Joanna van de Winkel, who is aiming for her third win in a row in the aQuelle Tour Durban, and her fellow Tour Durban riders will be able to enjoy full road closure for their racing, but that will mean some disruption for motorists. PICTURE: Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media
With the aQuellé Tour Durban taking place this weekend, the full road closures have been announced.
The aQuellé Tour Durban road race will take place on Sunday April 21 for most of the morning, predominantly on the M4 between Sandile Thusi Road (Argyle Road) and Umdloti. The off-road aQuellé Tour Durban MTB presented by Cycle Lab will take place the day before, on Saturday April 20, on trails in and around Cornubia.
While about 3 000 road riders are revelling in the opportunity to race on fast roads without the inherent dangers of motorists on Sunday, there is an element of disruption for regular road users out for a Sunday drive.
The aQuellé Tour Durban race director, Alec Lenferna, said he wanted to thank motorists for their understanding and asked them for patience.
“We understand that the aQuellé Tour Durban will disrupt the traffic on Sunday morning and apologise in advance to the motorists who will have to make some adjustments on that day,” said Lenferna.
“However, I hope people also realise there are significant benefits to the city hosting important national events such as this.
“Apart from the benefit to tourism, local businesses and accommodation venues, this event is used primarily as a fund-raiser and The Domino Foundation receives all proceeds. We hope road users feel the disruption to their plans on Sunday is a small price for the benefit thousands will get from the good work done by the Domino Foundation.
“This year the route is the same as last year and is much simpler than before 2023. The disruption will be kept to a minimum for motorists, with the only sections closed to vehicles being the M4 to Umdloti; a small portion on the M41 between Gateway and the M4; and the southbound lane of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue near Moses Mabhida Stadium. It is envisaged that all roads will be opened by 1pm on Sunday."start/finish
Roads will begin to be closed off from 3.30am on Sunday, so as to prepare the routes and safely set up the various water points along the course, and roads will be re-opened as soon as the sweeps, that travel behind the final riders, pass the various points on the route.
The first riders are due to start at 6.15am when the first batch of the 110km entrants sets off. The 42km start is at 8.40am and the 28km riders set off at 9am, after the 110km riders have passed the start/ finish area to start their final lap.
The 110km event is a three-lap event that will start with riders leaving from Moses Mabhida, going north on the southbound lane of the Masabala Yengwa Avenue. Participants transfer onto the M4 at Durban Country Club and stay on the Ruth First and Leo Boyd Highway until the turning point just before the Umdloti offramp. After a 180 degree turn, riders will return on the M4, back to Moses Mabhida via the Sandile Thusi Road bridge at the southern end of People's Park, and back onto Masabala Yengwa Avenue for the start of the next lap.
The short second lap of the 110km sees riders peel off the M4 onto the M41 up to Ridgeside Road, and then rejoining the M4 southbound and back to Moses Mabhida. The third and final lap is identical to the first lap.
The 42km route is the same as the first lap of the 110km above, while the 28km event will see riders follow the same route for the 42km, but turning at Umhlanga.
A new Finish Race Village with entertainment, stalls, and club gazebos will be set up along the Durban Promenade walkway under the Ruth First Highway (the grassy park area opposite Moses Mabhida and bordered by Masabala Yengwa Avenue, Kings Park Swimming Pool, the NMR Club and the walkway under the highway).
Main Road Closures
Sunday April 21, from 3.30am until up to 1pm
Masabala Yengwa Avenue: Southbound lane from Kings Park to Sandile Thusi Road.
Isaiah Ntshangase Road: Closed in both directions from Masabala Yengwa Avenue to Ruth First Highway.
Ruth First Highway (M4): Closed in both directions from Sandile Thusi Road to Umdloti.
M41: Closed in both directions from M4 to Ridgeside Drive.
Ridgeside Drive: Northbound between offramp from M41 and onramp to M41.
Sandile Thusi Road: Westbound lane closed from Ruth First Highway to Masabala Yengwa Avenue
Battery Beach Road: Closed in swimming pool area and no access to or from Masabala Yengwa Avenue.
Full route maps can be found at https://tourdurban.co.za/