There are many reasons to look forward to the year 2020 – one of which is certainly the upcoming Herald Cycle tour in February.  

Not only does the popular Herald Cycle Tour promise to be bigger and better than ever next year, but both the Tour and its official vehicle supporter, Eastern Cape Motor Group, will be celebrating 35 years of existence. 

The Herald Cycle Tour 2020, one of the classic cycling events in South Africa with a distinctly Eastern Cape flavour, is an annual event open to a range of cyclists – from the country’s top professional riders to leisure riders of all ages.  

“Eastern Cape Motors – North End, always looks forward to the exceptionally competitive racing that takes place, along with the phenomenal camaraderie and fellowship on race days. The Herald Cycle Tour showcases our wonderful Port Elizabeth city environs, and displays why Port Elizabeth and the Eastern Cape really are the jewels of Southern Africa,” said Eastern Cape Motor Group Director Stephen Theodosiou. 

The Herald Cycle Tour will take place over two weekends - with the Mountain Bike Challenge on 16 February 2020 at the Addo Polo Club and the Road Race on 23 February in Port Elizabeth.  

As the official vehicle sponsor of The Herald Cycle Tour, Eastern Cape Motors – North End is a long-standing partner who in 2020 will make 26 vehicles available for use leading up to and on race day. These vehicles will be used as road lead vehicles, for course co-ordination and sweep duties as well as transporting volunteers, staff and the media. 

Theodosiou said the vehicles span a wide variety of the Ford range - from the top selling Ranger Double Cab to the class leading Everest, Ecosport, Figo and the Tourneau bus.

 “Several of the Double Cabs and Everests will be used in the weeks prior to the race to assist with the event organisation. The Eastern Cape Motor Group really values our partnership with the esteemed Herald Cycle Tour - not just because it’s a world-class cycling event held in our beautiful Port Elizabeth, but also because it caters to people of all walks of life, colour, amateur, professional and families. Everyone can take part in this phenomenally well-run event at the best venue in South Africa,” said Theodosiou. 

The Ford range from Eastern Cape Motors – North End will be on display at the Pollok Beach Race Village during the Road Race Challenge, where riders and their supporters will be treated to a view of the iconic new 10-speed Ford Mustang. 

A large contingent of the Eastern Cape Motor Group team will also be participating in both the Mountain Bike and Road Race events as riders, while other staff will volunteer during the events. 

“We have a very enthusiastic staff team on ‘Top of the Mountain’ at Maitlands that perform admirably at the waterpoint they control. The team all have tremendous fun looking after the riders’ hydration needs and the bonus is, they have won best water point two years in row, so they really have a fantastic day,” said Theodosiou. 

Make sure to book your racing seat for this premier Eastern Cape cycling event.  

Race entries close on 28 January 2020. For more information or to register, visit ww.heraldcycletour.co.za

Congratulations to The Herald Cycle Tour early bird winner, Nicola Smith who will be participating in both the MTB and Road race event next year. Francarlo Micilotta hands over a Citizen Eco-Drive watch valued at R6000.00. Cycle Tour entries are open up until midnight 28 January 2020.

The Herald Cycle Tour Mountain Bike Challenge is arguably the most fun and scenic mountain bike race enthusiasts will take part in, in 2020 in the Eastern Cape. 

The purpose-built mountain bike routes of the Herald Cycle Tour Mountain Bike Challenge wind their way through diverse natural terrain which ensures riders get to experience South Africa’s best single-track, topped off with breath-taking views over the vast Addo landscape.  

The Herald Cycle Tour Mountain Bike Challenge takes place on 16 February 2020 from the Addo Polo Club and Mountain Bike Race Director Brad Jackson said the Addo region is a big drawcard for cyclists from all over the country.

“Addo is world-renowned for its wildlife and biodiversity. One of the unique features of the routes is that they traverse diverse terrain and vegetation. Riders can expect to experience citrus orchards, forest, fynbos, Albany Thicket and Nama Karoo. In addition, the views over the Sundays River Valley from the Zuurberg Pass are breath-taking,” said Jackson. 

The Mountain Bike Race will have something for cyclist of all fitness levels with 5km and 30km routes that are not too hilly and cater for novice riders. “These routes don’t require a high level of technical ability. The 60km route is a little more physically challenging and includes some great single-track (approximately 20%). The 80km route is the most challenging - both physically and technically - with a greater proportion of single-track (about 50%),” explains Jackson. 

The Mountain Bike Race Village offers another welcome boost to local traders and will in 2020 again include its popular Farmers Market, an assortment of food stalls and the popular Children’s Play Area. Supporters and fans are encouraged to spend their time at the Race Village and are invited to camp over and have a braai the night before the race.

