adminSenior Sports Reporter
ELITE riders at this year’s edition of the Tour de Falcon, an annual bicycle race between Esigodini and Bulawayo, will have to cycle double the distance for honours.The race is set for 5 July.
Over the years, the top riders from Zimbabwe and outside the country have cycled the normal 56km from Bulawayo to Falcon College in Esigodini but this year they will race from Esigodini to Bulawayo and back to the institution of higher learning.
Peter Ward, who doubles up as the chairman of the Falcon College parents assembly as well as board member for the private school, said the challenge for the riders had been doubled due to demand, adding that the event will this year be sponsored by Coghlan and Welsh, a city law firm and Nissan Clover Leaf.
Ward said other companies had also chipped in with the provision of various prizes.
The normal race is made up of 56km with an off road option of 60km.
“For the elite race this year the distance is 112km, the elite riders want a challenge that is why we have increased the distance. They are starting off at Falcon College gate to Bulawayo, turn around somewhere in the city then back to Falcon. We are also going to have fun runs of 5km, 10km and a 21km half marathon on the same day. We are expecting over 500 entries, we had 502 last year so we are aiming to increase the numbers,’’ said Ward.
One of Zimbabwe’s top road racing cyclists Nkulumo Dube is the defending champion in the elite riders section. According to Lee McNab, a co-ordinator of elite race, other cyclists expected to give Dube a run for his money include, Dave Martin, Bright Chiponga, Ralph Mthupha, Thomas Classen, Knowledge Khuphe, Miguel dos Santos in the elite riders segment.
A total of 21 men and two women competed in the elite riders section last year.
The Tour de Falcon, which is in its 12th year, is a family fun day that is held around the same time as the start of the Tour de France which gets under way on 4 July.
Registration will open two weeks before the day of the race, and will close on the eve of the race.
Online Reporter