SONDELA BELA BELACYCLE/MTBCHALLENGE : 2017

ABOUT

With the venue for the start and finish at the Sondela Nature Reserve just outside Bela Bela, the SondelaBela BelaCycle Challenge 2017, presented by Centurion Cycling Club, takes place on 20 and 21 May this year. The Road Challenge will take place on Saturday 20 May and the MTB Experience on Sunday 21 May.

In its 23rd year, the event will again raise funds for some of the local charity organisations in Bela Bela. More than 1000 cyclists are expected to participate in the road race and about 500 in the MTB event. There will also be Kiddies Rideson Saturday and Sunday (both on a good dirt road) to entertain the young ones during the race.

Sondela Nature Reserve will set up an entertainment village at the Start/Finish venue with food and beverage stalls, a beer garden, access controlled Bike Park, game viewing with rangers, quad bike excursions, hiking trails, kids’ entertainment area, live entertainment and lots more!!

The start venue is at the entrance of Sondela, which is situated on the R516, approximately 1km from the Bela Bela/Settlers off ramp, towards Settlers. The road race starts at 06:30 in the R516 on Saturday. The MTB starts at 08:00 on Sunday inside Sondela next to the entertainment village.

PARKING

Parking will again be available along the side of the R516 towards Sondela, as you come off the N1 at the Bela Bela / Settlers off-ramp. There will be security guards looking after your vehicle.

RACE INFORMATION

Road Race

The road racewill start from 06h30 and starting groups will be in age categories as in the table below.

107km / 50km / 15km
Men 18 – 29 / Boys and Girls U/17 / Open
Men 30+ / Ladies Open
Men 40+ / Men Open
Men 50+ / Hand / Paracyclists
Ladies all ages / Tandems
Hand / Paracyclists
Tandems

Prize giving – 11:00

Trophies will be awarded to the first three positions in each category.

For the 15km race, trophies will only be awarded to the first U/13 boy and U/13 girl(PLEASE NOTE - adults participating in the 15km will all get medals, no trophies).

Route description:

  • 107km route
  • Start - ±300m from the Sondela entrance towards Settlers
  • 11.5km - at the intersection,continue straight through and cross over the railway lines with caution.
  • 17.4km – keep right at the first slipway
  • 17.6km –keep left at the second slip-way (after ±500m - caution railway lines)
  • 18.9km – turn right into the R516
  • 41.3km –turn left at the Crecysign
  • 46.0km – turn left towards Modimole (Nylstroom)
  • 72.5km – turn left towards Settlers
  • 88.3km – continue straight over intersection (after ±1km - caution railway lines)
  • 89.5km – turn right
  • 95.0km – cross over railway lines with caution
  • 95.6km – continue straight over intersection
  • 107km – Finish
  • 50km route
  • Start - ±300m from the Sondela entrance towards Settlers
  • 11.5km - at the intersection, continue straight through and cross over the railway lines with caution.
  • 17.4km – keep right at the first slipway
  • 17.6km – keep left at the second slip-way (after ±500m - caution railway lines)
  • 18.9km – turn right into the R516
  • 25.0km – TURNAROUND
  • 31.1km - continue straight over intersection (after ±1km - caution railway lines)
  • 32.1km - turn right
  • 37.6km - cross over railway lines with caution
  • 38.2km - continue straight over intersection
  • 50km - Finish
  • 15km route
  • The 15km route also leaves Sondela towards Settlers with the turnaround point 7.5km from the start.
  • Follow the same road back to the finish.

There will be onewater point on the 50km route (just before the turnaround point) and three on the 107km (at approximately 30km, 60km and 80km).

Cyclists’ safety is as always top of mind and there will be 12 motorbike marshals on the route as well as medical services, with a medical facility at the entertainment village at the finish.

MTB Race

The MTB racestart inside Sondela next to the Entertainment Village and the routes (45km and 20km) are both inside the Sondela Nature Reserve and consist mostly of flowing single track with some jeep track that promise to be fast and exhilarating.

Start groups:

45km / 20km
Men U/19 / Boys U/14
Ladies U/19 / Girls U/14
Open Men / Open Men
Open Ladies / Open Ladies

Trophies will be awarded to the first three positions in each category.

Kiddies race

Entry for the Kiddies race will be at all the number collection times (see further down) and the days of the events at R30 per entry.

Online entries close on 15 May 2017 at 09:00

A bicycle is up for grabs on Saturday and an Accommodation Breakaway for Sunday at the lucky draw that will take place after the prize giving’s.

Road Race Date:20May 2016

Province:Limpopo

Venue:Sondela Nature Reserve, 11km from Bela Bela, towards Settlers

Distances:107km (R280-00); 50km (R170-00); 15km (R80-00),

Kiddies Ride 1km gravel/dirt road (R30-00 - pay at registration)

Starting Time:06:30

Cut-off time: 12:00

Timing:Racetec

MTB Race Date:21 May 2017

Province: Limpopo

Venue:Sondela Nature Reserve, 11km from Bela Bela, towards Settlers

Distances: 45km (R170-00); 20km (R130-00);

Kiddies Ride 1km gravel/dirt road (R30-00 - pay at registration)

Starting Time:08:00

Cut-off Time: 11h30

Timing:Racetec

You will be required to show proof of your 2017CyclingSA Membership.

If you have not applied for Cycling SA Membership, you will be required to purchase a day license for R45.

For more information contact Hermien van Zyl () or 083791 7740.

For information about accommodation contact Sondela014-7368800 / or Bela Bela Tourism 014-7363694