 “Camping is getting more popular each year and includes luxury tented options. Riders have begun to see the benefit of not having to leave home at 3:30am in order to get to the race on time. We encourage riders to stay over the night before, as it also helps reduce the traffic to the venue in the morning,” said Jackson. 

As with all Herald Cycle Tour races, safety is of utmost concern and during the Herald Cycle Tour Mountain Bike Challenge medics will be equipped with off-road vehicles that enable them to access the remote sections of the routes. Radio communications will be provided by the PE Amateur Radio Society (PEARS) to ensure reliable communications where cell phone reception is inadequate. 

 “We have the support of the Sundays River Municipality traffic department to assist with road closure and traffic control. The SAPS also provide great service through a significant presence at the event over the weekend,” said Jackson. 

With hospitality, safety and entertainment taken care of, the only thing left to do for the riders would be to have fun and enjoy the view. “Our routes are spectacular and offer some of the best mountain biking trails in the country. Our single-track is hard to beat. Riders get to ride routes that are not normally open to the public. We offer a great Race Village, country-style hospitality and efficient organisation which all combine to create an unbeatable experience,” said Jackson. 

Early birds race entrants should hurry to enter before the end of November for a discounted rate. All race entries will close on 28 January 2020. For more information or to register, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za

NEXT year the popular Herald Cycle Tour celebrates its 35th year of existence as one of the top cycling events in South Africa. 

With a few local cyclists coming along for the ride over all three decades by completing over 30 Herald Cycle Tours, it remains an annual event in professional and leisure cyclists’ calendar not to be missed and has built up a reputation of being well-organised - and kms of fun.  

Duane Nel, who will be starting his 31st consecutive cycle tour when he lines up on the start line in 2020, said the Herald Cycle Tour is one of the best cycling routes in the country. 

“I haven’t had one year where I didn’t have a lot of fun. It is always enjoyable riding with friends. The best variant route over the years was when we went up Valley Road, which was quite a lot of fun,” said Nel. 

Another cyclist who has clocked up thousands of kms since the beginning of the Herald Cycle Tour in Port Elizabeth, is Charles Garai with over 30 races under his belt. 

“I can recommend the Herald Cycle Tour without a doubt – it is a very scenic ride right on our doorstep and, depending on the wind, can be challenging or pleasurable. I remember my very first race, when I forgot to unfasten my toe straps and fell over at the finishing line – luckily on the right side of the line,” chuckled Garai.  

Herald Cycle Tour Race Director Julie Briggs, who has been involved with the Herald Cycle Tour since 2012, said the Cycle Tour’s long-standing popularity is due to the fact that the race brings together cyclists from all walks of life and fitness levels, for a day of fun on their bikes. 

“They enjoy a day out on Nelson Mandela Bay’s roads. We have full road closure for most of the route - which is a plus for everyone. The professional cyclists along with their team managers head off first, followed by the racing groups, and then the more casual cyclists who are there to soak up the views and atmosphere while cycling with their friends,” said Briggs. 

The Herald Cycle Tour 2020 will take place over two weekends - with the Mountain Bike Challenge on 16 February 2020 at the Addo Polo Club and the Road Race on 23 February in Port Elizabeth. 

Briggs said road safety for both races, in particular the urban setting of the Road Race in Port Elizabeth, is achieved with the assistance of all safety role-players. 

“PEARS heads up our race office for the Road Race - enabling clear communication on race day with all parties - including their members who are stationed out along the route, the medics, traffic officers, marshals, race officials and roaming marshals.  

With a whopping 83 traffic officers along the Port Elizabeth Road Race route, and 105 marshals lining the route, the logistics and manpower behind the success of the event is truly impressive. 

Five waterpoints will also provide refreshments along the route for the riders in the Road Race.  

Apart from a safe and well-organised race, fans and supporters can also look forward to a celebration of entertainment at the Race Village at Pollok Beach on 23 February. This includes the popular Cycle Tour Lounge - with VIP parking, appetizing meals and refreshments, a dedicated bar and comfortable seating.  

Other Race Village attractions include kiddies’ activation zones with jumping castles, face painting and balloon art, as well as popular food trucks, a beer garden and amazing live entertainment from Nelson Mandela Bay’s best local talent.  

Early birds race entrants can again capitalise on entering before the end of November for a discounted rate, while all race entries will close on 28 January 2020. For more information or to register, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za

ENTRIES have opened for the popular Herald Cycle Tour 2020 – by far the most scenic race in the Eastern Cape and one of the top classic cycle events in South Africa. 

Whether it is the fast-paced coastal scenes during the Road Race from Pollok Beach in Port Elizabeth or the mountain trails of Addo during the Mountain Bike Challenge – the country’s top professional riders, as well as leisure riders of all ages, will be treated to the spectacular natural beauty of the province. 

The Herald Cycle Tour will take place over two weekends - with the Mountain Bike Challenge on 16 February 2020 at the Addo Polo Club and the Road Race on 23 February in Port Elizabeth. 

