Emperors Palace Classic

[Andyr249]

Thanks for the update Supaman.

Just a consideration - is there any way to keep the slower, shorter distance riders to the left, especially when the top end of the Open bunches approach the finish? Maybe a few marshals with loudhailers or so? I really don't need another visit to hospital after the race like last year.

[Mutt]

I will do the MTB for sure - I loved the mud last year....  THis year I have a 29er to try it on   looking forward to it.

[Mavro]

which date is the classic scheduled to happen?

[Spinnekop]

Thanks for the update Supaman!!

[Mighty Atom]

Hi Everyone

 

The Emperors Classic road and MTB events will go live on Cycle Lab on Tuesday next week.

 

I've been awaiting confirmation on a new road race route which we've been working on with Ekurhuleni Metro' date=' which we'll hopefully have final  confirmation on today.

 

The new route will be on the N12 highway out to Witbank and back with the 97km turning at the second Delmas turn-off and the 50 km turning at Etwatwa.

 

Times on the new circuit should be similar to last year's with only mild undulations on the N12. The final climb up to Emperors will, however, remain as a final sting in the tail!

 

Apologies for the delay, but I need clarity on the new route first. Although last year's route worked reasonably well, the congestion in the East Rand Mall area late morning was a concern for us as well as the turn-around points for the shorter distances.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Glad this race is still on, enjoyed last years race. The N12 is a busy road, so if there is no complete road closure this route may be hazardous. How will cars be able to access off-ramps safely?

If the online entries open next week, I take it the race will be sometime in Feb. or maybe early March. Quite a busy time on the East Rand with the Ride for Sight and Carnival City races also taking place. It would be great if these race were staggered throughout the year. 

[madmarc]

Any further news when and where can we enter - it's still not up on Supercycling

[Ryan]

 

Any further news when and where can we enter - it's still not up on Supercycling

 

Originally posted by supaman

 

Hi Everyone

 

The Emperors Classic road and MTB events will go live on Cycle Lab on Tuesday next week.

 

I've been awaiting confirmation on a new road race route which

we've been working on with Ekurhuleni Metro, which we'll hopefully have

final  confirmation on today.

 

[madmarc]

I see that but i'm actualy looking for the date it will be taking place

[Spinnekop]

7 Feb

[BryanB]

Entries should be live on Cycle Lab tomorrow.

 

Regards

 

 

Wynand de Villiers

Cyclingnews Magazine

[flex]

From the CyclingNews newsletter:

 

 

 

Emperors Palace Classic ? 6 and 7 February

 

The big ?News of the Empire? is that the Emperors Palace Classic road race, which takes place on Sunday, 7 February, now boasts a new route out and back on the Witbank highway (N12).

 

 

 

We?ve been working with Ekurhuleni since the re-advent of the event three years ago to try and get the go-ahead to host the event on the highway and it?s finally happened.

 

Last year?s route was great (and fast!), but we were very concerned about the congestion in the East Rand Mall area mid-morning as well as the 50km and 25km turn-around points.

 

 

 

The new route is by no difficult, but some mild undulations will still test the legs. Times on the course should be very similar to last year. The 97km event will turn at the second Delmas off-ramp (Delmas/Bronkhorstspruit) while the 50km event will turn at Etwatwa.

 

 

 

The final 3km has remained in tact from last year with cyclists taking the Atlas road turn-off and heading back to Emperors via the back-road. And, yes, this means the final 1km ascent to the finish line will again be in the mix.

 

 

 

The mountain bike race on Saturday, 6 February, will again be staged within the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport with route designer Lee Stockenstrom from Sweat and Gears once again at the helm of course design. There simply is no way to describe the feeling of riding your mountain bike in the company of Boeings!

 

 

 

Festivities on the Saturday will include the Circuit Spectacular with South Africa?s top teams in attendance as well as the Kids Classic. Renowned Extreme motoX rider Brian Kappa will wow crowds with his tricks and Emperors will provide live entertainment.

 

 

 

Entries for both of these events are now open on Cycle Lab and are closing on 20 and 25 January respectively, which means there isn?t much time left to get your entry in.

 

 

[flex]

Here is the link to enter:

 

 

 

Emperors Palace Road Race (7 February, closes 25 January)

 

 

 

The new route sounds a bit boring to me, though.

[Thug]

What is the justification for an increase of 20% in entry fees for the long race ?

 

 

 

Full road closure ?

 

Gold plated medals ?

 

Free R50 gambling chips ?

[flex]

What is the justification for an increase of 20% in entry fees for the long race ?

 

 

 

Full road closure ?

 

Gold plated medals ?

 

Free R50 gambling chips ?

 

Thug, I don't think this is a justifiable increase. My guess is that it is due to the number of entrants waning. And turning the race into another Bakwena aint gonna help that.

[Mighty Atom]

What is the justification for an increase of 20% in entry fees for the long race ?

Full road closure ?
Gold plated medals ?
Free R50 gambling chips ?

 

Is there full road closure? There wasn't last year on the N17.

 

And is there number collection on the Saturday or race day? Only Thursday and Friday are given on the Cyclelab website. And the times are between 10:00 and 16:00, so time off work needed.

[Thug]

Flex, if as you say its a consequence of the number of entrants waning, then the logic of "well let's just increase the entry fee" is in my opinion, convoluted logic and, as you said on another thread, will just exacerbate the problem.