The fifth Mpumalanga Cycle Tour to hit the streets this weekend
Changes were made to ensure that the tour remains relevant to the cycling community and continues to bring people together.
A refreshed fifth edition of the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour will begin on August 31 at Blyde Canyon.
In the past, the tour was held in January but as part of the changes it will now take place in Spring. It has also been reduced from six stages to four. The changes were made to ensure that the tour remains relevant to the cycling community and continues to bring people together.
During the launch early this month, Butini Ngoma from the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation said in its fifth year, the tour is now ranked among the biggest road races in the country.
“We are excited to be part of the historic edition of the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour. This year the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour turns five and we could not have imagined when we started this road race, that it would grow so much within a short space of time. ”
He also added that the Mpumalanga Cycle Tour is more than a sporting event. “The tour offers the department an opportunity to foster social cohesion and also contribute to economic growth along the route. In the coming days, the economy of the province will expand and its expansion will lead to the creation of job opportunities in the tourism sector,” he said.
According to the department, the Tour could not have reach such heights if it were not for the support of the community and private sector. “Forever Resorts South Africa has invested heavily over the years in the development of sport in the province and we applaud them for their efforts and we urge them to continue grooming champions in the province, “ concluded Ngoma.
This year the Tour is arranged as follows:
Stage 1: Blyde Canyon – Swadini
Stage 2: Swadini – Open Gate – Swadini
Stage 3: Swadini – Blyde Canyon
Stage 4: Blyde Canyon – Mbombela Stadium
