Big pedalling day is drawing nearer
THE Daily Dispatch Cycle Tour is upon us again and some exhilarating pedalling will be battled out on Sunday as many of the province's best cyclists as well as a number from around SA will be out in force.
After the hugely successful Daily Dispatch Mountain Bike race was held at the EL Air Fest earlier this year, another cracking day of cycling action is expected, this time on the road front.
“We have already received a good number of entries for the race and are expecting up to 700 cyclists to be taking part in across the three distances,” said acting Daily Dispatch marketing manager Penelope Smith.
“We are expecting perfect weather conditions on the day and we encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a fantastic day of cycling with us.”
Store entries for the race close today and online entries close at midnight tonight.
Late entries will be accepted at registration, however cyclists who enter late will not receive a free Cycle Tour T-shirt, valued at R90, or a buff, which cyclists who pre-enter on time will receive.
“We really encourage our cycling community to come together to support this event as it has the potential to put Buffalo City on the map as one of the main cycling events in the country,” said Smith.
“We know that our city has a lot to offer cyclists, especially considering that the Cycle Tour is one of the few events on a national scale that gets full road closure.
“So, it is really up to our local cycling community to show support and make this a great day of cycling.”
Some great cash prizes will be up for grabs for the serious competitors taking part, with the winning male and female in the 102km race receiving R7 000 each, with second picking up R5 000 and third R3 000.
The King and Queen of the Mountain will each receive R1 000 and a new category called the Ultimate Challenge will see R1 000 given to the man and woman who gets the best time from both the 2017 Dispatch Mountain Bike Challenge and Road Race.
In terms of the new CSA rules, prize-money may only be paid to cyclists with a Domestic Racing Licence (Professional CSA Racing Licence).
Lucky draw prizes will also be available to all participants who took part in the race and are in attendance for the draw.
Registration for the race will take place at Buffs Club on Friday from noon to 8pm and on Saturday from 9am to noon.
For timing, all riders must purchase a timing chip from Racetec, who will be at registration, at R150 per chip.
Entries for the three distances are R240 for the main 102km race, R150 for the R50km ride and R100 for the 19km Family Fun Ride.
All cyclists must present their timing chip at registration so that Racetec can check chips.