Cycle stars rake in awards
Members from the GO!Durban Cycle Academy took the top three positions at a race in Shongweni recently.
The GO!Durban Cycle Academy team is fast becoming a group to watch as they notched up impressive podium appearances at the Roag Stihl Sharks Classic in Shongweni recently.
The academy was launched by the eThekwini Municipality in January this year to encourage and develop a culture of cycling in the city.
The team started with humble beginnings in the F batch in their first races this year and started this race in the C batch and six of the riders made it into the A batch and claimed the top three positions in the junior category as well as first place in the U16 category.
“This would be the first podium the boys have achieved and it’s really amazing to see them so fired up and excited,” said the team’s manager, Shaun Peschl of Peschlsports Pro Development, official mentors of the GO!Durban Cycling Academy.
“It’s been a great team effort from all sides with partners GO!Durban and the Durban Green Corridor management, as well as all the coaches from Peschlsports and the three GO!Durban Cycle Academy sites in KwaMashu, eNanda and KwaDabeka,” said Shaun. “I really think that we are now ready to get five of our female riders on the start line in the races next year. Thanks must go to the collective team effort that supports these development riders,” he added.
The GO!Durban Cycle Academy team results for juniors were: Blessing Ndlovu (first), Sabelo Ngcono (second), Collin Gumede (third) and Lungani Mbambo (sixth). Linda Maphanga took top honours in the U16 category with Mmeli Ndimande, a Durban Green Corridor Coach, taking ninth place in the U23 category.
