THE annual aQuellé Tour Durban in association with Cycle Lab will be taking over the streets of Durban North on Sunday when thousands of cyclists line up for Durban’s favourite road race.
The popular annual event has once again captured the interest of the KZN cycling community. Entries have been pouring in with a sprinkling of the country’s top riders adding to the national profile by taking on the challenge of the new-look event.
For the first time ever, Cycling South Africa has put their weight behind a national team championship, and although the title will be unofficial, there is a massive bragging right associated with the CSA National Inter-Club Challenge which is being held in conjunction with the main race – the aQuellé Invitational Race.
With entries still open and pouring in, a strong field has already confirmed their places on the start line with 2024 champion and 2025 runner-up Josh Rheeders looking likely to be the man to beat.
Rheeders was narrowly out-sprinted a year ago, and with last year’s winner Travis Stedman, the only rider still not entered from the top five in 2025, this year’s edition looks almost certain to be a massive battle once more.
Keen to reach the top step of the podium will be last year’s main protagonists, Scott Blount, 2025 SA Champion Daniyal Matthews and one of KZN’s rising stars, David Shelly. Matthews’ new Tshenolo Pro Cycling teammate, Rodney Masemola, could also be prominent.
Team Siata, who have been a prominent force at the event in the past few years, are favoured to take the team title with a young squad that includes Nyakallo Sekhethela, Muhammad Fortune, Ntsako Sarila, ZamaJibhela Mazibuko and eSwatini junior national champion Sivuyile Gulwako. However, there are a few of the local KZN cycling clubs that are reported to be keen to surprise the pro teams. Results will be based on the results from the top three riders in a nominated team of five.
The format for 2026 is new, with the final of the KZN Cycling Schools Road Series starting the action at 6am, followed by the Recreational Ride for the bulk of the field at 6.30am. That will finish at 10.30am and will immediately be followed by the aQuellé Invitation Race and CSA National Inter-Club Challenge, which are aimed at giving the top racers a chance to show off their skills in a spectator-friendly lap format.
The route for the first two events is predominantly a 42km lap on the M4/Ruth First Highway/Leo Boyd Highway between Moses Mabhida and Umdloti, with a loop into Sandile Thusi Road and then Mashabalala Yengwa Avenue (northbound) to Durban Country Club.
The 100km Invitation Race and Inter-Club Challenge takes riders from Moses Mabhida, along the M4 to the M41 to Ridgeside Drive and back for two 26km laps, then four short, exciting 12km laps between Moses Mabhida and Swapo Road.
Race registration will take place at Cycle Lab in Cornubia Mall on Friday and Saturday, with no late entries accepted on Sunday.
