Johannesburg, February 2011 - The most anticipated international cycling event in South Africa this year, The Cell C Tour of South Africa is just around the corner. With twenty teams confirmed, and all parties rearing to go, the start list is impressive and will make for interesting following.

“Although all the teams have confirmed and booked their spots, we are awaiting the final starting list. We are very excited at how its all coming together and the support from the municipalities, tourism authorities and public so far has been fantastic” said Barry Mocke, CEO Cycling South Africa

Some of the teams will arrive in the country from as early as the 13th February to acclimatise and enjoy a few days of rest whilst preparing for the whoosh of excitement the Cell C Tour of South Africa brings with it.

The final list of starters comprises 120 riders, 20 teams, made up of 14 International and six local teams.

The inaugural Cell C Tour of South Africa will commence on the 19th February at Menlyn Park Shopping Centre with a team presentation at approximately 9am after which riders will make their way to the start line on Mante Road. The finish of this stage, will take place on Witkoppen road at Montecasino where riders will have completed 167km stage.

Startlist:

Team Willems Accent
1 Jaco Venter (RSA)

2 Kevin Van Melsen

3 Sven Van Den Houte

4 Gregory Habeaux

5 Jean-Pierre Drucker

6 Thomas Degand

Team Type 1
7 Fabio Calabria(Aus)

8 Willian Dugan(USA)

9 Joseph Eldridge
USA)

10 Alexey Schmidt (Rus)

11 Andrew Stewart (USA)

12 Maarten Verschoor (Ned)

Europcar 13 Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra)

14 Anthony Charteau (Fra)

15 Yohann Gene (Fra)

16 Christophe Kern (Fra)

17 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra)

18 Kevin Reza (Fra)

CCC Polstat

19 Jacek Morajko (Fra)

20 Andre Schulze (Fra)

21 Marek Rutkiewicz (Fra)
23 Mateusz Taciak(Fra)

24 Tomasz Kiendys

Rapha Condor Sharp
25 Dan Craven (Nam)

26 Ben Greenwood (GBR)

27 Jonathan Tiernan-Locke (GBR))

28 Kristian House (GBR)

29 Graham Briggs (GBR)

30 Zakkari Dempster (Aus)

Russia National Team
31 Alexey Markov (Rus)

32 Alexander Serov (Rus)

33 Ivan Kovaliev (Rus)

34 Evgeniy Kovaliev (Rus)

35 Alexander Khatuntsev (Rus)

36 Victor Schmalko (Rus)

Team Burgos2016
37 Chris Jennings

38 Jacques Janse van Rensburg

39 Diego Gellego Arnaiz

40 Luis Mas Bonet

41 Oscar Grau Jorga

42 Francisco Manuel Anton Marin

Team Nippo
43 Bernardo Riccio (ITA)

