As the ongoing lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic continues, organisers of the Tour Durban cycle race have confirmed that the 2020 event will be replaced with a virtual aQuellé Tour Durban on 25 and 26 July.

The event is an important annual fundraiser for the Domino Foundation that helps poor communities in KZN and the prospect of cancelling the event was a blow for the NGO.

“The aQuellé Tour Durban is fundamentally about #Ride4Good and raising money for the Domino Foundation,” said event director Alec Lenferna.

“They have stepped up their support for communities significantly that are really battling with the effects of the lockdown, so we felt that we had to find an alternative way to support them as the greater cycling community as we do by riding the this great event every year.

“It is a massive pity that we are not going to be able to stage the event in its traditional format this year, but circumstances are what they are at this time and we are already looking to the future and await the opportunity in 2021 and beyond.”

On Saturday, July 25 riders will be able to take part in a virtual ride on the new mountain bike courses, and on Sunday, July 26 riders can take on the road race by following the online live streaming show that will offer them a rider’s view of the popular M4 course as it was raced last year.

Riders are encouraged to follow the live streaming on the event Facebook page while they take part on their rollers or static bikes, or simply to engage in any form of exercise like riding in their communities during the streaming show.

Lenferna confirmed that all entries already posted for the 2020 event will carry forward to the 2021 races at no extra charge, or should people wish to donate their 2020 entry fee to the cause, obviously this would be gratefully accepted too.

Entries for the event, with a minimum of R50 but allowing for participants to make any larger donation, will be taken via the links provided on the Tour Durban website.

More information can be found at tourdurban.co.za.

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