Joburg’s freshest cycling challenge, the Gravel Travel 100 Miler, scheduled for Saturday 30 July 2022, has received a timely boost with the confirmation that private security company, Fidelity ADT, has committed to be the title sponsor, which will help improve the quality of the event from various perspectives.
Paid partnership with Bomani Events
“We’re thrilled to have Fidelity ADT as our title sponsor. To secure a sponsor for a brand new event is rare, so we would like to thank the people at Fidelity ADT for their confidence in Bomani as event organisers and their vision for this particular race, which we feel has immense potential,” said Warren Williams of Bomani Events, the company that’s organising the Fidelity ADT Gravel Travel 100 Miler.
“The addition of a title sponsor gives us the financial support to ensure more route marshalls, improved water point catering and increased prizemoney for the top performers. We want to ensure the rider experience is top class and look forward to delivering a memorable event on 30 July,” added Williams.
Coming on the back of the announcement that Gravel is now recognised as an official standalone discipline by Cycling South Africa, the Fidelity ADT Gravel Travel 100 Miler, which will start and finish at Café du Cirque, Meyerton just south of Joburg, has already been well received and is experiencing a rush of entries as riders book their spot.
“Gauteng is a province that’s got an extensive gravel road network, which opens up some great route options for a gravel race. We know that the south of Joburg is popular for both road cyclists and mountain bikers and we’re excited to be adding a fresh event that appeals to all endurance cycling fanatics,” said Williams.
The Fidelity ADT Gravel Travel 100 Miler is a 160km race that’s almost entirely on gravel roads. It’s a true challenge for serious racers and covers a distance that weekend warriors can pace themselves to finish with composure. With 950 metres of accumulated ascent, it’s an undulating route that offers some respite, with descents after most of the small climbs.
The 100mile route will take the riders from Cafe du Cirque out of Daleside on fast gravel district roads towards Three Rivers. From there the route will head towards the Vaal Dam on a long, gradual decent. The route then takes a turn and heads back towards the south of Joburg through several farm roads and jeep track sections. From here it is about 100km to go. If you are too eager in the beginning, it is going to be a real uphill battle home!
From here it is a slight uphill gradient for around 20km until you get a nice flowing downhill. Here is where the fun starts as the route goes through some farms and winding jeep tracks with a bit of tar here and there. As you approach the finale you will find yourself back on the fast gravel roads towards Klipriver before turning back down to Cafe du Cirque with a nice flat run into the finish.
“Flat routes can be really difficult as there is no chance to recover, and routes with lots of climbing can be very formidable. We’re satisfied that we have a rolling route that can be enjoyed by all at the Fidelity ADT Gravel Travel 100 Miler,” said Gavin Steyl, Route Director.
It’s open to both gravel bikes and mountain bikes and there will be well-stocked refreshment points on the route to ensure adequate nourishment for the competitors. There is also a 60km distance with 350 metres of climbing for those not quite ready for the full distance but who still want to tackle an interesting route.
While this will be his first cycling event under the Bomani brand, it’s definitely not Williams’s first event. After more than eight years as the event manager for Biogen, Williams has gained significant experience at both supporting events as a sponsor and supplier and managing events himself. He’s also completed a range of events as a competitor, from mountain bike, to road, to triathlon, so has loads of ‘user experience’ on which to build.
“Now that I am in the events business, my team and I are looking to organise events to fill gaps. There’s definitely appetite for more gravel races and we are looking forward to delivering an event that offers great value for money and a memorable experience for everyone, from the winners to the last finishers,” said Williams.
To find out more, or to enter the Fidelity ADT Gravel Travel 100 Miler, click here.
Paid partnership with Bomani Events
