The route of the 2013 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge starts in the north, follows past historic landmarks in the city centre, winds through green suburbia before the long haul on the N14 and then back into the Waterfall Country Estate, once again providing a fitting end to a challenging ride!

An uphill start on Woodmead Drive, past Makro and the Woodmead Retail Park and then right onto the M1 South – experience full road closures on the highway!

The route takes a left turn off of the highway at Joe Slovo road, circumventing the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital. Cyclists will smile as they don’t have to climb the long drag up to the St Andrews off ramp. The route continues through Hillbrow, past the infamous Ponte, down a welcome but fast downhill, through Jeppestown and then onto the M2 travelling westward.

The first important landmark cyclists encounter in the city centre is Gandhi Square, which came about when Van der Byl Square, the old bus terminal was revamped. This bus terminus was erected after 1940 when law courts where Gandhi once worked were demolished.

Leaving the city centre for another trip along the M2 East and then the M1 South, the cyclists use the Carr Street off ramp to reach Newtown, possibly the most frequently “renewed” portion of the city!

One of the most spectacular aspects of Newtown's urban renewal is the Nelson Mandela Bridge. At 284 metres long, this is the largest cable-stayed bridge structure in southern Africa. The bridge crosses 40 railway lines and was built to link Braamfontein and Newtown. If you look to the left from Mandela Bridge, you will see the Bricksfield Housing Project, a mixed income housing development.

Many more places of interest can be found along the Cycle Challenge route through Parktown, Randburg and Honeydew, but one that may enjoy more attention as “green” themes grain prominence is the Total Petroport Biodiversity Park along the N14. Although a filling station was clearly needed in the area, closer inspection revealed astonishing biodiversity in this particular portion of Nietgedacht, and Total then agreed to create a sanctuary to protect this dwindling resource. One of the more interesting residents of the park is the near-threatened Giant Bullfrog. This park is managed as a self-sustaining nature reserve, with no irrigation, chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers… perfect for Bullfrogs!