Brand New Tour Route for City of Durban

The 2006 Mr Price Tour Durban cycle race has unveiled a brand new tour route of the city that provides cyclists, both recreational and professional, the perfect excuse to see Durban by bike this autumn!

Endorsed by the city of Durban, the April 23 event forms part of the hugely successful Easter festival in KZN, which lures a flood of tourists annually to South Africa’s sporting capital.

In 2005, almost 5000 cyclists descend on the city during the tour weekend with 100% participation from South Africa’s top teams.

The new route starts at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium on NMR Avenue. Cyclists will head north, turning right into Athlone Drive, and then left onto Lagoon Drive under the M4. Turning onto the Snell Parade, they will head down towards Battery Beach, turning into Battery Beach Road and then left into NMR Avenue until they reach Ordinance Road.

Riders turn left into Aliwal Street travelling contra flow, making a left into the Victoria Embankment, and another left at Sydney Road where the road splits, into Edwin Swales Drive. The route continues straight along Edwin Swales Drive under the N3, which eventually becomes the N7, continuing along St Johns Road through Pinetown, this leads into the M19.

The routine carries on along the M19 until the Inanda Road turn off, into Springfield Park, where riders continue all the way to the North Coast Road. Joining into the North Coast Road, they will travel contra flow until Riverside Road. Then, it is right on to Prospect Hall and right again on to the M4 until Desainager Circle.

The final stretch is marked by a 180-degree turn back along the M4 South, just before the Umhlanga on-ramp, where riders swap to contra flow on the M4, turning right and then on to the Walter Gilbert/ Durban Country Club off-ramp, right into NMR Avenue finishing at the NMR Avenue entrance to the stadium.

A broad spectrum of categories ensures there is something for everyone!

Sunday 23 April:
*Elite and U23 licensed men;
*U16's and juniors;
*Licensed women and
*Vets from 30 plus

A range of fun races for kids will take place at Gateway Theatre of Shopping on Saturday April 22, while the thrilling Grand-Prix-style Kermesse (30 min plus one lap sprint race) hurtles off the start line at Gateway Boulevard on the evening of Friday April 21!

The 2006 Mr Price Tour Durban features the premier Champion Chip Race Timing Transponder System, first used at this event eight years ago.

Aside from the professional and recreational aspects of the 2006 tour, the Tour Durban has significant impact on the local community through the Rotary Club of Durban, who use the event as a major fund raising scheme. The event has raised more than a million rand over five years, for projects carried out by the Rotary for underprivileged communities.

Known as an easier ride when compared with the Pick ‘n Pay Amashovashova, the Mr Price Tour Durban is possibly the best way to celebrate the last ride of summer in the sub-tropical paradise of Surf City!

Retail clothing giant, Mr Price, takes great pleasure in hosting this event for the second consecutive year. Other sponsors include Rotary Club of Durban; Energade; Sibaya Casino and Enertainment Kingdom; Gateway Theatre of Shopping; Durban Africa; eThekwini Municipality and Sterling Light Lager.

For further information, please visit www.tourdurban.co.za or contact Annie and Melissa on 031 312 8896 or by email to events@pixie.co.za.