TRAC Junior & U-16 Cycle Tour

The first Junior Cycle Tour in Mpumalanga was successfully hosted by TRAC over four days from March 30 to April 03. The tour ended with a high speed chase through the Crocodile Gorge between Nelspruit and Kaapmuiden and was hailed by all as “one of the best”.

The Lowveld heat and the undulating terrain were major challenges which the young riders had to overcome. They did this with tremendous gusto.

TRAC stepped as title sponsor of the tour a mere 6 weeks before it was set to start and following weeks of uncertainty over the future of the event. Cycling is one of the biggest participation sports in the country, and for TRAC this was an opportunity to bring this event to Mpumalanga, and help develop the sport, and create tourism and socio-economic development opportunities in the region in the long run.

The routes, over the 4 stages of this inaugural tour, were chosen to showcase some of the region’s iconic landmarks and scenery.The first stage was held Schoemanskloof, and while this stage is underway, the Schoemanskloofsection of the N4 was closed to ensure the safety of cyclists – a first ever during a junior cycling event. On the second day, the tour group cycled from White River and Sabie via the Long Tom pass to TRAC’s regional office in Nelspruit. During the third stage, cyclists competed in a time trial over 20km along the Nelspruit Ring Road and a criterium around the iconic Mbombela Stadium. The final stage started at TRAC’s Nelspruit office and took cyclists to Kaapmuiden and back to Nelspruit via Boulders.