Mpumalanga Cycling Championships saved
A knight on a white horse (bike) has saved Mpumalanga’s road bike championships.
The Nelspruiter, Danie Botha, is the new president of the Mpumalanga Cycling Association, who did not let grass grow under his feet and arranged in no time for the province to host a championship again on January 20 next year in Badplaas.
He talks enthusiastically about cycling and says, “We want to make road cycling more spectator-friendly.”
It is planned to host the championships in 2025 in the Highveld with Middelburg being the logical choice.
Danie is full of praise for the cycling community, who stepped in to make sure Mpumalanga has a championship.
The chairman of Middelburg Cycling Club, Jaap Beyers, has already pledged his support to the Badplaas races and asked club members to sign up.
The same distances as last year will be attempted, with the 80km double lap, so spectators can be part of the action. After 25km, they will turn around and ride back to the starting point. The first lap is then 50km. The second time they go out again but then turn around at the 25km mark, taking them back to the finish, which will be a total of 30km.
To be eligible for the Mpumalanga team there will be certain time targets for participants, which will soon be sent to clubs.
According to Danie, the time trial will also put on a new jacket.
The South African Cycling Championships are held a week later in Meyerton.
“The goal of the day is not just about who can cycle the fastest, but the togetherness. We have incredible young talent who are currently riding more mountain bikes, and I know that Mpumalanga has talented children, and we can become one of the strongest provinces in the country. Come and enjoy the championships on your mountain bike or any other bike, and help make the day a success.”
