FUELLED TO THE BRIM: The Herald welcomes Astron Energy as the new co-title sponsors of the 2025 edition of The Herald Cycle Tour. Getting ready for the February event are, from left, Tanya Jackson (Mountain Events), Sithsaba Xhala (Eyona Energy retail and marketing general manager), Matshepo Ramokolo (Eyona Energy sales and marketing coordinator), Berna Ulay-Walters (The Herald marketing manager) and Julie Briggs (race director). Image: Werner Hills

Having The Herald Cycle Tour fuelled by Astron Energy is an incredible chance to engage and promote health, energy and resilience to various communities.

This is according to Sithsaba Xhala, retail and marketing general manager of Eyona Energy, which is the authorised franchiser of the Astron Energy fuel brands in the Eastern Cape.

The 39th edition takes place over two action-packed weekends, starting with a return to the trails of the Addo Polo Club for the mountain bike races on February 9.

The road events take place at Pollok Beach in Gqeberha on February 15 and 16.

With options for the whole family, the Tour, which traditionally attracts about 3 000 participants and 8 000 spectators, is a celebration of cycling and the city.

Xhala said the event reflected their dedication to supporting local programmes that promoted active living and raised environmental awareness.

“It also marks a milestone in our efforts to forge stronger connections with South Africans and, in particular, Eastern Cape communities and show our dedication to making a positive effect beyond providing fuel.”

Given Astron’s strong belief in innovation, community engagement and sustainability, Xhala said The Herald Cycle Tour aligned with the brand’s values of environmental responsibility and a healthy, active lifestyle.

“We aspire to do more than just sell fuel — our goal is to be SA’s largest fuel brand that actively gives back to the communities we operate in,” he said.

“Our partnership with The Herald Cycle Tour demonstrates our dedication to this vision by building local connections, promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing our brand’s effect in the Eastern Cape.

“We hope our involvement will help foster a greater appreciation for cycling, both as a sport and a sustainable mode of transportation.”

Furthermore, Xhala hoped that their partnership would be of great benefit to the local economy by showing off the region to encourage tourism and community pride.

The Herald’s marketing manager, Berna Ulay-Walters, was thrilled to announce the partnership as Astron Energy’s commitment to excellence and community upliftment perfectly aligned with the spirit of The Herald Cycle Tour.

“The synergy between Astron Energy and The Herald exemplifies a forward-thinking approach encompassing a shared vision for a healthier and more vibrant community,” she said.

“We are excited about the possibilities this partnership brings and extend our heartfelt gratitude to the team at Astron Energy for partnering with us on this incredible journey.”

The 80km Extreme is the feature event on the off-road programme, which also offers the 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Family Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash races.

The following Sunday’s road programme is headlined by the 106km Classic for various racing categories and complemented by the 55km Adventure for age-groups and tandems. The 2km Kiddies’ Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash take place on the Saturday.

Riders tackling both feature races can enter the Ultimate Quest.

The race village will offer picnic zones, a family tent, beer garden, children’s play park, live entertainment and Standard Bank’s VIP lounges.

Besides Astron, the event has drawn support from a wide range of businesses, including top-tier sponsor Glenryck.

Other partners include the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Eastern Cape Motors Group, Standard Bank, Powerade, Town Lodge Group, Relay EMS, Talisman Hire & K&W Amusements, Trek and Cyclo Pro, Thule, Wayne Pheiffer Cycles, Coimbra, Goshawk and Omega Security.

Entrants can support the Helmet Heroes initiative, which was introduced in 2022.

It is aimed at educating and providing protection for those who live on the race route and commute by bicycle. Organisers have increased the target number of helmets earmarked for distribution.

Entries opened on November 6 and close at midday on February 3. To enter and for further information, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za.

Other queries can be directed to Ulay-Walters at ulayb@theherald.co.za.

GEARING UP: Excited for 2025’s edition of The Herald Cycle Tour are UThando Youth Cycle Academy development riders, from left, Lundi Kakana, Sihle Ningi, Luthando Fatyi (chair) and Chuma Tshayingca. To enter and support the various beneficiaries, go to www.heraldcycletour.co.za. Image: SUPPLIED

The Herald Cycle Tour will spread the love in 2025 by supporting four beneficiary organisations when the highly-anticipated event takes place early next year.

