1000 Hills cyclist receives KZN colours
A development rider has received his KZN colours.
Martin Dreyer’s RMB Change a Life Academy’s new initiative, Change a Life Zulus enjoyed a historic moment when emerging marathon star, Sthembiso Masango became the first ever black rider to be awarded KwaZulu-Natal colours for mountain biking.
Masango’s award was added good news for the outfit after he and team mate, Mboneni Ngcobo also secured a highly commendable 10th place overall in the FNB Wines2Whales MTB stage race in the Western Cape a few weeks ago.
“Coming from the Valley of a 1000 Hills, Sthembiso’s award and his and Mboneni’s Wines2Whales effort goes to show just how far our RMB Change a Life Zulus have come in the past year or so,” said Dreyer. “It is extremely pleasing to see all the hard work we have been putting into the programme is already starting to pay off .”
Masango received the award after his strong display at the 2014 Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill ultra-marathon event which also doubled as the year’s KZN MTB Marathon Championships.
“Sthembiso’s earning of KZN colours is extremely exciting!” said chairman of the KZN Mountain Bike Commission, Charles Roberts. “On top of the countless hours one has to put in to be successful, it is also an extremely expensive sport and so can be difficult for development riders to get into.”
“This goes to show that it is possible to succeed in this sport and that he was prepared to go through quite a lot in order to obtain this achievement. It makes the sport more accessible to the broader population as he gives his fellow riders something to aspire towards.”
Roberts believes Masango’s achievement will play a significant role in the development of mountain biking in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Development in KZN is something we are taking very seriously. We have started mountain bike programmes in nine of the 11 districts in KZN, with plans to roll out programmes in the final two shortly, and hopefully Sthembiso’s award is a sign that KZN is now on the map.”
