Mayor spreads cycling fever in support of local riders

This Tuesday was the start of one of the largest road-cycling races ever to hit the Lowveld, as the 2015 Pennypinchers SA National Road Championships takes centre stage on the roads of Mbombela.

Cycling fever has hit the town and this was evident when the executive mayor of Mbombela, Sibusiso Mathonsi donned his cycling gear to show his support for the riders this coming week from February 3 to 8.

Cycling enthusiasts have a fantastic opportunity to see their heroes in action during this highly competitive event.

Local riders will aim to have all guns blazing as they aim for national colours in the province of the rising sun. One of these local riders will be Damon Halderman (18) of Valencia who has had a stellar start to the tier.

Damon won the criterium category at the Bestmed Mpumalanga Road Championships in January and will look to add more silverware to his growing trophy cabinet.

Nico Bell, who will participate in the elite men’s category, will be one of the favourites to take the national title, while Dalene van der Leek will aim to do the same in the women’s elite category.

The championships will be divided into various categories such as the paracycling, u/23 and elite categories. The time-trial event will have cycling aficionados on their toes as some of the country’s best road cyclists, such as Daryl Impey and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg will go wheel to wheel.

All races will start and finish at Mbombela Stadium.

Registration will take place at the Farm Stall at Halls every day up to Saturday. “We want to attract as many people to the race to support our local riders and see the best South African cyclists in action,” said Roelf Kotze, Mbombela Stadium manager.