The Jock returns to 3 stages in one day!

Download the Entry form here: Entry Form

It's been seven years since the Jock Cycle Classique has been run as a 3-stage event and the big news for 2010 is that the popular Jock returns to its traditional format where cyclists will tackle three stages in one day on some of the most beautiful cycling roads in the country.

So the Jock, which takes place on 24 July, returns to its roots, starting with the first stage from Barberton to Nelspruit, the second from Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden and the third from Kaapmuiden back to Barberton - all in a day's work!

The event's numbers have dwindled over the past seven years, mostly courtesy of the decision to start running it as a once-off 150km race in 2003. Riding your bike over 150km in the Lowveld in the middle of winter is no joke and turned out to be out of reach for most riders - it was just too tough at the wrong time of the year.

Returning to its popular 3-stage format, the 2010 Jock will afford riders who have managed to keep going - albeit only slightly through winter - the opportunity to get back into action properly.

The Jock always fulfilled this role in helping these riders get a good day's training mileage in their legs, kick starting their training regime for the big spring rides, which start with the Cansa Lost City Classic late August.

There will be enough opportunity to rest at the stage finishes and more than enough to eat and drink to refuel and recover for the next stage. Riders will be served breakfast at Bergvlam High School in Nelspruit after the first stage and after the second stage they'll be able to dig into a great lunch which will be laid on at Kaapmuiden Primary School.

The decision to go back to three stages has been welcomed by various roleplayers in the cycling community, ranging from professionals to amateurs.

Former South African champion Douglas Ryder, a thought leader in the sport who heads up MTN Cycling, expressed his excitement at the new (well, actually old) format of the Jock. "This brings the pros and amateurs closer together as they will converge at every venue. But it doesn't detract from the fact that the race remains tough and a true challenge for the pros.

"I have such fond memories racing in the three-stage Jock with thousands of people coming together in the Lowveld every year for the event. With the change it'll be great if the event can re-establish itself and we'll certainly support it 100 percent."

Television personality Andrew McLean said it puts the Jock within reach of so many more cyclists now. "A lot of riders love the event, but most of them couldn't manage the 150km. And incurring big costs in getting there and getting accommodation just didn't seem worth it for them if they could only ride in the 58km or 105km options on the day.  You couldn't say that you had ridden the Jock. Now all of that changes," he said. "And it's going to be great for the sport!"

Carnival City Macsteel race organizer Mervin Abel, who has ridden every Jock since its inception in 1983, was ecstatic when he heard about the change. According to Cycling SA's rules the 50+ vets were only allowed to ride the 105km option at the Jock. Now, for the first time in many years, Abel can also do the full 150km. "And in three stages it's still tough, but so much more of an experience in the Lowveld."

Johan Ribbens, another former South African champion, also welcomed the move. "When the race changed to 150km once off, I stopped riding the event. You inevitably ended up being ridden off on the Hilltop climb and then having to ride more than 100km on your own to the finish. That wasn't fun.

"The idea of regrouping appeals to me and we'll certainly be there to support the event," he said. Ribbens and his partner, Jac Louis van Wyk, another former cycling great, head up J&J Cycling Wholesalers and also the Velo club in Pretoria. 

The organization of the Jock is now headed up by Cyclingnews Magazine under the guidance of Wynand de Villiers, who also organizes eight other established races annually. His crew are going all out to present much value and a great riding experience.

Egbert de Bruyn from the Jock Cycle Club, who has been organizing the Jock for the past five years, remains in the frame as route director putting together all agreements with local traffic authorities and heading up various aspects of route control.

Another experienced race organizer, Johan du Toit, who annually organizes the Cansa Lost City Cycling Festival, also forms part of the organizing committee. Johan will be in charge of the Barberton and Kaapmuiden starts while the Jock Club will take care of proceedings in Nelspruit along with the local Lions Club who have been a supporter of the event for many years.

