The Western Province Cycling Association hosted its Western Province League Circuit Race in the Atlantis Industrial area on Sunday 17 June.
It was a closed circuit race of 7,7 km, in which Category 1, 2 and 3 cyclists were competing as well as other age groups.
These events are used for time trials and talent identification, so that cyclists can be selected to represent the Western Province for cycling events, and in particular the Youth Festival coming up in July in Oudtshoorn.
The Sports Trust, an independent non-profit organisation established jointly by the private and public sectors in 1994, has been given sponsorship and branding rights for Sunday’s race, and is bringing along 120 development cyclists who participate in its schools programme, which is sponsored by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and Nedbank, and this programme is endorsed by Cycling South Africa.
This programme has been in existence for 12 years, and gives these cyclists an opportunity to compete in these League races as well as other events such as Cape Town Cycle Tour and the various Community Cycle races that are hosted in the communities where these schools are based. Schools who form part of the development programme include Beacon Hill Secondary, Oval North Secondary, and Tafelsig Secondary in Mitchell’s Plain, Phoenix Secondary in Manenberg, Crystal High in Hanover Park, Matthew Goniwe Memorial High in Khayelitsha, Scottsville Secondary in Kraaifontein, Diazville Secondary in Saldanha, Steynville Secondary in Piketberg, Orchard Primary in De Doorns and the De Doorns Development Club.
There is also an opportunity for talent identification and we work closely with the various governing bodies and Cycling SA to assist them with transformation in sport through our programme. Mike Tippett currently manages this programme.
