With the full support of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports and Recreation, Cycling South Africa and Cycling KZN will be putting together a nine-event race series with one event being held in every district throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
The first event takes place this Saturday, 13 September, in the UGU District at the Burry Stander Bike Park on KZN’s south coast. Seven of the events have been confirmed to take place this year, with the remaining two event dates to be confirmed.
The cycle “race” is intended to encourage mass participation by introducing cycling to as many youth as possible in the province, which will in turn provide KZN Cycling and Cycling SA the opportunity to source talented youngsters through the Talent Identification process.
Although termed a race, the event will attract budding enthusiasts with the competitive edge to gain experience of competing against each other, as well as spark interest in those who may have never ridden a bicycle before, giving them an opportunity to learn how to cycle.
The district races will garner youth from all the local areas close to the event to participate in the fun cycling experience. They will compete on a very basic flat course with a distance of between 200 and 500m in length. Four children of the same relative age will race against each other, in categories of 12 years and under, 12-14 years, and 14 years and over.
All competitors will compete on the same type of BMX bike in three races with the two participants with the least amount of points after three races moving into straight elimination rounds, where the top two participants will move into the next round, until there is a final round of four participants.
The top three competitors will receive a gold, silver or bronze medal, with every other participant receiving a copper medal as reward for their efforts.
There is no entry fee for the competitors of these events. The event is all about fun, participation and the upliftment of youth surrounding the event area and thus opening the opportunity for the children to see that through sport, anything can be achieved.
Proposed Development Series Race Day Calendar 2014
- 13 September 2014 – UGU District – Burry Stander Bike Park
- 20 September 2014 – eThekwini District – Lahee Park Sports Field
- 4 October 2014 – Mandeni – Mcatshengalwa Primary School
- 18 October 2014 – Ladysmith
- 25 October 2014 – eThekwini – Giba Gorge
- 1 November 2014 – Ixopo – Sports Grounds
- 15 November 2014 – Mgungunglovo
- Date TBC – Msunduzi (Final – Youth Festival)
- Date TBC – Majuba
For further information about the Development Series Race Day, please contact KZN Cycling Development Officer, Tyrone Johns, on 083 606 6086.
