Cape Town - For the first time in more than 20 years the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour has taken on a new naming rights sponsor – Momentum, one of South Africa’s top financial services companies.
David Bellairs, the sponsorship and marketing director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust which organises the event, made the announcement at a press briefing on Monday.
Cape Argus editor Jermaine Craig and Malcolm Mycroft, general manager of marketing at Pick n Pay, welcomed Momentum as a co-sponsor.
Craig said the sponsorship team looked forward to see the tour “growing from strength to strength and reaching even greater heights in the future” with the co-sponsor’s help.
On Monday, Bellairs outlined the schedule for this year’s Cycle Tour, which takes place on March 9. He said the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Lifecycle Week, from March 1, would accommodate cyclists and enthusiasts who might not be interested in or capable of taking part in the main event. The week starts with the Mountain Bike Challenge at the Le Bonheur Estate on March 1 and 2.
On day one amateur riders will tackle the 14km and 22km routes, which is limited to 1 000 entrants, while day two is for more competitive and professional riders, who will take on the 38km and 55km routes. The field here is limited to 2 000 entrants.
The Lifecycle Expo at the Good Hope Centre opens on March 6 with 240 stands. More than 70 000 visitors are expected to visit the expo.
One of the aims of the Cycle Tour is to encourage new entrants to get involved in the sport.
The Tricycle and Junior Tours, scheduled to take place at Youngsfield Military Base in Wynberg on March 8, presents an opportunity for youngsters to ride in a safe and controlled environment. The tours target age groups 0 to 6 and 6 to 12.
Each year the Cycle Tour places an emphasis in reserving slots for riders who raise money for a registered charity. Ensuring the environmental integrity of the route is also important – last year the Cycle Tour organisers recycled 98 percent of the waste produced during the Lifecycle Week.
“It is also important for us to sustain and encourage the image of the Cycle Tour as an iconic event on the international cycling calender. Lastly, we want to create a supportive environment for those novice cyclists, to ensure that the sport continues to grow,” Bellairs said.
In another first invited entrants will be allowed to do the Cycle Tour twice – after they finish the first lap and before the last group of participants take off from the CBD.
Cape Argus