MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The organizers of the Cape Argus Cycle Tour have selected the 175km Kremetart One-day Stage Race as one of the seeding and qualifying events for the 2006 Pick ‘n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour.

The Cape Cycle Tour, which is limited to 35 000 participants, receives many more applications each year, hence the need for qualifying events.

In addition to the main 175km Kremetart Stage Race being a qualifying event, there will also be a 100km “out and back” race on the Vivo Road, which will also be a seeding and qualifying event. The use of an out and back route for the 100km race will help relieve the traffic congestion at Vivo during the main event. The usual 72km race from Vivo to Louis Trichardt will fall away but the 22km Fun Ride will still take place. The route, however, may be altered to reduce traffic congestion at Schoemansdal.

The Kremetart One-day Stage Race is the only seeding and qualifying event north of Johannesburg and will be the only event with two qualifying distances. There will be eight qualifying races throughout South Africa.

The nomination of the Kremetart by the Cycle Tour Trust holds several advantages for the Kremetart, among them access to the PPA data base of 80 000 cyclists for advertising. The main event will be restricted to 1 500 cyclists and entries will open in December on www.cyclelab.co.za