSport trailing the race on the day. I specifically asked them to include footage of the Trilogy as usually they focus on roadies

EDIT : updated link 

Edited February 9 by NicholasH

[Rudii]

19 hours ago, NicholasH said:

Indeed 😆

I heard from the front runners (gravel bikes I assume) that their avg was 42km/h when they left tar for the first time 

It was a quick start to the race. I was doing average 27km/h on my dualsus by the time we hit the gravel and by the time we hit the tar again it only dropped to 25km/h.

[ChrisF]

The 95km groups were significantly faster than at Winelands, at least the mid-pack groups.

 

Winelands I started in G.  H and a select few of I caught up. 

 

With 99er I started in H, and very quickly saw the group was putting the hammer down.  I spoked to an older gent, who just smiled and said he is saving his matches for later.

 

I had to put the hammer down to make the turn to Phisantekraal before the next batch came flying past.  Before turning to Malmesbury the next group was passing me ... not fun taking those turns in a big bunch (some simply not able to keep a line).  Enroute to Malmesbury it was smaller numbers that kept passing me at regular intervals.

 

 

Once we turned into the wind I made up some positions.

 

But most certainly, the mid-pack roadies were not hanging around on Saturday.

 

[Pure Savage]

Came back to BH to say a massive congrats to the organizers on a great event. Felt it was a lot better than the race course. It was also a little full circle moment as one of my first cycling race memories was the 99er that started and finished at the school., I remember in those days it felt like I was at a carnival at the finish. Back then I made it just in time to see the podium with Malcolm Lange on it.  The school kids were just as enthusiastic this year as they were in 2009.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19476436

This year did not go well as was sick midweek, but grateful to ride with mates and have some fun and make sure we all got home before 9:00. Even did some educational upliftment around pacelines for some people.  

Now we just need the Wingerd ride back with its egg rolls, the Medallion tour back with its muschroom and egg rolls, Die Burger one week after DC where you lie and say you still have DC legs and thats why you dropped, we could ask Geordin Hill Lewis if we can get the GP Koning roller coaster, or the Cape Cobra or the Bay City back.. Ok, enough old person rambling.

Massive kudos again to the team behind this event and the school. We can keep Vissers out but that old route does look 🤩

[ChrisF]

4 minutes ago, Pure Savage said:

..... the Medallion tour ....

 

Trip down memory lane 👍

[Pure Savage]

12 hours ago, NicholasH said:

as usually they focus on roadies

 

As they should...

[Pure Savage]

On 2/8/2025 at 11:01 AM, andydude said:

Whoopla 💥

Look at those plonkers

[ChrisF]

While waiting for the prize giving and lucky draw I thought I will try out the students doing massages.

 

@NicholasH What a nice extra !!!

 

Obviously nice for the riders.  But also a good practical experience for the students.

 

PS - It was a short 10 to 20 minute session on 1 max 2 muscle groups.  PERFECT for that niggle after the ride ....

[Pure Savage]

On 2/8/2025 at 3:45 PM, mikkelz said:

Great event! Such nice vibes from the volunteers and at the finish. Definitely unique to the 99er. Happy with my decision to ride in A. Pretty consistent effort throughout. 

Not sure what the lady with a B number was doing there though? 🤔

Pretty sure we weren't caught and I didn't see any other Bs.

Highlights: gravel biker with an aero helmet. Looks badass.

And another with aero socks and hairy legs. 🤣

Aero really is everything. 

Wait wait, I shaved my legs.

 

(Glad I left the skinsuit at home while dropping back to A)

[WattsTheFuss]

50 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

The 95km groups were significantly faster than at Winelands, at least the mid-pack groups.

 

Winelands I started in G.  H and a select few of I caught up. 

 

With 99er I started in H, and very quickly saw the group was putting the hammer down.  I spoked to an older gent, who just smiled and said he is saving his matches for later.

 

I had to put the hammer down to make the turn to Phisantekraal before the next batch came flying past.  Before turning to Malmesbury the next group was passing me ... not fun taking those turns in a big bunch (some simply not able to keep a line).  Enroute to Malmesbury it was smaller numbers that kept passing me at regular intervals.

 

 

Once we turned into the wind I made up some positions.

 

But most certainly, the mid-pack roadies were not hanging around on Saturday.

