Super cycling for South Coast
The events were a boost for sports-tourism in the area.
THE tourist town of Margate has played host to some major cycling events over the past weekend.
Dubbed the KZN Autumn Series, everything went off pretty smoothly in terms of the racing, it has to be said.
The series was a major boost for sports-tourism and one hopes more and more events like this will come to the South Coast.
Last Friday (Workers’ Day), the Maritzburg Margate Mayday Classic, was raced from Camperdown to Margate.
HB Kruger (Team Abantu) and Nic Dlamini (MTN-Qhubeka Feeder Team) were judged joint winners after tackling the arduous 182km route.
Due to a traffic infringement in the final kilometre, the commissaires made the decision to have two race winners.
On the Saturday, the Hibiscus Coast Classic took place, which was aimed at the youngsters (U10), through to veterans (60+), as well as the elite, U23 and junior classes.
There were other highlights on Saturday, with Cycling South Africa, through KZN Cycling, handing over 50 bicycles to young people from the local community.
Of the 50 bicycles donated, 25 are going to the Burry Stander Foundation for use at the bicycle park.
In addition, 50 helmets were donated by the Margate Business Association, represented by Hartley Bidla.
Mandie Stander said the bikes would help the youngsters who come to the park in terms of actually getting there.
She regularly pays their taxi fare and is pleased they will have their own wheels.
On Sunday, Eritrean cycling star Metkel Eyob Teweldeberhan (MTN-Qhubeka Feeder Team) and South Africa’s Cherise Stander (CSA Women’s Development Team) claimed top honours in the Hibiscus Coast Cycle Challenge, which was the third and final round of the KZN Autumn Series, in glorious weather.
Sixty-seven Elite men and 19 Elite women cyclists took to the start line of the UCI Category 1.2 point-scoring race, with the men tackling 10 laps of the 15.5km circuit (155km) and the women, seven laps (108.5km).
Teweldeberhan, who had claimed third place in the Maritzburg Margate Mayday Classic, was overwhelmed with his win.
The women’s race was won by Cherise Stander (CSA Women’s Development Team). She timed her race to perfection, taking the lead in the last 200m to take victory on the technical corners.
“I was a bit scared going into the finish, but I’m very happy with the win,” said Stander.
