Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHILE her classmates wait anxiously for their Grade 7 results, 13-year-old Shylet Shumba is spending her days on a bicycle at the Nedbank Tour de Great Dyke riding alongside her father and coach two-time national champion Rodrick Shumba.
Shylet is among about 200 cyclists on the three-day tour, which started at Zimplats on Thursday and ends at Zvishavane on Saturday.
She joined cycling at 12 and has gained 4 medals to her name in just a year.
Rodrick, a 38-year-old professional road cyclist from Harare and Tour Captain of Tsvaira Cycling Club said he is guiding her one stage at a time.
“As her father and her coach, I told her to finish the ride. She is still young, so she can get on and off the bus, and on and off the bike. I just encourage her to ride and enjoy it,” he said.
He has won the nationals twice and is a certified UCI bike mechanic. He started riding in 2016 and began competing in 2018.
Shylet urged her agemate saying “Huyai tiwande”.
The tour also carries a cause. Organisers are raising funds for the Gifted Children Foundation, with a dollar pledged for every kilometre covered, and school pupils join the riders along the way.