 

Agree, G Group rode well, there was 1 team that pulled 90%  of the ride, big ups to them, proper diesel engines

[NicholasH]

14 minutes ago, Pure Savage said:

Came back to BH to say a massive congrats to the organizers on a great event. Felt it was a lot better than the race course. It was also a little full circle moment as one of my first cycling race memories was the 99er that started and finished at the school., I remember in those days it felt like I was at a carnival at the finish. Back then I made it just in time to see the podium with Malcolm Lange on it.  The school kids were just as enthusiastic this year as they were in 2009.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19476436

This year did not go well as was sick midweek, but grateful to ride with mates and have some fun and make sure we all got home before 9:00. Even did some educational upliftment around pacelines for some people.  

Now we just need the Wingerd ride back with its egg rolls, the Medallion tour back with its muschroom and egg rolls, Die Burger one week after DC where you lie and say you still have DC legs and thats why you dropped, we could ask Geordin Hill Lewis if we can get the GP Koning roller coaster, or the Cape Cobra or the Bay City back.. Ok, enough old person rambling.

Massive kudos again to the team behind this event and the school. We can keep Vissers out but that old route does look 🤩

Thanks for your kind words and feedback. Before I was a parent at the school I also did one 99er from the school...

Yeah, I think the days of Southern Suburbs/Atlantic Seaboard road racing is long gone... Can't see it easily coming back. That place is just too crowded. Northern suburbs/Winelands region is really the only place where we have open space. Happy to be proven wrong tho!

Unfortunately that does also mean that all the road races here also look just about the same, Durbie Dash, Tour de PPA, Paardeberg, etc. 

The 99er 95k is unique with its route but I also understand that it is too easy for elites. (0.8) However, (and I say this most respectfully) elites only make up maybe 10% of the entire 95k race. We have to make the race attractive for a very large audience

Glad you enjoyed the event. Hoping to see you back again!

[ChrisF]

@NicholasH can you share the entry numbers ?

 

Looking at FinishTime it seems many did not start.  Also difficult to get a feel for the numbers as a rider.

 

Certainly seemed very busy at the finish.  GOOD 👍

[DrPayne]

Thanks for organising a great event @NicholasH. Was really special. Great marshalling, the crowds at the waterpoints were great at cheering us along and all the school kids involved were great too!

It was my first race in the elite bunch and I was worried about the size of the group but there weren't any issues at all. Having both lanes closed in the last 15km was great. And the finish line was perfectly marked! Actually being able to see it in the end gave me a massive boost of energy haha! I somehow managed 20th overall so this was by far my most enjoyable and successful day out on the bike so far! Will definitely be back next year and hopefully for many more years to come.

[Pure Savage]

On 2/8/2025 at 5:06 PM, mikkelz said:

She wasn't too difficult to find. 🫣 

I'd give her the benefit of the doubt, but if you've had run-ins with her before... 

I see she has been moved into %...

[NicholasH]

4 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

@NicholasH can you share the entry numbers ?

 

Looking at FinishTime it seems many did not start.  Also difficult to get a feel for the numbers as a rider.

 

Certainly seemed very busy at the finish.  GOOD 👍

4200 TOTAL entries. 600 TOTAL no shows

2500 started the 95k

This is the highest total entry number post COVID

[Pure Savage]

8 minutes ago, NicholasH said:

Thanks for your kind words and feedback. Before I was a parent at the school I also did one 99er from the school...

Yeah, I think the days of Southern Suburbs/Atlantic Seaboard road racing is long gone... Can't see it easily coming back. That place is just too crowded. Northern suburbs/Winelands region is really the only place where we have open space. Happy to be proven wrong tho!

Unfortunately that does also mean that all the road races here also look just about the same, Durbie Dash, Tour de PPA, Paardeberg, etc. 

The 99er 95k is unique with its route but I also understand that it is too easy for elites. (0.8) However, (and I say this most respectfully) elites only make up maybe 10% of the entire 95k race. We have to make the race attractive for a very large audience

Glad you enjoyed the event. Hoping to see you back again!

Agree, but this thread would be very different if the wind was at 35-40km/h on Saturday morning, then you would have thought you hosted the hunger games. I dont think the distance is an issue, the extra 30km wont make a difference to the elites. I am just glad that Visserehoek and Odendal are but nightmares that wake me in the night. 

SS would only work if you get a lot of political will and the petrol price at R65 a litre.