Team Garmin Mountain Bike Mount (MTB) members joined a few other cyclists on a virtual cycling challenge over the weekend.
The team members from Garmin MTB, based in Rosebank, joined other well-known South African cyclists, including Ashleigh Moolman and Jay Thompson, as they scaled new heights during the lockdown. The aim of the challenge was to help raise funds for a cycling community in the Western Cape.
South African pro-road racing cyclist, Willie Smit, led the group of fellow cyclists zig-zagging a virtual vertical Alpine route. This virtual challenge, Alpe du Zwift, is an ascent of 1 036m, reached via 21 hairpin bends, past beautiful changing terrain. The cyclists rode this route eight times, completing 240km, all while pedaling on Tacx indoor cycling trainers from the convenience of their homes.
According to Garmin’s marketing co-ordinator, Christine Devenish, virtual reality has helped keep many athletes motivated to stay active and competitive during the lockdown as a result of Covid-19.”27-year-old Smit, currently living and training in Spain, overcame a traumatic childhood, illness, and injury and has often had to dig deep to prove himself in the tough world of professional cycling. Last month he completed a 1 000km Zwift ride, covering the virtual distance in 37 hours, some of it done in the dark, in aid of raising funds for development cycling via the South African Cycling Federation,” she said.
The ride set off at 5.30am on 9 May, and was tracked online by Smit via his YouTube channel. “I want to help pave the way for future stars,” said Smit, who is working with a company in Paarl in the Western Cape to drive the development of track, road and MTB cycling.
Details: Willie Smit YouTube page
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