Entry deadline for Emperors Palace Classic
Entries for the Acsa OR Tambo International Emperors Palace Classic, presented by ASG, are closing on Wednesday, 25 January. Set for its 5th staging on 4 and 5 February, the Classic attracts more than 5 000 cyclists annually and is known for its fast route through the East Rand.
The mountain-bike events are held on the Saturday (4 February) and the big road race on the Sunday (5 February).
The event is presented by ASG Sport and hosted by Cyclingnews and Edenvale Pedallers in partnership with the Airports Company of South Africa (OR Tambo International), Ekurhuleni Metro Police and the passionate people of the cycling shop Sweat and Gears.
The routes for the road and mountain-bike events remain the same as last year, for the third successive year in the case of the road race, and still attract favourable comments from participants.
Because the road race takes place on an exciting, fast route it is seen as an excellent barometre of preparedness, at just the right time for cyclists, six weeks before the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour.
More than 100 Ekurhuleni Metro Police officers and 100 skilled marshals from the participating institutions will be on duty for the road race.
The event is in the fortunate position of having the buy-in of these entities, in particular the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department. Without them safe passage and the use of these roads would, of course, not be possible.
Sunday, February 5, is reserved for road riders who have two distance options -- 99 km and 50 km. Both are flat and fast. The race starts at 6am.
On Saturday, February 4, the popular Emperors Palace Mountainbike Classic takes place for the fifth time. The action starts at 8am and the race offers two mildly testing courses over 20 and 40 km.
The Mountainbike Classic holds fond memories for everyone who has taken part, with most of the route being right next to the runways inside the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport.
Riders have said that, at times, it feels as if the aircraft engines are going to blow you away or a Boeing might land on top of you.
Sweat and Gears’ Lee Stockenstrom has been the route designer since the inception and he will again be at the helm of affairs.
The ever popular Emperors Palace Kids Classic for riders from two to four years old and from five to eight starts at 10am on the Sunday.
The popular Emperors Palace Circuit Spectacular, which is held within the Emperors Palace grounds, is also scheduled for the Sunday, starting at 11am, followed by prize giving at noon.
This Spectacular is by invitation only to South Africa’s top professionals and consists of a 30-minute criterium that coincides with entertainment provided by Emperors Palace. Riding legend Brian Kappa will do an Extreme FMX display between the Kids Classic and Circuit Spectacular.
Emperors Palace also provides the venue for registration for all the events on the Friday and Saturday and Cycle Lab provides this service on the Thursday prior to race day.
Entries for the event are open on www.cyclelab.com
For further information contact the race office on 011 662 2494 or email events@cyclingnews.co.za