The tour consists of the popular mountain bike races, which will be held at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday, February 9, and the well-supported road races at Pollok Beach on Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16.

For the 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, riders who tackle the road and mountain bike feature races can enter as an Ultimate Quest participant.

The four charities that will be supported are Uthando Cycle Youth Academy, Bayethe Multisport Academy, Reach for a Dream Foundation and Smile Foundation.

“Together, we can harness the transformative power of cycling to foster a better future for those who need it most within our community,” The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters said.

“Each year, our ambition for The Herald Cycle Tour is to reach new heights, empowering us to better support our beneficiary riders and the vital charities we stand behind.

“By participating, we are not just cycling; we are making a tangible difference in our community – for the young development riders who aspire to cross the finish line or individuals simply eager to learn how to ride.

“Every turn of the wheel serves as a step towards strengthening our partnerships with these organisations and fostering meaningful change.”

Uthando co-founder Luthando Fatyi said donations from the 2025 event would assist the Academy to maintain its bikes while allowing members to participate in races around South Africa, including the national track championships in Cape Town.

“It means the world to us being beneficiaries of this great event that’s been part of Gqeberha for more than 35 years. It has been a great help and assisted us in getting riders to different events around the Eastern Cape and SA,” he said.

About 10 Gqeberha riders from the Academy, aged between 10 and 35, will participate in The Herald Cycle Tour in 2025. Around seven riders aged 15 to 40 and hailing from Addo, Paterson and Kirkwood will represent the Bayethe Multisport Academy.

Academy head Xola Williams said being a beneficiary again would enable it to further its mission of developing young and adult athletes in underserved communities.

“The partnership raises awareness of our programmes and brings crucial resources to enhance our training and equipment.

“The support from The Herald Cycle Tour has made it possible to invest in high-quality training, equipment and [has brought] exposure for our riders,” Williams said.

“Many of our athletes have had opportunities to participate in major events, compete at higher levels and received mentorship that they may not otherwise have had access to.

“This has accelerated their development and built confidence and discipline in each rider.”

In addition to the partnerships with these charities, The Herald Cycle Tour will again run the Helmet Heroes initiative to encourage safe cycling in the region. Participants can drop off new or preloved helmets and cycling kit at registration.

Donations will be distributed to local cyclists, commuters and development riders.

Entries close at midday on February 3. To enter, and for further information, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za.

For other queries, contact The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters at ulayb@theherald.co.za.

GEAR UP: Entries are officially open for the 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, which takes place in February 2025. To register and for more information, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za. Image: RICHARD PEARCE

Gqeberha is once again gearing up for a festival of cycling as entries for the 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour in February go live today.

The event has showcased the city for more than three decades and the 2025 action returns to the trails of the Addo Polo Club for the mountain bike races on February 9.

The following weekend, on February 15 and 16, the road races take over at Pollok Beach in the city.

The cycle tour, which traditionally attracts about 3 000 participants and more than 8 000 spectators, is uniquely positioned as a celebration of cycling and the region, with options for the whole family.

The 80km Extreme is the feature event on the off-road programme. Alongside the main race will be a 60km Adventure, 30km Leisure, 5km Kiddies’ Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash.

The road programme is highlighted by the 106km Classic for various racing categories on the Sunday. This race is supported by the 55km Adventure for age-group entrants and tandems.

The 2km Kiddies’ Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash are scheduled for the Saturday.

Riders who intend to tackle the on and off-road feature races can target the Ultimate Quest, which aims to identify the top all-rounders.

With family picnic zones, family tent, beer garden, children’s play park, live entertainment and the Standard Bank VIP lounges, the race village at the start-finish area will offer an even bigger and better family experience.

The Herald editor Rochelle de Kock said it was hoped 2025’s event would be the biggest yet.

“With every year that we have hosted this premier event on the Nelson Mandela Bay events calendar, it has grown and we’ve attracted national and international riders,” she said.

“We aim to ensure next year’s cycle tour races will be even bigger and that we can assist more beneficiary riders through the charities we will be supporting.

“With the Cycle Tour set to celebrate its 39th year since inception, we would like to encourage all cyclists, young and old, along with their families, to join us in the festivities.

