Cycle mania hits city

NAMIBIA’S premier cycling race takes place for the seventh time on Sunday and more than 1 500 cyclists are expected to take part.

The organisers of The Namibian Model Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic yesterday indicated that over 1 300 cyclists had already registered for the race, and more entries are expected tomorrow. Cyclists will compete over distances of 30, 65 and 100 kilometres on Sunday.The event is organised by the Windhoek Rotary Club and Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP), and sponsored by The Namibian and Model Pick ‘n Pay.This year’s biggest attraction will once again be Mannie Heymans, who is Namibia’s leading cyclist on the international front.Heymans was due to race in the Tour de Windhoek, which started in the capital late yesterday, with another top rider, Jacques Celliers, also in the mix.The hot favourite among the women is defending champion Heletje van Staden, who has developed into an exceptional cyclist and has won major national and international events in her age group.The Windhoek High School pupil will be challenged for the title by her older sister, Jowina van Staden, in the gruelling 100-km race.While the serious riders compete on the two longer routes, the 30-km route provides an opportunity to mere mortals to enjoy the day in a non-competitive way.The Namibian Model Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic also has a kiddies’ race, which takes place on Saturday.In the first Cycle Classic in 2003, the kiddies’ race attracted 137 children, while 180 children entered the following year.This year, hopes are high that participation in the kiddies’ race will hit the 200 mark.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.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 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 organisers are bringing a group of cyclists from the North by bus to take part in the event.Windhoek Pedal Power and Windhoek Rotary Club will cover the accommodation costs for the visitors and provide suitable bicycles for those who do not have one.This is the social responsibility aspect of the event, making the sport more accessible to less privileged cyclists and promoting cycling in Namibia.A number of participants, from Windhoek and the rural areas, will be taking part on bicycles without gears.To motivate these cyclists, there will be special prizes for the ten first cyclists on non-geared bicycles who finish in each of the three distance categories.They will each receive a bicycle with gears at the prize-giving ceremony after the race on Sunday.Cyclists will compete over distances of 30, 65 and 100 kilometres on Sunday.The event is organised by the Windhoek Rotary Club and Windhoek Pedal Power (WPP), and sponsored by The Namibian and Model Pick ‘n Pay.This year’s biggest attraction will once again be Mannie Heymans, who is Namibia’s leading cyclist on the international front.Heymans was due to race in the Tour de Windhoek, which started in the capital late yesterday, with another top rider, Jacques Celliers, also in the mix.The hot favourite among the women is defending champion Heletje van Staden, who has developed into an exceptional cyclist and has won major national and international events in her age group.The Windhoek High School pupil will be challenged for the title by her older sister, Jowina van Staden, in the gruelling 100-km race.While the serious riders compete on the two longer routes, the 30-km route provides an opportunity to mere mortals to enjoy the day in a non-competitive way.The Namibian Model Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic also has a kiddies’ race, which takes place on Saturday.In the first Cycle Classic in 2003, the kiddies’ race attracted 137 children, while 180 children entered the following year.This year, hopes are high that participation in the kiddies’ race will hit the 200 mark.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.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 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 organisers are bringing a group of cyclists from the North by bus to take part in the event.Windhoek Pedal Power and Windhoek Rotary Club will cover the accommodation costs for the visitors and provide suitable bicycles for those who do not have one.This is the social responsibility aspect of the event, making the sport more accessible to less privileged cyclists and promoting cycling in Namibia.A number of participants, from Windhoek and the rural areas, will be taking part on bicycles without gears.To motivate these cyclists, there will be special prizes for the ten first cyclists on non-geared bicycles who finish in each of the three distance categories.They will each receive a bicycle with gears at the prize-giving ceremony after the race on Sunday.