With three experienced race organizers in their own right working on the event, it can only bode well for the future of the Jock.

The entry fee in this year's event presents good value. For an entry fee of R450, riders will receive a full-on breakfast in Nelspruit after the 1^st stage, a pasta lunch in Kaapmuiden after the 2^nd stage, a free long sleeved special edition Jock T-shirt as well as a well-stocked goody bag with lots of endurance aids and a free copy of Cyclingnews Magazine.

Riders will also be able to share in activities and entertainment at the Barber Reef Festival, which takes place at Barberton High School on the same weekend as the Jock. Musicians like Ray Dylan and Wikus van der Merwe have been lined up for the festival.

The roads at the Jock will be well marshaled with all the local municipalities working together to ensure safe passage for cyclists. In Nelspruit, in particular, there will be more than ample representation from Metro Police, courtesy of the Mbombela Tourism authority providing the race with great backing.

NTT Toyota are the official vehicle suppliers to the event and have made a massive total of 26 Toyotas available to the race organization. This will aid in excellent race control and communication on the route.

All riders that enter stand a chance of winning one of two pacific mountain bikes and there are all sorts of other lucky draw prizes that will be given away during the festival weekend.

And at the end of it all, it's all about the satisfaction of conquering some of cycling's greatest climbs and the prestige of having completed South Africa's toughest single day race!

"With every Jock medal worn, again a new cyclist is born".

Jock Cycle Classique - Quick Facts

Date: 24 July 2010

Venue: Barberton High School

Starting times:

Stage 1: 6:30

Stage 2: 10:00

Stage 3: 13:30

Stage distances:

STAGE 1: BARBERTON TO NELSPRUIT VIA HILLTOP - 45KM

STAGE 2: NELSPRUIT TO KAAPMUIDEN VIA BOULDERS - 45KM

STAGE 3: KAAPMUIDEN TO BARBERTON - 50KM

Entry fees:

3-stage event: R450

2-stages: R250

1 stage: R140

3-stage budget option: R350 (this excludes breakfast, lunch and T-shirt)

What your entry includes:

Breakfast in Nelspruit after the 1^st stage

Pasta lunch in Kaapmuiden after the 2^nd stage

Free long sleeved special edition Jock T-shirt (3 stage event only, other entrants can purchase a shirt at R70)

Well stocked goody bag with lots of endurance aids

Free copy of Cyclingnews Magazine

Some of the best waterpoints and local hospitality you'll ever experience

Access to activities and entertainment at the Barber Reef Festival

Well marshaled and quiet roads

Excellent race control         

Great camaraderie!

Lovely Lowveld sunshine

Back-up

NTT Toyota are providing 26 vehicles for the event this year. Added to the more than 50 marshalls, 30 metro officers and the experienced medical back-up from Marc Fourie and his ER 24 crew, cyclists will be taken care of well.

Refreshment stations en route

As was the case last year, various local companies do big effort to impress with their waterpoints. This year the waterpoints will be at the following spots:

1.       At the top of Hilltop - 30km into the stage

2.       Midway up boulders

3.       At the top of Boulders

4.       22km into the final stage at the top of "Black Mamba" ascent

5.       37km into the final stage halfway up a stiff climb

6.       45km into the final stage at the Fairview Mine left turn

There will also be refreshment stations at the finish of every stage so that riders can re-hydrate and then fill up bottles/camel backs for the start of the next stage.

Prize Giving

Prize giving will be at 18h00 at Barberton High School.

Cut-off times:

The following cut-off times will be enforced on stages:

Stage 1: 9:30

Stage 2: 13:00

Stage 3: 17:00

Enter on-line at :

www.cyclelab.com

For any other enquiries, please contact Egbert de Bruyn at 082 926 7395 or phone Cyclingnews on 011 662 2494 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Released by SupaCycling, on behalf of the Jock Cycle Classique. For media enquiries phone Wynand de Villiers on 011 662 2494 or email This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it