Organisers of the 29th edition of The Herald VW Cycle Tour are leaving nothing to chance when it comes to the safety of participants on February 1 and 2. Gardmed private ambulance service will once again do duty on the streets of Port Elizabeth and on the mountain bike trails at Addo, while the trauma unit staff at Life St George's Hospital will also be on standby to deal with any emergency situation. According to race director Julie Briggs, organisers would also be setting up a joint … [Read more...] about Cycle tour in good health
Cycling
New bicycle up for grabs at cycle classic
With a full line-up of children's and family events to choose from, young and fledgling cyclists will share in the excitement of The Herald VW Cycle Tour on Saturday, February 1. These various Powerade-sponsored road and mountain bike races will roll out from Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth and Addo Polo Club in Addo respectively. Event organiser Linda Harwood said the main beachfront race village was traditionally abuzz with excitement on race day as hundreds of juniors turned out for the … [Read more...] about New bicycle up for grabs at cycle classic
Veteran cyclists carry a big sjambok
Cycling legend Martin Nefdt has reassembled his 1967 Springbok track team plus a host of local celebrities to ride The Herald VW Cycle Tour in aid of abused and abandoned animals on Sunday, February 2. Nefdt and his cohort will be "cycling for the love of animals" in the 55km Pursuit road race through the streets of Port Elizabeth. The group of 30 sponsored riders will use the event as a fundraiser for the Uitenhage-based SPCA, which serves the entire Nelson Mandela Bay area, including … [Read more...] about Veteran cyclists carry a big sjambok
Hand crafted cycle tour trails in Addo
Mountain bikers can look forward to riding eco-friendly, hand-cut trails in one of the world's most biologically diverse areas when they sign up for The Herald VW Cycle Tour in Addo on February 1. The mountain biking segment of the cycle tour not only exposes riders to some of the area's natural wonders but also provides pathways to development by creating trail-building jobs for local labourers. According to race director Brad Jackson of Mountain Events, participants should expect … [Read more...] about Hand crafted cycle tour trails in Addo
Free wheeling accommodation for Cycle Tour
With event sponsors creating hassle-free ways of dealing with logistics for the 29th edition of The Herald VW Cycle tour, out-of-town riders will have nothing to worry about other than making it to the finish line. Booking accommodation and car hire for the weekend of the event is now just a few clicks away and will not only save visitors time and effort, but also money. According to road race director Julie Briggs, South Africa's second oldest national classic is attracting an … [Read more...] about Free wheeling accommodation for Cycle Tour
Cycle through the Adventure Province
The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency has confirmed that The Herald VW Cycle Tour will be joining a select group of partner events that will be used to promote the province through sport. ECPTA chief executive officer Luxolo Rubushe said the action-packed event, which takes place in Port Elizabeth and Addo, embodied the essence of the Adventure Province and was a great fit for the brand. "We are very excited about being first-time sponsors of the event," said Rubushe. "Sporting … [Read more...] about Cycle through the Adventure Province
Reid to defend Ultimate Quest title
South African marathon mountain biking champion James Reid will return to defend his title in the Ultimate Quest category at The Herald VW Cycle Tour in Nelson Mandela Bay on February 1 and 2. Reid captured the inaugural title when he proved himself the best rider on aggregate over the 80km Extreme mountain bike challenge in Addo and the 106km Classic road race in Port Elizabeth. The 21-year-old said he and girlfriend Candice Neethling, who won the women's title, would once again set their … [Read more...] about Reid to defend Ultimate Quest title
Francois Geldenhuys earns World Tour Spot
Port Elizabeth-based Francois Geldenhuys earned his spot at the 2014 UCI World Cycling Tour when he clinched a double victory in the Msunduzi Road Challenge just outside Pietermaritzburg last weekend. Geldenhuys, who rides for local club Shukuma-NMMU, won the time trial in the 30-34 age category and the overall road race in the only African qualifier for the international event. He will take part in both disciplines at the UWCT Finals, which start in Slovenia at the end of … [Read more...] about Francois Geldenhuys earns World Tour Spot
Introducing the Lake Farm Climb
The Herald VW Cycle Tour will offer something new for participants and spectators alike when the 106km Classic rolls out from Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth on February 2. Organisers have introduced the new Lake Farm climb in favour of the traditional 5K Hill, which will also be the site of a dedicated spectator zone. Road race director Julie Briggs said the viewing point would bring the public much closer to the action and that the short, steep climb was one of the points on the route … [Read more...] about Introducing the Lake Farm Climb
Addo – Eastern Cape’s mountain biking capital
The Herald VW Cycle Tour's return to Addo on February 1 is set to confirm this area's status as the mountain biking capital of the Eastern Cape. According to race director for mountain biking Brad Jackson, events like the tour had been responsible for a mini economic boom in the Zuurberg region over the past few years. Jackson said the area offered some of the best and most diverse mountain bike riding in the province and landowners had begun to capitalise on the burgeoning sport. "The … [Read more...] about Addo – Eastern Cape’s mountain biking capital
Briggs and Jackson continue tour legacy
For new road race director Julie Briggs the wheel has turned full circle as she assumes responsibility for The Herald VW Cycle Tour, which her father helped start in Port Elizabeth almost three decades ago. The 29th edition of what is now South Africa's second oldest national classic will take place in Port Elizabeth and Addo on February 1 and 2 next year. Briggs said the race originally started as the brainchild of her dad, well-known cycle shop owner Rob Rudman, and his two friends Peter … [Read more...] about Briggs and Jackson continue tour legacy
10 Years of Cycling
Uitenhage-based Volkswagen Group South Africa announced its backing of the Eastern Cape's premier cycling event for the 10th year running yesterday. The 2014 edition of The Herald VW Cycle Tour – the 29th in total – takes place in Port Elizabeth and Addo on February 1 and 2. According to group communications general manager Matt Gennrich, the automotive manufacturer is proud to have been associated with the cycle tour for the past decade. "This premier cycling event is the biggest … [Read more...] about 10 Years of Cycling
Clean sweep for Smit in PE
Second-year law student Willie Smit swept to a convincing victory in the three-day Bestmed USSA national cycling championships in Port Elizabeth on Friday. Smit, who races for the University of Pretoria and the Bonitas pro team, won four of the five stages and finished third in the final criterium. The 20-year-old took the yellow jersey on day one and did not relinquish it again. Stellenbosch University's Hans-Werner Heuer put in a strong showing to finish second overall, with Marinus … [Read more...] about Clean sweep for Smit in PE
Smit completes hat-trick in wet Port Elizabeth
The University of Pretoria's Willie Smit completed a hat-trick of stage wins to retain the yellow jersey on day two of the Bestmed USSA cycle tour in in a cold and rainy Port Elizabeth on Thursday. Smit added the 120km queen stage - and the day's sprint prime - to his tally after claiming the 83km opening road stage and 15km individual time-trial at the national student championships on Wednesday. The Team Bonitas pro went clear of a four-man lead group in the closing kilometres to take a … [Read more...] about Smit completes hat-trick in wet Port Elizabeth
Smit takes early lead at USSA champs in Port Elizabeth
Team Bonitas professional Willie Smit put in a dominating performance to claim the first two stages and the yellow jersey on day one of the Bestmed USSA student road cycling championships in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. Smit, from the University of Pretoria, opened his account with a split-second victory in the 83km road stage (2:07:25) in the morning and went on to notch up another credit in the 15km individual time-trial (21:49.46) later in the day. "My main goal was the time-trial," … [Read more...] about Smit takes early lead at USSA champs in Port Elizabeth
