947 Ride Joburg

Virgin Active Ride Joburg

Race details
Date	mid-November
Region	Johannesburg, South Africa
English name	Virgin Active Ride Joburg
Nickname(s)	Ride Joburg
Discipline	Road, Mountain Bike and Children's cycling events
Type	One-day
Race director	Fritz Pienaar [1]
History
First edition	1997 (1997) [2]
Editions	26

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.

Past winners

Men

Arran Brown, winner of 2 Challenges, after placing third in 2012

Year	Country	Rider	Team
1997	South Africa	Nicholas White
1998	South Africa	Ryan Cox
1999	South Africa	Robert Hunter
2000	South Africa	Malcolm Lange
2001	South Africa	Malcolm Lange
2002	South Africa	Daniel Spence
2003	South Africa	Ian McLeod
2004	Italy	Antonio Salomone
2005	South Africa	Darren Lill
2006	Slovakia	Martin Velits [6]
2007	South Africa	Herman Fouche	Team Konica Minolta [7]
2008	South Africa	Malcolm Lange	Team MTN
2009	South Africa	Arran Brown	Medscheme [8]
2010	South Africa	Nicholas White	Medscheme [9]
2011	South Africa	Arran Brown	MTN–Qhubeka
2012	South Africa	Reinardt Janse van Rensburg	MTN–Qhubeka
2013	South Africa	Willie Smit	Team Bonitas
2014	Namibia	Till Drobisch	MTN–Qhubeka WCC Feeder Team
2015	South Africa	Stefan de Bod	MTN–Qhubeka Feeder Team
2016	South Africa	Brendon Davids	Swiss Cycles
2017	South Africa	Daryl Impey	Orica–Scott
2018	South Africa	Brandon Downes	Team BCX
2019	South Africa	Marc Pritzen	Office Guru
2020	South Africa	Gustav Basson	ProTouch
2021	South Africa	Travis Stedman	Shesha Fuels Racing
2022	South Africa	Reinardt Janse van Rensburg	Lotto-Soudal
2023	South Africa	Marc Pritzen	Honey Comb

Sharon Laws winning the 2012 women's Challenge

Women

Year	Country	Rider	Team
2000	South Africa	Mari Rogers
2001	South Africa	Mari Rogers
2002	South Africa	Wanda Ariano
2003	South Africa	Samantha Bounds
2004	South Africa	Samantha Bounds
2005	South Africa	Lisa Vermaak
2006	South Africa	Yolandi du Toit
2007	South Africa	Anriëtte Schoeman
2008	South Africa	Anriëtte Schoeman	[10]
2009	South Africa	Joanna Van De Winkel
2010	South Africa	Cherise Taylor
2011	South Africa	Ashleigh Moolman	Team Nashua Toyota
2012	Great Britain	Sharon Laws	Momentum Toyota
2013	South Africa	Ashleigh Moolman	Momentum Toyota
2014	Netherlands	Marianne Vos	Rabo–Liv
2015	South Africa	Ashleigh Moolman	Bigla Pro Cycling Team
2016	Germany	Charlotte Becker	Team Hitec Products
2017	South Africa	Ashleigh Moolman	Bia Africa mixed team
2018	South Africa	Carla Oberholzer	Demacon
2019	South Africa	Carla Oberholzer	Demacon MaxWax
2021	South Africa	Ashleigh Moolman Pasio	SD Worx
2022	Namibia	Vera Looser	InstaFund Racing
2023	South Africa	Carla Oberholzer	Sandton City Cycle Nation

See also

• 947 (radio station)
• Cape Town Cycle Tour
• Cycle racing

References

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 ‍]}
6. "Cycle Challenge: 10 out of 10, November 21, 2006". Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
7. "Another success for Cycle Challenge, November 19, 2007". Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
8. "94.7 Cycle Challenge Results website". Archived from the original on 18 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
9. "Team Medscheme end season on 35 wins".
10. "Anriette Proves Pocket Rocket Power, Gsport for Girls. November 17, 2008" . Retrieved 23 June 2009.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}

External links

• Cycle Challenge homepage