947 Ride Joburg

Virgin Active Ride Joburg
Race details
Datemid-November
RegionJohannesburg, South Africa
English nameVirgin Active Ride Joburg
Nickname(s)Ride Joburg
DisciplineRoad, Mountain Bike and Children's cycling events
TypeOne-day
Race directorFritz Pienaar [1]
History
First edition1997 (1997)[2]
Editions26

The Virgin Active Ride Joburg (formally known as the 94.7 cycle challenge)[3] is the world's second-largest timed cycle race, after the Cape Argus Cycle Race.[4] It is held annually on cycle challenge Sunday, the third Sunday of November in the South African city of Johannesburg. Between 20,000 and 30,000 participants complete the challenging 94.7 km (58.8 mi) course every year. The event's main sponsors are 947 (radio station) and Virgin Active (In previous years, Momentum.)[5]

The Virgin Active Ride Joburg Mountain Bike Challenge is held the weekend before the road race. It consists of two distances; a 30 km (19 mi) race and a 55 km (34 mi) race. In 2012 a 40 km (25 mi) fun ride was introduced and took place the day before the Mountain Bike Challenge.

  1. ^ "94.7 Cycle Challenge factsheet". Archived from the original on 14 December 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Gauteng.net, 94.7 Cycle Challenge". Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  3. ^ "NEW OWNER FOR 947 RIDE JOBURG". Ride Joburg. 2 September 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Big Rides: 30,000 In South Africa". PezCycling News. 29 November 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  5. ^ Madumo, Lesego (19 September 2008). "Cycle challenge deadline extended". city of johannesburg > news archive. Retrieved 19 November 2008.[permanent dead link‍]