Craig Lewis, News24 User
For thousands of KwaZulu-Natal and South African cyclists, there will be a real sense of déjà vu at the beginning of next year when the inaugural Worlds View Challenge Cycle Tour, reminiscent of the old Rapport Tours, comes to Pietermaritzburg.
The Worlds View Challenge is an exciting new road race that will be staged in and around KZN's capital city and the midlands from February 2-7 next year. The event is recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and will feature a total of 15 international pro teams including some that have competed in the Tour de France.
The event will be an African continent first and will also be South Africa's first event with a UCI 1.1 status ranking - these events are regarded as the highest-quality events on the international cycling calendar.
Teams will compete for prize money totalling R650 000, which will be divided amongst the five races, and for points that will contribute towards the UCI Africa Tour leader board.
Unique race to be popular
Lawrence Whittaker, President of Cycling South Africa (CSA), said the CSA in partnership with Treble Entertainment (Pty) Ltd and the City of Pietermaritzburg were right behind the new initiative and believed about three of four Tour de France teams would participate in the six-day event.
"International cycling teams have been training in South Africa for years now and we are committed to bringing these professionals in their prime back to South Africa for this promising event.
"I believe this unique race will be very popular, there will be a series of five one-day race events and with the Tour de France teams and hopefully up to a 1000 cyclists taking part, we are certain it will be a great success," he added.
For these reasons, amongst others, Whittaker said he believed this would also become a world-renowned annual event. "Cycling South Africa would like to expand on this race, in years to come we hope to see maybe eight, nine or ten Tour de France teams taking part because South Africa is the perfect place for overseas cyclists to come and race during our summer months, our routes are scenic and our hospitality and accommodation is brilliant."
The five races will cover a total distance of 588.5km and will wind through the streets of Pietermartizburg, Richmond, Camperdown, New Hanover, Thornville and Wartburg amongst others.
Rapport Tour
South African cyclist and five time Rapport tour winner, Robbie McIntosh said the proposal for an international event such as the Worlds View Challenge reminded him very much of the illustrious Rapport tour.
The Rapport tour, an international cycling spectacle that lasted for more then two decades, began in the 1970's and quickly became a much loved event that drew not only hoards of South African fans but international attention as well.
McIntosh, who took part in over ten Rapport tours, said he fondly remembered the incredible support he and his team received over the two-week event. "As we moved from town to town the crowds got bigger and bigger, it was absolutely inspiring and motivating, especially because in those days you would ride up to 275k in each stage and be in the saddle for around ten hours."
If the Worlds View Challenge can enjoy the same success as that of the Rapport tours, it could be an event that puts South African cycling on the map.
Entries are now open to the general public and will be on a strict first come, first served basis.
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