Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sunday News Reporter
ORGANISERS of the Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke have sent the last call for registration to participate at this year’s edition of the cycle race, as the deadline for entries is tomorrow.
The 320km race starts on 2 November at the Zimplats Complex at Selous and ends on 4 November in Zvishavane. The cyclists will ride through Chegutu and Kadoma before resting for the night in Kwekwe on Thursday.
On Friday they will resume the tour and cycle through Gweru before putting up for the night in Shurugwi.
The home stretch is from Shurugwi to Zvishavane where the awards ceremony will be held.
Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke event director Gabriel Choga said the close of registration tomorrow (Monday) will allow the organisers to finalise logistics. Choga encouraged interested cyclists to take advantage of the time left to register for the premier cycling event.
“We know many cyclists still want to participate as we have been receiving many inquiries daily. However, to deal with logistical arrangements we have to close registration by the end of business on Monday, 30 October 2023. My advice is that those cyclists who want to participate can use the time between now and Monday to register and achieve their ambition of participating in such an exciting tour that promotes wellness, opportunity, and charity,” said Choga.
Race organisers said registration for the tour can be done online on the portal https://tourdegreatdyke.com.
The community mobilisation co-ordinator, Paralympian Elliot Mujaji said that preparations are progressing well and they have managed to rally local communities along the tour route who have pledged to come out in their numbers to support the cyclists.
“We have moved through Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe, and Gweru. Communities are excited about the tour and can’t wait to see the cyclists ride through or make pit stops in their towns and cities. The community anticipation is extremely high and several schools are already lined up to cheer the daring cyclists,” said Mujaji.
On the route, organisers said there will be pit stops and activations done by YAFM in Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe, and Gweru for sponsors and other stakeholders.
The Tour de Great Dyke was launched in 2016 to promote miners’ wellness and raise awareness of the investment opportunities in the 550km long, 12km wide Great Dyke geological complex. Nedbank is the title sponsor of the 2023 edition with other partners being Cimas, Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe,
Econet Wireless, Simbisa Brands, Exide Batteries, Sterling Hotels, Dandemutande, Pote Holdings and the Midlands State University.
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