“It has a positive economic impact on our city by not only benefiting the hospitality industry but also small businesses that form part of the team that organises the event to ensure its success.

“We’d like to encourage as many entries as possible, and support from our local community, to mark the 39th year of the event as the biggest and best yet.

“And, in 2026, when we celebrate year 40, we will ensure this is the cycle tour that every cyclist must tick off as a bucket list event,” she said.

It has drawn support from the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and a wide range of businesses including the Eastern Cape Motors Group, Standard Bank, Powerade, Town Lodge Group, Relay EMS, Talisman Hire, K&W Events and Amusements, Trek, Cyclo Pro, Thule, Wayne Pheiffer Cycles, Coimbra, Goshawk and Omega Security.

The event will also continue its support of worthy causes by generating funds for the Smile Foundation, Reach for a Dream, Bayethe MultiSport Academy and Uthando Youth Cycling Academy.

All road and MTB entrants will also stand the chance to win a Marlin 4 GEN2 bicycle, sponsored by Trek and Cyclo Pro, valued at R12 500.

Standard Bank road and MTB entrants also stand in line to win one Trek Top Fuel 5 (2025 model) valued at R55 000, compliments of the financial institution.

Entrants can also support The Herald’s Helmet Heroes initiative, which was introduced in 2022.

It is aimed at educating and providing protection for those who commute by bicycle.

The organisers have increased the target number of helmets earmarked for distribution to commuters on the race route.

Entries close at midday on February 3.

To enter, and for further information, visit www.heraldcycletour.co.za.

For other queries, email The Herald marketing manager Berna Ulay-Walters at ulayb@theherald.co.za.

ROARING THEM ON: Cheered on by an exuberant crowd, Team RDX rider Hanro Geldenhuys, right, claims gold in The Herald Cycle Tour Road Race yesterday, with teammate Joshua Louw coming in a close second after a sensational sprint finish in Summerstrand. Hayley Preen of Freewheel Cycology dominated the course to close out her race almost eight minutes ahead of the rest of the field. Photo: Richard Pearce

Champagne showers, celebrations and cheering fans set the tone for an exhilarating 38th instalment of The Herald Cycle Tour Road Race in Gqeberha at the weekend.

A sensational sprint finish in Summerstrand on Sunday allowed supporters to experience the competitive spirit of the more than 1,200 cyclists from across the country who lined up along Pollok Beach at dawn.

Throughout the day, riders and spectators filled the race village and lined the 106km course, with little space to move at the start-finish chute for the 2024 event as hundreds of people cheered, clapped and snapped pictures.

On the racing front, Team RDX rider Hanro Geldenhuys and Hayley Preen of Freewheel Cycology, both from Cape Town, finished in contrasting styles to claim their first and third Herald Cycle Tour road race titles, respectively.

Outstanding teamwork by the RDX riders saw Geldenhuys clinch his maiden men’s crown in a time of 2:31:54.

He edged ahead by a whisker in the final few metres of a bunch sprint to the finish to claim his first HCT 106km Coastal Classic event in a time of two hrs, 31 mins and 54 secs.

In true photo-finish style, the next two positions were split by a fraction of a second as Joshua Louw and Emile van Niekerk claimed silver and bronze, and the top five riders all finished within a second of one another.

It was a much easier affair for defending champion Preen as she crossed the line in just under three hours to add a third HCT women’s crown to her list of triumphs.

The 25-year-old cyclist’s time of 2:59:46 was nearly eight minutes ahead of second placed Juanita MacKenzie and Layla Schwellnus, who recorded times of 3:07:25 and 3:07:28 respectively.

Geldenhuys was pleased with his maiden appearance in the famous race.

“We came in with a plan — we were going to race a bit more defensively and try to take control at the finish.

“The team kept the pace high. From about 10km out we had guys doing a lot of work at the front.

“From about 4km to go, myself and Joshua moved up — the guys took beautiful care of us, maybe dropped me off a little too early,

“The plan came together today, the stars aligned and the team got away with an awesome result,” the 24-year-old said.

Preen, meanwhile, said it was a wonderful day for racing with “no wind out on the beautiful course”.

“I attacked it at about 15km in, and from there to the end it was me on my own. It was a long and lonely day out.

