The 25th edition of the annual 947 Ride Joburg road race – Africa’s most iconic cycling event – will see over 10 000 cyclists test their endurance on a slightly improved and gruelling 97km route, as they vie for top honours on Sunday, 21 November.
Starting and finishing at Africa’s enterprising Calabash in Nasrec, also known as FNB Stadium, the prestigious cycling event promises to offer a unique experience for participants and spectators alike.
This year’s edition of the road race will be the first of its kind held during a Covid-19 lockdown and will see the return of spectators, as the adjusted lockdown alert level 1 permits a total of 2 000 spectators for outdoor sporting events. The race is hosted by the City of Joburg and is the world’s second-largest timed cycling event after the Cape Argus. It represents 97km of some of the most scenic spots in the city.
Following a smooth start at FNB stadium, the route will nudge pelotons of cyclists towards Soweto for a brief loop, passing Joburg’s historic gold mine dumps, which hug the township, before turning on the N17 towards Main Reef Road.
Cyclists will experience picturesque cityscapes as the route meanders through the M1 South in a northerly direction. For about 3km, the backmarkers will be able to catch a glimpse of the racing categories jostling for position as they race towards the finish.
Riders will join the old route on the M1 to tackle a speedy set of undulating downhills towards Woodmead in northern Joburg. The race will then head up to Kyalami for an exclusive opportunity to zip around the world-class Grand Prix Circuit, before turning onto a new section down Main Road in Lonehill.
The first tough ascent comes on this stretch of road as riders climb up to Witkoppen Road, which also marks the King or Queen section of the Mountain spot. The latter half of the route is quite hilly, but the views of Joburg’s leafy, tree-lined streets are well worth the effort.
As riders get closer to the last 15km, they will cross the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein before turning onto the M1 South to cycle past Gold Reef City. At this point, cyclists will catch glimpses of the FNB Stadium in the distance, marking the last stretch of a heart-throbbing ride.
The finish line for the ride will be on Nasrec Road, after which cyclists will ride inside FNB stadium for a hero’s welcome and great hospitality.
The City of Joburg’s Director of Events, Bongi Mokaba, says the municipality looks forward to a successful race.
“A team of at least a dozen volunteers from a variety of organisations will ensure that all operations run smoothly and efficiently on the day,” says Mokaba.
To ensure the safety of both cyclists and spectators, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport will implement TOTAL ROAD CLOSURES along sections of the route from 12 Midnight on Saturday until 5pm on Sunday.
Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) will be on high alert during this thrilling bicycle challenge, and the JMPD will line up all closed roads along the 97km route to ensure the safety and well-being of cyclists and spectators.
“A carnival atmosphere incorporating hospitality tents, entertainment and guaranteed fun awaits cyclists, their families and friends at FNB Stadium when they finish the race,” Mokaba explains.
There are 8 refreshment stations and 8 medical points along the route. A detailed route map is available here: https://ridejoburg.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/947-Ride-Joburg-ROAD_Route-MAP.pdf
Luyanda Lunika
17/11/2021