Mpumalanga, South Africa – On 11 January 2019 the first stage of the 4th Mpumalanga Cycle Tour started at Forever Resort Blyde Canyon and finished at Forever Resort Swadini. The Mpumalanga Cycle Tour of seven days is the longest cycle tour in South Africa with a distance of 817km and a climb of 15 495m.

Distance: 90.3kmStart: 09:00
Start Elevation: 1164
MMax Elevation: 1274 M
Gain: 1223 M 

Top 3 finalists for day 1, stage 1:

1. Rider 6 - Willie Smit from NAD with a time of 02:15:56
2. Rider 23 - Jayde Julius from ProTouch Sports 
3. Rider 14 - Calvin Beneke from Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team 

First KOM @ 2km results:

1. Rider 1 - Matthew Beers from NAD
2. Rider 32 - Jean Pierre Lloyd from OfficeGuru Racing U23 Cycling Team 
3. Rider 42 - Alex Miller from Nam Nat Team (Namibian team) 

First Hotspot @ 14.2km results:

1. Rider 28 - Myles van Musschenbroek from Pro Touch Continental
2. Rider 15 - Andries Nigiri from Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team 
3. Rider 26 - Rohan du Plooy from Pro Touch Continental 

Second KOM @ 26.6km results:

1. Rider 31 - Travis Barrett from Office Guru
2. Rider 1 - Matthew Beers from NAD 
3. Rider 16 - Christiaan Jooste from Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team  

Second Hotspot @ 39.7km results:

1. Rider 2 - Gawie Combrink from NAD
2. Rider 6 - Willie Smit from NAD 
3. Rider 3 - Nico Bell from NAD 

Third Hotspot @ 55km results:

1. Rider 14 - Calvin Beneke from Luso ACDC Pro Cycling Team
2. Rider 1 - Matthew Beers from NAD 
3. Rider 29 - Dillan Girdelstone from Office Guru 

2019 Mpumalanga Cycle Tour Race Stages:

Saturday, 12 January 2019: Stage 2: Forever Resort Swadini to Orpen Gate and back to Forever Resort Swadini
Distance: 121 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 636 Metres
Max Elevation: 742 Metres 

Sunday, 13 January 2019: Stage 3: Forever Resort Swadini to Forever Resort Blyde Canyon
Distance: 90,3 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 628 Metres
Max Elevation: 1274 Metres 

Monday, 14 January 2019: Stage 4: Forever Resort Blyde Canyon to Mbombela Stadium
Distance: 148,3 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 1163 Metres
Max Elevation: 1721 Metres 

Tuesday, 15 January 2019: Stage 5: Forever Hotel White River
Distance: 129,5 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 943 Metres
Max Elevation: 972 Metres 

Wednesday, 16 January 2019: Stage 6: Mbombela to Forever Resort Badplaas
Distance: 97 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 682 Metres
Max Elevation: 1557 Metres

Thursday, 17 January 2019: Stage 7: Forever Resort Badplaas to Forever Resort Loskopdam
Distance: 197,2 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 1112 Metres
Max Elevation: 1791 Metres

Mpumalanga, South Africa – On 11 January 2019 the 4th Mpumalanga Cycle Tour took place starting at Forever Resort Blyde Canyon.  There are a total of seven stages across Mpumalanga and approximately 100 long distance road cyclists are expected to participate including some international riders. Apart from competing for the various titles the total value of the prizes add up to approximately R128 000.00.

Willie Smit is one of the well-known riders, was approached by the Italian team, Katusha Alpecin after his results last year. This year Smit will be participating alongside some of his Katusha Alpecin team members.

2019 Mpumalanga Cycle Tour Race Stages:
Friday, 11 January 2019: Stage 1: Forever Resort Blyde Canyon to Forever Resort Swadini
Distance: 90,3 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 1164Metres Max
Elevation: 1274 Metres

Saturday, 12 January 2019: Stage 2: Forever Resort Swadini to Orpen Gate and back to Forever Resort Swadini
Distance: 121 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 636 Metres
Max Elevation: 742 Metres

Sunday, 13 January 2019: Stage 3: Forever Resort Swadini to Forever Resort Blyde Canyon
Distance: 90,3 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 628 Metres
Max Elevation: 1274 Metres

Monday, 14 January 2019: Stage 4: Forever Resort Blyde Canyon to Mbombela Stadium
Distance: 148,3 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 1163 Metres
Max Elevation: 1721 Metres

Tuesday, 15 January 2019: Stage 5: Forever Hotel White River
Distance: 129,5 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 943 Metres
Max Elevation: 972 Metres

Wednesday, 16 January 2019: Stage 6: Mbombela to Forever Resort Badplaas
Distance: 97 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 682 Metres
Max Elevation: 1557 Metres

Thursday, 17 January 2019: Stage 7: Forever Resort Badplaas to Forever Resort Loskopdam
Distance: 197,2 Kilometres
Start Elevation: 1112 Metres
Max Elevation: 1791 Metres

2017 Best Results:
Clover Lowveld Tour (1st Overall)
Volta Cyclista ó Ribeiro (1st)
Vuelta Ciclista a Leon (1st)
Vuelta a Segovia (1st)
African Continental Championship (1st Road race, 4th individual time-trial)

South African National Road Championships (2nd individual time-trial, 3rd road race)

Winner Mpumalanga tour 2016 and 2017

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