Eye on the cause: Cyclists gear up for Tour de Frontline
The ride-for-a-cause initiative Tour de Frontline will turn the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay into a maze of excitement as dozens of cyclists pedal through the city in aid of charity.
The Gqeberha leg is part of a nine-city tour covering 1,800km in four Southern African countries tomorrow and Saturday.
Participating riders from six SA cities — Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Polokwane, Kimberley and Gqeberha — will begin the epic adventure tomorrow.
This will be followed by stagings in Gaborone (Botswana), Maseru (Lesotho) and Mbabane (Eswatini) on Saturday.
It is the third time the charity cycle, involving corporate and fun riders, has been held in the Eastern Cape since 2022.
The initiative, founded in 2020, supports six charities and collaborates with corporate partnered and enterprise development beneficiaries.
Gqeberha tour co-ordinator Bulumko Futshane said the event had gained popularity because of its commitment to philanthropy and community engagement.
“By fostering collaboration between corporate entities and charities, Tour de Frontline strives to ensure these vital initiatives receive the resources to thrive.
“Beyond financial assistance, the event seeks to cultivate hope among disadvantaged communities.”
Futshane said last year the initiative partnered with 30 corporates to support 36 charities and initiatives from 10 sectors, translating into an impact value of more than R3.8m.
“Last year’s event, attended by 447 riders in 10 cities from four countries, touched 21,400 lives,” he said.
The riders are expected to take off from Action Cycles in Walmer at 5.30am to begin the 150km tour.
The group will travel up Main Road, riding past Fig Tree before joining Butterfield Road.
The journey will continue onto Lakefarm Road, past Altona Primary School and spill out into Cape Road en route to Woodridge College for a 50km water break.
After surging past Maitlands Beach and Grass Roof at the 100km mark, the cyclists will loop back through Marine Drive before finishing at the Action Cycles start.