{"id":51170,"date":"2023-11-02T13:56:36","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T11:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/rider-has-the-wind-at-his-back-20231102-3\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T08:46:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T06:46:27","slug":"rider-has-the-wind-at-his-back-20231102-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/rider-has-the-wind-at-his-back-20231102-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Rider has the wind at his back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>He rode 624 km in 15:55<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ziqubu has so far cycled all five of the major races<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u201cI have been doing this out of my own pocket. I have no sponsor.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>____________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Welkom\u2019s own cycling phenomenon, Errens Ziqubu, has yet again surpassed even his own expectations by completing his longest ride yet, from Welkom to Durban and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI did the 624 km in 15:55. Cycling is not only my passion, but it is in my DNA. I have never participated in any other sport except for cycling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_2543471f\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9736\/babf4bfadbcd483985fc6403f6779253.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/aea49f4d40c8416aa120f342ebf86339.jpg\" title=\"Ziqubu has so far done all five of the major races on the Cycling South Africa calendar. His next challenge is the 94,7 km race in Gauteng on 18 November.\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Ziqubu has so far done all five of the major races on the Cycling South Africa calendar. His next challenge is the 94,7 km race in Gauteng on 18 November.<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9736\/2601ad14be114f308057e3ee3f424c94.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/08af22032af44526a4143f2b2669aca5.jpg\" title=\"Ziqubu\u2019 s longest ride yet was from Welkom to Durban. He then also completed the return trip. \"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Ziqubu\u2019 s longest ride yet was from Welkom to Durban. He then also completed the return trip. <\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9736\/fd781cc916dd43d3bbb5695e148efa2e.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/2b37de00b75349729479543037fade3b.jpg\" title=\"Errens ZiqubuPhotos: Supplied\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Errens ZiqubuPhotos: Supplied<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI started cycling in 1998 when I was doing my matric, in those days Std 10,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ziqubu has so far done all five of the major races on the Cycling South Africa calendar, and his next challenge is the 94,7 km undertaking in Gauteng on 18 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of his big motivators is another Goldfields legend, Nkhetheni Masupa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_306508f4\">\n<div class=\"text\">\u201cHe always encourages me. Cycling needs time and love. It is not easy \u2013 but you need to keep on pushing with each ride, then train as hard as you can,\u201d he says.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe always encourages me. Cycling needs time and love. It is not easy \u2013 but you need to keep on pushing with each ride, then train as hard as you can,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ziqubu is self-motivated and driven. His love for cycling is what pushes him to greater heights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_db6144b0\">\n<div class=\"text\">\u201cI have been doing this out of my own pocket. I have no sponsor, and as you know cycling is an expensive sport. My ride for CANSA was a charity ride, and I did this solo. It is very difficult to get sponsors,\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have been doing this out of my own pocket. I have no sponsor, and as you know cycling is an expensive sport. My ride for CANSA was a charity ride, and I did this solo. It is very difficult to get sponsors,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The challenges he has completed this year include the Ride for CANSA (150 km), Virginia to Bloemfontein (130 km), Free State Championship (100 km), Amashova Durban Classic (106 km), Midvaal Fast One (100 km), Drake Events (200 km), Dis-Chem Ride for Sight (116 km), Sol Plaatjie University (SPU) Cycle Challenge (100 km), Free State Cycle Tour (100 km), and the OI Tour from Klerksdorp to Mafikeng, and back (1 340 km). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welkom\u2019s own cycling phenomenon, Errens Ziqubu, has yet again surpassed even his own expectations by completing his longest ride yet, from Welkom to Durban and back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":51174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"28f3d4e3-99af-4911-91e1-219f708fe541","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_pri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