Cycle Classic deadline looms

ENTRIES for the annual The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic close on Saturday, October 8.All cycling enthusiasts who have not yet submitted their applications have until Saturday to do so.

The race, which will be held for the sixth consecutive year, takes place on October 16. Entries can be submitted at Cycles Wholesale, Cycletec, Cymot, Cycology Cycle, any of the 12 Model Pick and Pay outlets and at the offices of The Namibian, while entry forms can also be obtained there.The event is organised by the Windhoek Rotary Club and Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP).The 2003 race had the highest number of participants – 1 490.Last year, 1 420 cyclists participated.In the inaugural year, only 750 cyclists registered to take part in the event, which takes place over distances of 30, 60 and 100 kilometres.Each cyclist who completes the race in the cut-off time of five hours receives a medal and each cyclist will also receive a goodie bag containing promotional items of the various sponsors.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic launched its first kiddies’ race in 2003, and saw 137 children taking part, while the following year a total of 180 children were entered.This year’s Kiddies Classic will take place on October 15, the day on which they will also register.This year, hopes are high that the participation for the kiddies’ race will hit the 200 mark, while the main race is expected to attract at least 1 500 cyclists.One of the best parts of the race is that the first 600 entrants will be given free T-shirts for the race.According to a press release by the organisers, the main purpose of the race is to raise funds for the many community projects in which the Windhoek Rotary Club is involved.”The second reason is to offer the community of Windhoek and Namibia a major cycling event, where people from different communities can get together and have fun.We visited many schools in and around Windhoek and each year offer each school free entries and at times receive more than ten entries,” they say.The offer is also extended to schools outside Windhoek through the Ministry of Sport.Each year, the organisers bring in cyclists from the Tuyeni Cycling Club in Oshakati and transport is organised for them.The race also serves as a pre-qualification for the annual Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour and it is as the only pre-qualifying race outside South Africa.For pre-qualifying, cyclists who finish the race in a specific time receive a seeding in the Cycle Tour.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic came about after Rotarian David Chase decided that the Windhoek Rotary Club should organise a race in Windhoek similar to the one in Cape Town.”We want to have cyclists from every corner of Namibia taking part in the Cycle Classic.Our main drive is to see that we have a large number,” the organisers say.Entries can be submitted at Cycles Wholesale, Cycletec, Cymot, Cycology Cycle, any of the 12 Model Pick and Pay outlets and at the offices of The Namibian, while entry forms can also be obtained there.The event is organised by the Windhoek Rotary Club and Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP).The 2003 race had the highest number of participants – 1 490.Last year, 1 420 cyclists participated.In the inaugural year, only 750 cyclists registered to take part in the event, which takes place over distances of 30, 60 and 100 kilometres.Each cyclist who completes the race in the cut-off time of five hours receives a medal and each cyclist will also receive a goodie bag containing promotional items of the various sponsors.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic launched its first kiddies’ race in 2003, and saw 137 children taking part, while the following year a total of 180 children were entered.This year’s Kiddies Classic will take place on October 15, the day on which they will also register.This year, hopes are high that the participation for the kiddies’ race will hit the 200 mark, while the main race is expected to attract at least 1 500 cyclists.One of the best parts of the race is that the first 600 entrants will be given free T-shirts for the race.According to a press release by the organisers, the main purpose of the race is to raise funds for the many community projects in which the Windhoek Rotary Club is involved.”The second reason is to offer the community of Windhoek and Namibia a major cycling event, where people from different communities can get together and have fun.We visited many schools in and around Windhoek and each year offer each school free entries and at times receive more than ten entries,” they say.The offer is also extended to schools outside Windhoek through the Ministry of Sport.Each year, the organisers bring in cyclists from the Tuyeni Cycling Club in Oshakati and transport is organised for them.The race also serves as a pre-qualification for the annual Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour and it is as the only pre-qualifying race outside South Africa.For pre-qualifying, cyclists who finish the race in a specific time receive a seeding in the Cycle Tour.The Namibian Model Pick and Pay Cycle Classic came about after Rotarian David Chase decided that the Windhoek Rotary Club should organise a race in Windhoek similar to the one in Cape Town.”We want to have cyclists from every corner of Namibia taking part in the Cycle Classic.Our main drive is to see that we have a large number,” the organisers say.