Six eager young mountain bikers from Inanda will be taking part in the 55km cyclocross race at the aQuellé Tour Durban on Sunday 24 April in the colours of the GO!Durban Cycle Academy, keen to showcase the progress being made by this unique collaboration.
Sbusiso Ndlovu, Mmeli Ndimande, Sabelo Ngcobo, Linda Maphanga, Collin Gumede, Sfundo Gumede, will ride the popular race with their coaches Steven Gcwensa and Cosmos Goba and mentor Shaun Peschl, keen to test themselves over the 45km of fast road riding and the ten kilometres of off-road single track that makes this cyclocross race unique.
Members of the GO!Durban Cycle Academy that will be taking part in the 55km cyclocross race aQuellé Tour Durban 2016 on Sunday 24 April, (from left) Sbusiso Ndlovu, Collin Gumede, Sfundo Gumede, Sabelo Ngcobo, Linda Maphanga, Steven Gcwensa (coach), Cosmos Goba (coach) and Mmeli Ndimade. Warren Quinn/ Gameplan Media
The GO!Durban Cycle Academy pools the expertise of the coaches from the Durban Green Corridor with the pool of cycling talent emerging from the Inanda based MTB Academy, as part of the broader plans to foster a culture of recreational and commuter cycling in the city.
Warren Quinn, Sports Development Manager at the GO!Durban Cycle Academy says the young riders, the youngest of whom is 14 years old, are excited to take on the 55km outing, under the close supervision of their coach Steven Gcwensa and the experienced pro Shaun Peschl who acts as the Academy mentor.
“What makes this race unique is the fact that there will be so many riders together for much of the race,” says Quinn. “Our coach and mentor will ensure that our guys pace themselves accordingly and enjoy the opportunity to the full,” said Quinn.
The programme focuses heavily on skills transfer and training, and the four coaches working at the Academy have been extensively trained, some of them to UCI certification level.
The six will fly the flag for the expanding Academy that already has a footprint site in KwaDabeka, with further satellite Academies planned for other areas including KwaMashu, Cornubia and Mlazi.
The 105km road race, 45km fun race and 55km cyclocross race take place on Sunday 24 April 2016. Late entries will be taken at registration at Suncoast Casino & Entertainment World from 10h00-17h00 on Friday, 22 and Saturday, 23 April. More information can be found at www.tourdurban.co.za.
