Monday's Tour de Soweto could prove to be a model for the way professional cycle races should be run in South Africa.
A later start, longer distance, total road closure, decent money (R300 000) and laps around a course readily accessible to spectators bring it into line with the norms of racing in Europe.
The elite field will begin at 10.30am after the fun riders have toured around Soweto. They will ride a 139km race consisting of a 54km initial stretch and seven laps of 17km to enable spectators to watch the racing close up. Normally in South African races the elite bunch starts before the fun riders just as dawn breaks.
"From what I've heard and seen, this sounds like it is going to be proper racing, according to the way it is done internationally," said MTN Microsoft's Nic White.
"When we race in Europe, we start later in the day so that the spectators can watch the racing."
The route of the Tour de Soweto is one steeped in history, tracing the path taken by the 1975 students' march past the Hector Peterson Memorial and Vilakazi Street, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela lived. The fun riders, especially those who will take part in the "dikwiel" race, will have more time to take these sights in.
"We keep talking about taking cycling to the people and end up racing out in the veld around cities," said White. "If you look at races overseas, they ride through areas that define the cities and places they take place in, and the Tour de Soweto will do that for Soweto."
The organisers of the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Giro del Capo, the six-day stage race around the Western Cape which starts on Tuesday, mooted changing the starting time of the final stage of the race, which also incorporates the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, to the early afternoon. This was sadly shelved, but there is talk that they may move the start of the elite race in the Cycle Tour, the country's most prestigious one-day event, to 2.30pm.
Many of those riding in the Giro will be giving their legs a turn in Soweto on Monday.
"I know Robert (Hunter) and Ryan (Cox) of Barloworld will be there, and I hear rumours that some of the foreign Giro teams will come up for the day," said White.
- Konica Minolta on Saturday named their squad for the Giro del Capo. The 2005 Giro winner Tiaan Kannemeyer will be supported by Jock Green, Chris Froome, Jay Thompson, Christoff van Heerden and Dennis van Niekerk. Peter Velits, now with Germany's Wiesenhof, won the race last year.