44 Masaaki Kikuchi (Jpn)

45 Ryohei Komori (Jpn)

46 Junya Sano (Jpn)

47 Davide Torosantucci (Ita)

48 Frusto Henry (ITA)

UCI African Team

49 Daniel Teclehaimonot Girmazion

50 Natnael Berhene Teweldemedhin

51 Misnga Okbatsion

52 Kebede Estifanos Gebresilassie

53 Solomon Bitew Shiferaw

54 Tsagabu Gebremaryam Germay

MTN Qhubeka

55 Reinardt Janse van Rensburg

56 Brad porgieter

57 Daryl Impey

58 Dennis van Niekerk

59 Arran Brown

60 Christof van Heerden

Team Bonitas

61 Malcolm Lange (RSA)

62 Neil MacDonald (RSA)

63 Waylon Woolcock (RSA)

64 Hanco Kachelhoffer (RSA)

65 Johann Rabie (RSA)

66 Luthando Kaka (RSA

Toyota CSA

67 Nicholas White

68 Johann van Zyl

69 Christiaan Kriek

70 Louis Meintjies

71 Stefan Ihlenfeldt

72 JC Nel

Raiko Aragon 18

73 Mathias Belka

74 Arne Hassink

75 David Brown

76 Jan Oelerich

77 Abdel Hannachi

78 Jan Deutshman

360Life

79 David George

80 Kevin Evans

81 Jay Thomson

82 Shaun Nick Bester

83 Paul van Zweel

84 Rene Haselbacher

Team Ruiter Dakkapellen

84 Leon Burger

85 Gijs Strating

86 Jos Pronk

87 Berden de Vries

88 Sierd Steigenga

89 Wouter Haan

Team Differdange-Magic-Sportfood (CCD)

90 Nico Schneider

91 Frank Dressler

92 Stefan Cohden

93 Renco Broers

94 Rudy Lesschaeve

95 Alex Neenhorst

Czech Republic

96 Martin Blaha

97 Martin Hacecky

98 Vojtech Hackeky

99 Jiri Hochmann

100 Milan Kadlec

101 Jan Dostal

Morocco

102 Adil Velloul

103 Mouhssine Lahsaini

104 Abdelati Saadoune

105 Tarik Chaoufi

106 Soufiane Haddi

107 Lahoon Saber

Tasol GT

108 Carl Pasio

109 James Perry

110 Richard Baxter

111 David Maree

112 Clint Hendriks

113 Jean Spies

DCM

114 Ian McLeod

115 Jeremy Maartens

116 Pieter Seyffert

117 Herman Fouche

118 Rehynard Butler

119 Clinton Barrow

The route for The Cell C Tour of South Africa has been revised and finalised and will now pass through the following areas:

Stage 1
Saturday 19 February: 167km – Menlyn to Montecasino - The first race day will start in Menlyn, passing the Union Buildings before heading north and turning west behind the Magaliesberg ridges west of Pretoria. The race travels west through the tunnel at Hartebeespoort Dam to the Cradle of Humankind passing Maropeng before heading to the Fourways area for the finish on Witkoppen.

Stage 2
Sunday 20 February: 156km – Montecasino to Montecasino – a circuit route incorporating Soweto, Soccer City, Sandton and the Johannesburg CBD.

Stage 3
Tuesday 22 February: 173km – Nelson Mandela Bay to Summer Strand– Starting at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, stage 3 heads towards the Addo Elephant National Park where one is sure to catch a few glimpses of wildlife (it is home to the Big Seven). From there the race returns to Port Elizabeth, where the route takes an interesting turn, with a city circuit, before finishing in Summer Strand on the beach front.

Stage 4
Wednesday 23 February: 153km – Bloukrans Bridge to George - Stage 4 starts on the famous Bloukrans Bridge where many bungi jump enthusiasts are sure to be found. We head from there to Natures Valley and out on the climb towards the N2. Then on to Plettenberg Bay where we include a local loop before another climb out and back on the N2 passing through Knysna. At Wilderness the race leaves the N2 and heads over 3 passes of narrow twisty roads before finishing in George.

Stage 5
Thursday 24 February: 175km – Oudtshoorn to Barrydale - The stage starts in Oudtshoorn and heads on to the famous Route 62 passing Calitzdorp and Ladismith with the finish in, Barrydale. .

Stage 6
Friday 25 February: 140km – Hermanus to Helshoogte pass- The penultimate stage starts in Hermanus and winds its way through Gordens Bay over Sir Lowry’s Pass into Grabouw, to Threewaterskloof Dam and up Franschhoek pass. A speedy descent follows. After passing through Franschhoek the race will head over Helshoogte Pass.

Stage 7
Saturday 26 February: 100km – Paarl to Paarl - Cycling through South Africa’s 3rd oldest town, cyclists will enjoy scenic views and historic buildings. A 10km circuit stage which will pass through the main streets of Paarl and Klein-Drakenstein finishing in Market Street.

For more information on The Cell C Tour of South Africa...:
Website: www.tourofsa.co.za
Twitter: @CellCToSA2011