The Herald Cycle Tour is an annual event in the professional cyclists’ calendar and is known by the country’s top riders as a challenging platform to compete in – which is well-organised and fun.  

Professional cyclist and coach Nolan Hoffmann, who was placed first in the Men’s 106km Classic Road Race in this year’s race, said he ranks the Herald Cycle Tour as one of the top five races in South Africa. 

“It’s a big one for me. From the start of my career the Herald Cycle Tour was always part of my big goals, and how we selected races before peaking for the Cape Town Cycle Tour. And racing in PE is like racing in Cape Town, I feel at home,” said Hoffman. 

Tiffany Keep raced in Port Elizabeth for the first-time in 2019, when she won the Women’s 106km Classic Road Race of the Herald Cycle Tour. 

“Port Elizabeth is a beautiful part of South Africa and one which I haven’t been able to travel to before. I really enjoyed the race. The route itself winds its way along the coast, offering some great views to participants. Not many races give you the opportunity to do this, so it really is quite a unique experience.” 

“It also has some short, punchy climbs which help to make the racing a bit more interesting. The event is well run and organised and one which I can definitely recommend to any South African cyclist,” said Keep. 

Yolande de Villiers, the winner in the Women’s 80km Extreme Mountain Bike Race this year, describes the Herald Cycle Tour as a fun-filled and action-packed event for the whole family. 

“I love the mountain bike route - it is a combination of single tracks, wooden bridges, sharp climbs and steep descents. It is one of the best organised events that cater for the whole family.  It is a festival of cycling with a fantastic vibe,” said De Villiers. 

The races are open to not only professional cyclists, but leisure riders of all ages and an event the entire family can participate in. The Road Race in Port Elizabeth is open to riders over 12 years, while the Mountain Bike Challenge in Addo will include a 5km Kiddies Ride and 50m Toddlers Dash. 

Early birds can again capitalise on entering before the end of November for a discounted rate, while all race entries will close on 28 January 2020.

DNS Sports sprinter Nolan Hoffman edged Ryan Harris by a split second to bag yet another 106km Herald Continental Cycle Tour victory at Pollok Beach in Summerstrand on Su n d ay. It took a couple of minutes for the winner to be announced as race officials decided the 2019 champion after Hoffman and Harris crossed the finish line neck-and-neck in two hours, 32 minutes and 14 s e co n d s .

Gustav Basson was third and credited with the same t i m e. Hoffman, 32, said the 2019 race was probably the hardest he had ever done. “If you were thinking of giving up then you had lost the race already,” the multiple former champion said. “I just had to put my head down and hope the guy in front of me was holding the wh e e l . “Fortunately, I managed to stay with Clint Hendricks because I know he is a strong rider in the crosswinds. “It worked out well.” Despite the win, the Capetonian said he was not 100% his best in terms of fitness, but it was just a matter of sharpening the pencil as all the work had been done. “I am happy with the way I was on the hills and the climbing,” Hoffman said. “That is a positive and it was a boost in the right direction for the upcoming races.” Reflecting on the race, Hoffman said: “It looked like it was going to rain in the beginning and then the mist just cleared and it was a sunny day. “About 20km into the race

there was no wind, nothing. Then all of a sudden it just came out of nowhere and it was blowing the guys to the side on the road. “PE never seems to disappoint – it can be rainy and then all of a sudden the sun is out and then the wind blows. “But that makes for really good cycling conditions and it makes the race exciting. “You always have to concen - trate on what you need to do. “If you are too far back and m i ss a breakaway, you can lose out. “I didn’t dare look back even once because when we came into the last kilometre, I

only saw 10 guys that were left in the group. That happened in a matter of 500m.” Tiffany Keep, 18, made a memorable debut by b e at i n g Nelson Mandela Bay’s Anriette Schoeman to take the women’s t i t l e. The KwaZulu-Natal rider

finished the race in 3:09:56, followed by Schoeman in 3:09:57. Third place went to Frances Janse van Rensburg, also in a time of 3:09:57. The Varsity College student has vowed to come back to defend her title in 2020. Asked what she had done right to win the race, Keep said: “I think I raced cleverly. “In the past, I used to sit in the front the whole way because I come from a mountain bike background and that is really the only tactic I know. “I think I applied a bit more of a tactical approach to this race today. “It was my first attempt at it.

and I am very happy with how it went. “I really didn’t know what to expect because I have never raced in this part of the country b e f o r e. “It was actually very nice for me to have a change of scenery and I really enjoyed racing along the coastline of PE with a good bunch of girls. “I am super stoked that my sprint paid off and I was able to cross the line first. “I’ll try my best to be back next year. I really enjoyed the race and I only have good things to say about this event. “I’ll definitely recommend it to everyone back home.”