“The event is becoming popular with teams from all around the country, we are nearly booked out for 2025 and are considering expanding the number of participants. The cyclists and their backup teams were enthralled by their encounters with the game from their saddles along the route with buffalo, elephants, lion and all the plains’ game,” says Rotarian, Michael Henderson, project manager.
“I am very happy that we were able to involve so many of the Hoedspruit community in this year’s event. “Even the ladies at the old age home helped make the sauce for the lunch for the riders at their stop at Karula Bush Braai in Kapama,” says Henderson. He adds that it has always been Rotary’s objective to have the community involved as much as possible and to make the K2C Cycle Tour a Hoedspruit event.
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“In the chilly dark at 05:30, close to a hundred riders and their backup crews and support riders, photographers and Hoedspruit Radio FM drank coffee and ate crumpets before tackling the challenging but beautiful route. The five pelotons were horned out by Alan Partington on his very impressive kudu horn which has become an institutional start of the tour,” says Henderson. “At 16:00 the first peloton arrived as the drummers from Southern Cross Schools went into full flow to welcome them back after their long but exciting day.
“The drumming was so stirring that some of the spectators were moved to tears as they passed under the inflatable HiQ finish arch exhilarated but exhausted by their 100km ride,” says Henderson. According to Henderson most of the pelotons were filled by friends and business colleagues who come to ride and have fun together. The Super Ballies won the prize for the best group name of the event.
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Only two Rotarians took on the K2C Cycle Tour, one being Hoedspruit club past president, Wilna Mew as a backup rider, and past governor, David Grant, who is still fit and fighting at age 81. Grant won the prize for the most compassionate and oldest participant. “The other riders in his peloton said that David was an inspiration,” says Henderson. Hoedspruit Rotary will announce the amount of money raised at a Rotary awards evening to be hosted by Rotary Hoedspruit president, Christine du Preez on October 17. The date for the 2025 Rotary K2C Cycle Tour will also be confirmed at the awards evening.
