FURTHER growing its #pumpforpeace initiatives in South Africa, Velosolutions has joined forces with Peschl Sports and the GO!Durban Cycle Academy to empower an all female team of young riders called Velosolutions Izimbali.
Izimbali means “flowers” or “to blossom” in Zulu.
“As this is an all-female team, we wanted the name to reflect their femininity. We believe that the name is very apt as our hope for these girls is that they will blossom into well-rounded, self-confident women, both on and off the bike,” said Shaun Peschl of Peschl Sports and Programme Director for the GO!Durban Cycle Academy.
He said previously in South Africa, there has been little to no support for African women in cycling, and there has never been a team solely dedicated to the advancement of black female riders.
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Velosolutions and #pumpforpeace believes that is it important to address this gap in the sport by creating a platform where the potential of young African women can be unlocked.
Not only is this beneficial for the empowerment of individual athletes and for the growth of cycling on the African continent, but it also has a knock-on effect in their local communities where they become role models for other girls to believe that they can achieve their dreams.
Cycling is not seen as a ‘girl’s’ sport in typical township communities, but these girls are defying stereotypes and changing perceptions of what is possible with hard work, determination and the right team of support around you.
The GO!Durban Cycle Academy was launched in 2016 as a partnership between the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) and Durban Green Corridors (DGC), a non-profit organisation.
By creating a safe space for disadvantaged youth to play and learn through sport, the programme provides free cycling training, academic support and life skills for youth aged seven to 18 at a number of bike park sites in the eThekwini region.
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Similarly to Velosolutions, the GO!Durban Cycle Academy aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle by encouraging cycling in communities, whether it be for recreation, competing or commuting.
This synergy came together with a bang in March 2018 when the first Velosolutions track in the province of KwaZulu-Natal was built in KwaDabeka, a township located 30 minutes outside of Durban. The South African qualifier event for the inaugural Red Bull Pump Track World Championships was also held there in April 2018, and the track has since become a hive of cycling activity in the community.
Claudio Caluori, Managing Director of Velosolutions said: “We are grateful for what we are able to achieve in these towns and we want to give back where we can. Durban is very close to our hearts, so it was the perfect opportunity for us to support this first black African women’s MTB team in South Africa with girls that have been developed through the GO!Durban Cycle Academy.”
Earlier this year, Peschl Sports identified the need to create an elevated team structure to fully grow the skills of the most promising riders of the GO!Durban Cycle Academy, and to give them insight and experience as to how a professional team operates. With his own background as a professional rider and manager of the Kargo-Pro MTB Team, Shaun Peschl is excited about partnering with another former professional rider (Claudio) and a brand that is as passionate about cycling development as he is.
“We are thrilled to have Velosolutions and #pumpforpeace on board for this journey. We have unearthed incredible talent through the GO!Durban Cycle Academy and we are eager to see what can be achieved with additional support from partners such as Velosolutions, who have extensive knowledge in the industry and a desire to see young cyclists thriving on the world stage,” he said.
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