“I did have a bit more of a gap this year so I could relax and just see it home.”

Preen arrived in the Bay on the back of a strong showing at the SA Road Cycling Championships recently.

“I didn’t necessarily know what I was going to do very early in the race. I just tried to take note of the pace and work from there.

“There are some good climbs, so it was either I attack there or way later on the course.”

Arena Holdings Eastern Cape general manager Ryan Megaw said it was wonderful to see how the event had grown over the years.

“It’s amazing to see the cyclists coming out in their numbers to enjoy the day.

“It was a beautiful day for racing in Gqeberha and we have to thank all of our sponsors for giving us the opportunity to make this race something that really makes a difference in the city.

“We hope to keep attracting the top elite cyclists to our shores and continue the standard of growth the event has seen in the last few years,” he said.

Nelson Mandela Bay sports, recreation, arts and culture political head Bassie Kamana thanked the cyclists and supporters for being part of the event.

“The sport of cycling was the biggest winner today [Sunday]. It is partnerships like this between the private and public sectors which allow proper development to be achieved,” he said.

“Everybody is a champion, regardless of whether or not you finished the race today, because the goal of events like this is about participation of all.”

Veteran competitor Keith Meyer, 66, said he was pleased to cross the finish line to complete his 15th The Herald Cycle Tour road race.

“I have had better results before but I think I never really had the legs today.

“Being from the city, I always enjoy being a part of this race. I enjoy cycling because it keeps me fit and healthy, and I will certainly be back next year,” Meyer said.

For full results, visit the 2024 Herald Cycle Tour social media pages.

Leading results for the 106km event:

Men: 1 Hanro Geldenhuys 2:31:54, 2. Joshua Louw 2:31:54, 3. Emile van Niekerk 2:31:55, 4. Raynard Butler 2:31:55, 5. Nolan Hoffman 2:31:55.

Women: 1 Hayley Preen 2:59:46, 2. Juanita MacKenzie 3:07:30, 3. Layla Schwellnus 3:07:33, 4. Kelsey van Schoor 3:07:36, 5. Julie Walker 3:14:18.

IN GOOD SHAPE: The Herald Cycle Tour defending women’s champion, Hayley Preen, is ready to defend her title in the 106km classic on Sunday. Photo: Richard Pearce

Professional cyclist Hayley Preen will be gunning for a third crown when she lines up to tackle the 38th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour’s 106km classic in Gqeberha on Sunday.

The event, hosted in conjunction with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, will feature two race distances including the flagship 106km as well as the 55km pursuit.

Both distances will also feature tandem categories alongside the 2km and 500m junior race distances with close to 1,400 riders expected to compete across the respective distances.

Preen, a two-time HCT road race champion, was in good spirits ahead of Sunday’s race, saying her preparations had gone well and she was in good shape.

But the Freewheel Cycology rider is well aware that the win will not come without its challenges, with Bay cyclist Kelsey van Schoor also looking to put in an impressive performance in what will be her first taste of the full distance race.

“I love the race, the hospitality is always good and I love the route, in particular the second half of the course,” Preen said.

“Winning in 2020, it was a big sprint at the end and was my first win in a big race, I started sprinting from about a kilometre out, which is crazy for a sprint.

“Last year, the race started quite slowly and I just wanted things to happen, so I attacked at about 15km into the race and next thing I knew I was on my own, so I just kept going.

“The gap wasn’t too big until about halfway through the course, before the climbs which worked really well for me through the smaller road sections with a lot of turns, I pushed quite hard there and then suddenly they couldn’t see me, then the gap went from 30 seconds to about three minutes.

“So looking at Sunday, it will all depend, on the day, who is in the field and it will be exciting if it is not just a sprint finish.

“I would like to do something before we get into the finish stretch, it would be great,” she said.

Meanwhile, Van Schoor, who finished in second place in the HCT Mountain Bike race in Addo last weekend, said that gave her much confidence coming into this weekend.

“I will be going for the Ultimate Quest (fastest combined times across the mountain bike and road races), so I am pretty excited about what could happen this weekend,” Van Schoor said.

Riders must have entered for the Ultimate Quest to qualify for those placings.

“I am feeling good coming into the road race, having a little bit of racing in my legs will certainly be a bonus.

