Cycling club to take on virtual race for charity
On Saturday, 25 July, riders will be able to take part in a virtual ride on the new mountain bike courses, and on Sunday, 26 July, riders can take to 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.
Members of the Amanzimtoti Cycling Club with cyclists from across the country are bracing themselves to take on the virtual aQuellé Tour Durban on Saturday, 25 July, and Sunday, 26 July. The event is an important annual fundraiser for the Domino Foundation that helps poor communities in the greater Durban area, and the prospect of cancelling the event was a blow for the trailblazing NGO.
Event director, Alec Lenferna said, “The aQuellé Tour Durban is fundamentally about #Ride4Good and raising money for The Domino Foundation. They have stepped up their support for communities significantly that are really battling with the effects of 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 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, 25 July, riders will be able to take part in a virtual ride on the new mountain bike courses, and on Sunday, 26 July, riders can take to 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.
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Amanzimoti Cycling Club (ACC) chairperson, Barry Walker, who encourages other cyclists to participate in the event said, “I believe that this is a superb idea and cyclists from our club are excited to participate in the virtual race. It is important for cyclists to follow the proper health and safety precautions at this time as well. As a club, we are eager to reconnect with other members and cyclists once lockdown is lifted.”
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.
Shaun Tait of the Domino Foundation said, “We have an amazing relationship with the aQuellé Tour Durban as an event and with many of the cyclists as individuals. This comes at a time when we are working hard with a number of community organisations to get desperately needed aid into the homes of Durban families that have been hard hit by the Covid-19 lockdown.”
Entries for the event, with a minimum of R50 but allowing participants to make any larger donation, will be taken via the links provided on the Tour Durban website.
ALSO READ: Amanzimtoti cyclists ride for festive good
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