With just less than a week to go, last-minute entries are streaming in for The Herald VW Cycle Tour, which rolls out across Nelson Mandela Bay on the first weekend in February. The Herald's chief marketing officer Justin Peel said there had been a definite upswing in interest as people returned to work, bolstered by their new year's resolutions to get fit. "The entries have definitely increased rapidly after the holidays and we are expecting a flurry of interest before the January 20 … [Read more...] about 5 Days to cut off for PE cycle race
the herald
Cycle tour gives Gain for your Pain
As the total prize purse for The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour surpasses the R400 000 mark, participants in next weekend's event will walk away with more than smiles on their faces. Officially the Eastern Cape's richest race, the cycle tour kicks off with the mountain bike events in Addo on the Saturday and culminates with the road races in Port Elizabeth on the Sunday. According to event coordinator Linda Harwood, the lucky draw prize value currently stands at R290 000 and counting, with a … [Read more...] about Cycle tour gives Gain for your Pain
Questions raised on firms awarded festival contracts
Go Big Events would like to set the record straight in response to the front page article "Questions raised on firms awarded festival contracts" which appeared in the Herald on Friday, April 6. Steps are being taken to have Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) amend the report in order to correct the inaccuracies. The organisation could have spared itself the embarrassment of retracting the statements in the "draft close out report" had it given Go Big the opportunity to respond before the … [Read more...] about Questions raised on firms awarded festival contracts
Friendly Local Hotel Group Welcomes Cyclists
Cyclists descending on Port Elizabeth for The Herald VW Cycle Tour on February 4 and 5 will experience the hospitality for which The Friendly City is known, thanks to the support of a local hotel group. Town Lodge PE, which has been a sponsor of the event since opening on the beachfront last year, is offering special cycle tour packages to participants and their families. General manager Glenn Pappin said these discounted rates would apply from Thursday, February 2, until Sunday, February … [Read more...] about Friendly Local Hotel Group Welcomes Cyclists
Tony Cooney is up for a Cycling Challenge
Former East Cape Cycling track commissioner Tony Cooney proved yet again that he's not afraid of a challenge when he took on the role of road race director for The Herald VW Cycle Tour. The organiser of the annual "Skrik vir Niks" event, which sees cyclists riding from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, said he was looking forward to running the 27th edition of the national classic that takes place on February 4 and 5. "I'm not a top-notch cyclist myself," said Cooney, "but I have a passion for … [Read more...] about Tony Cooney is up for a Cycling Challenge
Pucker Up Roland
The love hate (or is it hate hate?) relationship between Roland Williams and The Herald is often cause for much merriment in my household and for reasons that will stay between Roland 'Snookums' Williams and I. The latest Herald bashing of Herald reporter, Rochelle De Kock by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Communications Director Roland Williams, reported on in Monday's Herald refers. I relate this tale of forbidden love based on the antics of members of the ANC who, when given the chance … [Read more...] about Pucker Up Roland
Moolman Pasio anticipates a Beautiful Ride in PE
Nashua-Toyota's Ashleigh Moolman Pasio listed the defence of her title in The Herald VW Cycle Tour in Port Elizabeth on Sunday as one of her three goals before jetting off to Italy in March for the European season. She said this week's national championships in the Friendly City - where she has entered the time-trial and road race - would be her first objective after having to settle for silver behind team-mate Lynette Burger in Oudtshoorn two years ago. Her focus then shifts to the … [Read more...] about Moolman Pasio anticipates a Beautiful Ride in PE
Garth will Keep you in the Saddle
Former Eastern Province cycling champion Garth Botha, who cut his teeth on the Rapport Tour as a bicycle technician, will be keeping participants in the saddle during the 26th annual The Herald VW Cycle Tour in and around Port Elizabeth this weekend. The tour kicks off with the mountain bike races in Addo on Saturday, February 5, followed by the road events in PE the following day. Botha, who captained the EP road cycling team and was senior time-trial champion for a record six years in a … [Read more...] about Garth will Keep you in the Saddle
Come Along for a Ride Along
Organisers of The Herald VW Cycle Tour are inviting road and mountain bike participants to wrap up their race preparations with pre-rides on Sunday, January 30. Former Springbok cyclist Wayne Pheiffer and the race’s official mechanic Garth Botha from Action Cycles will guide a group along the 105-kilometre route in Port Elizabeth. Support vehicles will follow the riders, who will be departing from Hobie Beach at 6am. At Addo, pre-rides will take place on the 65km and 40km mountain bike … [Read more...] about Come Along for a Ride Along
Apply for Your Coveted Green Number
The Herald VW Cycle Tour may be a shade greener this year following an appeal by organisers for riders who have participated in 10 or more editions of the national classic to contact them. "We are updating our records for the exclusive green number club and want to ensure that we don't miss anyone," said race director Shane Bradfield. With the 105-kilometre feature race taking place for the 26th time in Port Elizabeth on February 6, it is hoped that more riders will join this elite … [Read more...] about Apply for Your Coveted Green Number
Carla Swart Memorial
www.MyPE.co.za: Top South African cyclist Carla Swart's life will be celebrated at a memorial service in Port Elizabeth on Thursday, February 3. Fellow cyclists are expected to gather at The Boardwalk Casino's Vodacom Amphitheatre at 4.30pm. Swart, 23, was killed when she turned in front of an oncoming truck during a training ride in the Free State on January 19. "It was Carla's dream to represent South Africa at the world championships and she did us proud on and off the bike while … [Read more...] about Carla Swart Memorial
Heralding a New Season
Back in the day, the "proper" cycling season was winter. The reasoning behind this anomaly, I assume, was for it to run concurrently with the European schedule. This meant our country's top riders would be race-fit and able to compete overseas at the drop of a hat. The fact that we were in the midst of two decades of sporting isolation, and largely unwelcome on the Continent and elsewhere, didn't seem to enter the administrators' thoughts - however, to be fair to them, the pumping track … [Read more...] about Heralding a New Season
Reach for Cycling Dreams
www.MyPE.co.za: When hundreds of healthy children hop on their bicycles to join the fun of The Herald VW Cycle Tour next year, they will be helping other kids too sick to do so. Reach for a Dream - the charity that makes dreams come true for youngsters with life-threatening illnesses - will be the beneficiary of Powerade's Family Challenge (30km), Kiddies' Challenge (3km) and Toddlers' Dash (600m) at Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth on February 5. "Reach for a Dream is all about children and … [Read more...] about Reach for Cycling Dreams