“I don’t see much difference in preparations between MTB and road racing, I suppose it’s just about making sure I am used to the position I will be in on a road bike which is different to how you would be on a mountain bike, but the training itself is pretty similar,” she said.

Looking at her potential opponents, who will be tough competitors in their own right, Van Schoor, who races under the Team Customized banner said it would be quite special if she could claim a podium finish, but knows that the stacked women’s field will not make it easy to achieve.

Meanwhile, the men’s race will see Team RDX rider Theuns van der Bank return to defend the title he won in 2023.

He will face some tough competition from the likes of former champion and Team Aluwani rider Nolan Hoffman, Rogan Smart and fellow RDX teammate Neil Rossouw, among others.

Race pack collection will take place on Friday, from 2pm until 7pm and on Saturday between 9am and 1pm, both at the race village situated at Pollok Beach.

CELEBRATION TIME: Podium finishers in the women’s 80km race of The Herald Cycle Tour MTB race at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday  are, winner Robyn de Groot,  Kelsey van Schoor, left, second,  and Sabine Spitz, third. Photo: Richard Pearce

Gqeberha mountain bike rider Sidney Strydom overcame a severe bout of cramps to be crowned champion of The Herald Cycle Tour mountain bike race in searing heat at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday.

Strydom did not let the heat spoil his plans as he crossed the finish line in a time of three hours and 29 minutes, a minute and 39 seconds ahead of Venter van der Mescht in second (3:30:40) while Patrick Brown claimed the final podium spot in 3:35:26.

In the women’s race, veteran SA cyclist Robyn de Groot showed why she was one of the most decorated cyclists, as she claimed a maiden win at the 80km event with a time of 3:40:03, ahead of Kelsey van Schoor (3:44:46) in second with Sabine Spitz taking the bronze medal in 3:50:12.

Strydom said it had been an incident-filled race as he had suffered cramps, a crash and a broken shoe along the 80km course.

“Everything that could happen, did happen, except for punctures.

“I was dropped on the pass, which already felt like a loss but then on the single track I got my breath back and caught the guys one by one; I managed to open up a gap.

“I had a crash on one of the corners and broke my shoe.

“Then the cramps came. I have never cramped that much in my life but I am happy to have pulled this one off.

“It has been a bucket list race for me for a long time,” Strydom said.

Originally from Gqeberha, Strydom, who claimed a maiden win after finishing ninth in the 2022 edition, said the win was a big step up for him; he hoped it would signal the start of many more to come.

Meanwhile, De Groot, who was racing in her first HCT Mountain Bike event was pleased with her overall performance.

“I enjoyed the route which was a nice mix of everything, coming from the Garden Route where things are wet and tacky, this is dusty and rough, but it is always nice to have a change in scenery.

“[I] thoroughly enjoyed the Zuurberg Pass climbs, the Hayterdale Trails are a treat and the descent off Zuurberg was something special.”

Commenting on the MTB culture in the Eastern Cape, De Groot said she had enjoyed the few races she had done in the Eastern Cape in the past.

“That’s the beauty of MTB, you can even come here next weekend and the conditions might be different, which will make racing feel so different.

“I have done a few races here in the Eastern Cape but never The Herald, so I’m happy to finally tick that one off.”

Having retired from professional sport, the George-based cyclist said she used these events to test race pacing strategies which she then implements with the clients she coaches, but said there was a strong possibility that she would return in 2025 for another crack.

Leading results:

80km Extreme

Men: Sidney Strydom 3:29:01, Venter van der Mescht 3:30:40 and Patrick Brown 3:35:26

Women: Robyn de Groot 3:40:03, Kelsey van Schoor 3:44:46 and Sabine Spitz 3:50:12

60km Adventure

Men: Ruan Cloete 2:14:06, Josua Wagner 2:14:07 and Lundi Kakana 2:14:12 

Women: Anriette Schoeman 2:42:34, Tracey Campbell 2:43:24 and Madeleen van Zuydam 2:45:54

30km Leisure

Men: Leon de Kock 1:06:07, Liam Garrett 1:06:09 and Craig Townsend 1:07:08

Women: Mariette Hattingh 1:11:20, Leona Smit 1:20:25 and Retha van der Berg 1:20:35