Once again the weather was on our side and despite predictions of rain, with virtually no wind to hamper the riders.

Unfortunately the start was delayed by 30 minutes as the police cleared the roads of reluctant motorists. While this can be annoying, in the interests of safety, it was the best option.

The race was led off by the tandems, who were initially caught by the chasing elites up the M7.  The tandem riders had other ideas and retook the lead. This was not to last and, as predicted the first riders to cross the line were the Elites.  Winners of the Open tandem were Dean Mason & Gavin Castleman who had abandoned their usual partners and teamed up for the Tour Durban. They were hotly pursued by Dean Moore & Travis Campbell.

The Elite/U23/Junior race was marred by a number of crashes. Eventual winner, Dean Edwards of House of Paint was involved in the first crash going up the M7, but he was able to get up and continue. The win by Edwards was a triumph for KZN- the first ever KZN rider and from a KZN based team to take the Tour Durban Title. Dusty Day took second place, and last year’s winner, Christof Van Heerden of MTN came in third.

The ladies race was won by Marissa Van Der Merwe (MTN) from Karien Van Jaarsveld (Nashua) and Robyn de Groot (MTN)

All race results from both the MTB race and the Road race are available on www.elitetiming.co.za

Photos from the race can be viewed on www.actionphoto.co.za

Any rider who did not receive a medal and would like one, please send a mail to info@tourdurban.co.za , with a postal address, and one will be posted to you.

TOUR DURBAN 2010- PRIZE WINNERS

Vet 40+ Ladies
3rd Charmaine McCallum
2nd Sue Folkes
1st Annette Loubser

U16 boys
3rd Phillip Krugel
2nd Ryan Felgate
1st Wesley Eslick

VET 50+ MEN
3rd Lee Stockenstrom
2nd Maurice Connor
1st Flip Krugel

Vet 40-49 Men
3rd Stefano Madies
2nd Anton Duvenage
1st Mark Beneke

Vet 30-39 Men
3rd Craig Harvey
2nd Mark Davel
1st Dino Van Heerden

Mixed Tandem
2nd Trevor Graham & Karen Wieland
1st Craig & Antoinette Irvine

Open Tandem
2nd Hannes Wessels & Danie Maree
1st Dean Mason & Gavin Castleman

KOM Dylan Girdlestone
Qom Lylanie Lauwrens
Hot Spot Men Dean Edwards
Hot Spot ladies Marissa van Der Merwe

Junior Men & LOUTER TROPHY
3rd Myle Van Musschenbroek
2nd Kevin Patten
1st Luke Robert

LADIES (Elite/U23/Junior & Vet 30-39) & TDB Ladies TROPHY
8th Lylanie Lauwrens
7th Isabel Moolman
6th An-Li Pretorius
5th Cassandra Slingerland
4th Cherise Taylor
3rd Robyn De groot
2nd Karien Van Jaarsveld
1st Marissa Van Der Merwe

MEN OVERALL (Elite/U23/Junior) & TDB Mens Trophy
8th Mike Pepper
7th Neil McDonald
6th Jacques Greef
5th Jacobus Venter
4th Jamie Ball
3rd Christof Van Heerden
2nd Dusty Day
1st Dean Edwards

For all the Racing Juniors we have a new competition for you, within the Tour Durban. You will be able to race for the Louter Junior Trophy. This is a floating trophy and our aim is make it a much sort-after trophy. Our Men’s trophy dates back to 1993, with the first winner being Gary Beneke, who also won in 1994. Other riders who won the trophy twice are Darryl, Impey, Malcom Lange and current holder of the cup, Christof Van Heerden. Christof is on a hat-trick, and stands to be the first rider to win the Tour Durban three times.

Amongst the Ladies, Marissa Van Der Merwe is the only lady to win the trophy three times.

The Louter family have been great servants of cycling in KZN. The original trophy was donated in memory of James Louter’s father, and now also memorializes his mother, Julie who passed away a few years ago.

We take this opportunity to publicly thank the following companies for so generously providing us with their products for our Tour Durban 2010 Goody Bags, and for our Lucky Draw Prizes.

Pioneer Foods
Bokomo
Floyds Superior Foods
Loving Touch
Duel
Cyclesphere

A reminder:-

Dates :
Saturday, 01 May Tour Durban MTB Race - 55km, 25km, 10km
Sunday, 02 May Tour Durban Road race - 105km and 40km

Registration :
Friday 30 April & Saturday 01 May, from 10h00 to 17h00

MTBers can register on Friday at Westwood Mall, and on Saturday from 07h00 to 08h00 at the start of the race

Registration has moved to the Westwood Mall, which is more central, for the majority or riders. Ample parking is available and directions to the venue can be found on www.westwoodmall.co.za

On-line and postal entries close on 19 April, but there will be late entries available at registration.

