Cycle Tour entries open - online

The race to enter the 2005 Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour begins on Friday.

But before you get clicking on the new Cycle Tour website - www.capetowncycletour.co.za- you need to know about the new entry procedure.

The new system was introduced after the overwhelming response to this year's tour, which saw a return to the Chapman's Peak route.

"Entries closed only 66 hours after opening," said event director Anton Groenewald.

"The enthusiasm was incredible but we felt the need to re-evaluate the entry process to ensure that everyone who wants to participate has a fair opportunity to do so."

There are three stages to the new system.

Stage 1: All entrants, including those who qualify for guaranteed acceptance, must submit an application form by noon on Monday August 22, along with a non-refundable administration fee of R20.

Criteria that will be used to screen applicants include:

- Did you win any of the age categories in the 2004 tour?

- Have you completed nine or more cycle tours?

- Have you completed one or more of the Seeding Series events between July 2003 and July 2004?

- Have you completed 300km or more in Pedal Power Association fun rides between July 2003 and June 2004?

If the answer to any of the questions is yes, your entry to the event is guaranteed.

If you don't meet any of those criteria, your application will go through to the second stage of entry evaluation.

Statistics show that less than a third of the 35 000 field will qualify for guaranteed entry, leaving 25 000 places available for Stage Two applicants.

Stage 2: Once your application has gone to stage two, there will be additional criteria to judge the application. These are:

- Are you a paid-up membership of the Pedal Power Association?

- Have you completed four or more Cycle Tours within the cut-off time in the past five years?

- Were you a holder of an Absa Cycling Affinity card as of April 30, 2004?

Stage 3: Successful applicants will be told by September 15 that they're in.

Entrants will then have until midnight on October 31 to finalise their entry and pay the R175 entry fee or R145 (for Pedal Power Association members).

Successful applicants will forfeit their entry if they have not paid the entry fee by October 31.

Only one application will be considered per person and all duplicate entries will be deleted. Entries for bona fide international cyclists will be available on the new website from September 1.

The race is on Sunday, March 13, 2005.