This truly is the best race for Amateurs in South Africa. The Panorama Tour is a unique race in that it is not for individuals but for teams of two riders. The race organizers have taken on the very popular team format of Mountain Bike Races like the Cape Epic and transformed it to the road. What also makes this race unique is that no Professional Teams are allowed. Professional riders may take part but must have an Amateur team mate and this makes for some interesting and very competitive racing.
The Panorama Tour gives the amateur rider a sense of what it is like to be a professional bike rider. The tour takes place over 4 days with three long stages and the fourth stage a 24Km Time Trial. Nowhere else in the country will the average rider be able to take part in a time trial and it really is a fantastic experience. My only gripe is that the organizers don't allow us to take out the TT bikes for the final stage. The ruling is you finish the tour on the same bike as what you start the tour, so keeping the playing fields level I guess is the fair thing to do.
The Panorama Tour is not a tour for the unfit and most days will return ascents in excess of 1200 Meters so good preparation is essential if you really want to enjoy this event. There are no flats in the Panorama Tour so you are either going up or going down. Descents are long and fast and definitely not for the squeamish whilst the ascents are long and hard and include the famous Long Tom Pass as well as Spitzkop. The mountain goats will enjoy this race but anyone with a good fitness level will be able to complete the daily courses. Competitors can also look forward to some really entertaining daily briefings at the end of each stage as well as hotspot prizes and lucky draw prizes. Entry fee for the Tour is R3050 per team which is a far cry off that which you would pay for MTB events of this nature. Race organizers have also been kind enough to keep the entry fee for 2011 the same as what it was for 2010.
The event takes place in the beautiful Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and each stage starts and ends in Casterbridge, White River so no logistical problems. Casterbridge Centre which hosts the start and finish also has some wonderful shops for the non competitors and family members to browse through whilst waiting for their loved ones, or they can simply take a drive to The Kruger National Park which is only a few kilometers down the road.
If I had to compare the Panorama Tour to any other event in South Africa it would have to be the Comrades Marathon. This event is the Comrades Marathon of cycling and every cyclist should do at least one Tour, but once you have done one I can guarantee you will be back for more. Tour dates have been finalized for 2011 and will take place from Friday 29th April - Monday May 2nd 2011 with registration on Thursday April 28th 2011. Entries are open so enter now and I will see you there!!
More information on the Panorama Tour can be obtained at
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