The Africa Cup

[Longbarn Killer]

I've just heard that Port Elizabeth is hosting the Africa Cup in less than two weeks. It is apparently a UCI sanctioned event where 20 nations will be sending their riders and points can be earned towards the next Olympics.

 

I'm quite excited on the one hand as the criterium is on my door step, walking distance from my house. On the other hand, I'm disappointed. This is an international event and I haven't seen any advertising, awareness, marketing or anything. Maybe I live in a vacuum, but I've seen nothing in the press (and I read the paper every day) or heard anything on the radio.

 

The only reason I found out about it, is because my cycling club sent out a request for volunteer helpers. It seems as if the criterium is piggy backing on the Lorraine Cycle Tour. There's also a TT and road race on the Sunday.

 

I suppose this is why cycling is in the state that it is in. Host an international event and keep it quiet so we don't get any fans or spectators.

 

 

[Nick]

You're correct. It's in a state. The event has been cancelled.

CSA Statement: 

 

Due to unforeseen circumstances Cycling South Africa regrets to announce the postponement of Africa Cup for 2019.

 

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality entered into an agreement with Cycling South Africa to realise the objective of increasing sports tourism through a series cycling events in the city.

 

The Africa Cup was aimed at uplifting cycling on the African continent and assisting African nations to earn points which will contribute to their ability to ride in the Olympics 2020. However, due to the timing of the event, the number of confirmed federations able to attend the Africa Cup is not at the desired level.

 

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has proved over and over that the city is exceptional when it comes to hosting high-impact international sporting events. To ensure that we maximise the return on investment by fulfilling a full complement of participating nations and meeting the due diligence requirements of the parties, we will announce the way forward in due course.

 

We are looking forward to continuing the hard work behind the scenes to deliver high-level cycling events that showcases Nelson Mandela Bay as a world-class sporting destination. Most importantly, at the heart of this agreement is the legacy project towards the upliftment and development of local cycling communities especially in the historically disadvantaged areas.

 

Cycling South Africa would like to thank the city for its incredible support for cycling and the build-up to this event.