Look forward to seeing you all in Durban

Tour Durban entries are now open. This year, in an effort to prevent rising cost in entry fees, we are using an on-line system which does not accept credit card payments.

The on-line system has been designed to be easy to use and user-friendly. Once you have been entered you will need to send proof of payment, either an EFT or a direct deposit.

We have reduced our entry fee from R200 in 2009, to R180 in 2010. We feel that in the current economic climate, with consumers being hit daily by rising costs of electricity, petrol, food, airfares- an endless list, that we would rather not be one of that band!

Elite Timing will be doing all our timing in both the MTB race and the Road race.

We have added a 10km fun MTB race.

We look forward to seeing you in Durban on 01 May for the MTB race, and 02 May for the Road race.

Preparations for Tour Durban 2010 have already begun, with organisers promising a weekend of RIDE, FUN and SUN to kick off the City’s 2010 festivities.

Visitors can enjoy an action-packed weekend designed for the whole family. The mountain bike race (50km or 25km) on Saturday 1 May 2010 takes place through the rolling green hills of sugar cane, while the kiddies 10km race will keep mum and junior entertained, followed by the scenic 105km National Classic road race and 55km fun ride on Sunday 2 May 2010 along Durban’s tropical North Coast.

Escape the city and the early winter mornings and enjoy the warm, sunny hospitality of the country’s sporting capital.

Negotiations for special rates on accommodation and flights for Tour Durban entrants ahead of the World Cup football are currently underway, spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment!

PLUS!, Watch this spot for our EARLY BIRD ENTRY COMPETITION!

Dates are now confirmed so Diarise these dates now!

Tour Durban Mountain Bike Event – 1 May 2010
Tour Durban Cycling –  2 May 2010

In perfect race conditions, defending winner and MTN Team rider, Christoff Van Heerden won the Tour Durban race for the second year in a row. However the finish was not without chaos, as MTN Team mate Juan Van Heerden was knocked into the fencing only meters from the finish line.

The finish was a frantic sprint, after the cyclists slowed to nearly 15km/per hr in a 180 deg turn only a few hundred meters from the finish line. The bunch then stamped on their pedals and surged towards finish line on NMR (Masabalala Yengwa Avenue)Team mates Arran Brown and Malcolm Lange from Medscheme lead the pack, with local HOP rider Dean Edwards, Christoff and Juan Van Heerden and Nolan Hoffman (Neotel) next to them. However it was Christoff Van Heerden who led out the sprint and clinched first place (2:21:22) just ahead of Neotel’s Nolan Hoffman and Medscheme’s Malcolm Lange claiming third. Crashed MTN rider Juan Van Heerden was stabilised on the scene by ER24 and taken to hospital with a broken wrist and in shock.

The ladies race was held together up until the Tongaat Circle on the M4, but with still 28km to go until the finish line, the ladies pack were not too worried. However MTN rider Cassandra Slingerland managed to break away at the circle and dashed towards the finish line 28km away, with no-one in chase. Slingerland never slowed and crossed the line solo in a time of 2:43:43. Second place went to MTN team mate and the 2008 winner Marrisa van der Merwe with third place going to Ashleigh Moolman (Cyclelab).

Over 2000 competitors took to the start line for Sundays 103km and 50km road races, complete with full road closure courtesy of the Ethekwini municipality and Durban Metro Police. Weather conditions were perfect, with a cool start predicted, however the rain and wind managed to stay away to give the cyclists an added vantage.

The 2009 race attracted over 38 professional riders from around South Africa to Durban’s prestigious event, supported by the Ethekwini Municipality and the KZN MEC, Dr Zweli Mkhize head of the 2010 Political Core Committee and Economic development in KZN.

MEC Dr Zweli Mkhize, the head of the 2010 Political Core Committee in the province, explains their involvement in the cycle race: “As we go into 2010, which is a premier world soccer event, this sporting event (Tour Durban) creates a platform for showcasing the province as a 2010 destination and highlights tremendous ability of how ideally the province is positioned for hosting sporting events across the spectrum, as an investment in its people, tourism and the future. The Tour Durban Cycle Race is part of the history of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, and therefore an integral part of the people of the region’s love for sport, which finds its ultimate expression in soccer. The cycle race this year has as its backdrop the iconic 2010 Moses Mabhida stadium, and what better opportunity than this for our province to again showcase our readiness to host 2010, and that we are the best kept secret in this country when it comes to sport, tourism and investment. It also shows the country and world that our 2010 host City – Durban – is a city that can compete with the best in the world.”

Photos from the day are available from Action Photo. Visit www.actionphotos.net to get your photos.