RIDING CONFIDENTLY: The Herald Cycle Tour participants are assured of top-notch emergency and medical care in the MTB and Road races, thanks to our official partner, Relay EMS. Image: RICHARD PEARCE

It’s all systems go for The Herald Cycle Tour fuelled by Astron Energy 2025, with the mountain bike races taking place this Sunday at the Addo Polo Club.

The road races will be held next Saturday and Sunday (February 15 and 16) at Pollok Beach.

With specialist teams working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this one of the most epic cycle tours in the country, the safety of the 3,000 participants in the various races, as well as spectator safety, will be a priority on both weekends.

Relay EMS will again provide top-tier emergency medical care for The Herald Cycle Tour participants, continuing its partnership with the event since 2020.

“As the official medical service partner, Relay EMS will ensure medical safety throughout the race events, offering a fully-equipped medical centre, ambulances, motorbikes, and response vehicles,” Relay EMS special medical services manager Julia Brits said.

“Relay EMS also focuses on pre-race planning to identify high-risk areas and ensure efficient response during the event.

“Relay EMS was pivotal in a life-saving incident during the 2020 race when a cyclist suffered cardiac arrest, highlighting the importance of our quick, skilled response.”

For the 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour, riders who tackle both feature races for road and mountain bikes can enter as Ultimate Quest participants.

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.

Next weekend’s road programme is headlined by the 106km Classic for various racing categories, complemented by the 55km Adventure for age groups and tandems.

The 2km Kiddies’ Ride and 500m Toddlers’ Dash take place on the Saturday.

Relay EMS will provide a fully equipped medical centre at the finish line for both weekends, as well as ambulances for the lead races and at strategic points along the routes.

Medical personnel will be stationed at the finish line, and a sweeper ambulance will ensure that no cyclists are left on the routes.

These resources will be co-ordinated from the Venue Operations Centre (Voc).

“The Voc is set up to allow us to live-track all our vehicles along the course, and our extensive digital private radio network will enable us to communicate directly with our crews.

“Any incidents along the route are communicated to the Voc; the Voc will then allocate the closest resource to the incident, ensuring we respond as quickly as possible,” Brits said.

Relay EMS will also have water points at both events.

“Ensuring the safety and care of all cyclists is our top priority; Relay EMS is prepared for any medical situation, and we are proud to serve this iconic cycling event again.”

Online entries for the races have closed, however, late entries will be available at the registration tent on Friday at Pollok Beach from 2-6pm (for the MTB races) and on February 14 and 15 at Pollok Beach from 2-6pm and 9-1pm respectively (for the road races).

To support your favourite riders and come share in the fun, find out more by visiting www.heraldcycletour.co.za

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

ENJOYING THE RIDE: Cyclists tackle a hill in Maitlands during The Herald Cycle Tour. Image: Richard Pearce

In support of community and connection, Telkom announced its sponsorship of The Herald Cycle Tour 2025.

Excitement is building up for the most popular cycling festival in the Eastern Cape — The Herald Cycle Tour, with mountain bike races taking place at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday February 9, and the much-anticipated road races at Pollok Beach on Saturday February 15 and Sunday February 16.

The Herald Cycle Tour traditionally attracts about 3,000 participants and 8,000 spectators from across SA and is a family-friendly outdoor event that is a firm favourite on the sporting calendar in the region.

Building and connecting communities is a fundamental aspect of The Herald Cycle Tour's value proposition.

As SA's leading technology service provider, Telkom is well-positioned to foster these connections.

“At Telkom, we recognise the importance of health and wellness as essential pillars of vibrant communities. Through our sponsorship of the Herald Cycle Tour, we are committed to promoting active lifestyles and supporting initiatives that inspire individuals to prioritise their physical wellbeing,” Telkom chief marketing officer Gugu Mthembu said.

“This partnership also affirms our commitment to championing a better life for all through sports and technology.”

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

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.

“By leveraging technology and meaningful activations, we aim to create memorable experiences, amplify brand visibility, and demonstrate how Telkom continues to enable possibilities where people, passion, and progress intersect.

“The Herald Cycle Tour is the perfect platform to showcase our dedication to these values while connecting with communities in a meaningful way,” Mthembu said.

The race village will offer an array of activities for the whole family — picnic zones, family tents, beer garden, kiddies play park, live entertainment and Standard Bank’s VIP lounges.

The Herald Cycle Tour has drawn support from a wide range of businesses, including top-tier sponsors Telkom and Astron Energy.

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

The four charities supported by The Herald Cycle Tour 2025 are Uthando Cycle Youth Academy, Bayethe Multisport Academy, the Reach for a Dream Foundation and Smile Foundation.

Entries will 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.

OFFERING REFRESHMENT: Powerade, proud hydration sponsors of The Herald Cycle Tour, are here to keep riders refreshed every pedal of the way. From left are Powerade’s Victoria Mini, Janet Maree and Brendon Prince at last year’s race. Image: Richard Pearce

With the race days getting closer and closer, The Herald Cycle Tour, fuelled by Astron Energy 2025 is building up to be a fantastic sporting event for the Eastern Cape.

Mountain bike races take place at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday, February 9 and the popular road races from Pollok Beach are gearing up to be a highly contested, family-friendly weekend on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16.

As the official hydration sponsor of The Herald Cycle Tour, Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA) will again provide refreshment stations at the mountain bike and road races in the various categories cyclists will participate in over the upcoming race weekends.

CCBSA special events team leader Brendon Prince said CCBSA is proud to support The Herald Cycle Tour as a long-standing partner because of the companies’ shared commitment to promoting active lifestyles, wellness, and community engagement.

“Cycling embodies qualities such as endurance, determination, and perseverance, and CCBSA recognises the importance of hydration in achieving peak performance.

“Through this partnership, the company ensures that participants have access to Powerade, a high-quality hydration solution to fuel their ride and optimise their performance,” Prince said.

In addition to the hydration stations along the routes and drinks at the finish line, CCBSA will also provide refreshment options at the family picnic zones, tents, beer gardens, and lounges.

“CCBSA will play an integral role in the success of The Herald Cycle Tour by providing strategically placed hydration stations along the route.

“These stations ensure riders stay refreshed and maintain optimal performance with Powerade, a scientifically designed sports drink that replenishes electrolytes and supports endurance,” Prince said.

Powerade is specifically formulated to aid energy recovery, and support peak physical performance, making it an invaluable partner for cyclists striving to reach their full potential.

“Hydration is essential in every rider’s fitness journey as it directly influences performance, endurance, and recovery. Proper hydration ensures that the body maintains optimal temperature regulation, cardiovascular function, and muscle efficiency during physical exertion,” Prince said.

Don’t miss out on this exciting cycling event, with entries closing 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.

UNPARALLELED HOSPITALITY: Cyclist Kelsey van Schoor enjoys a hearty breakfast at Town Lodge Gqeberha, official accommodation sponsor of The Herald Cycle Tour. Image: WERNER HILLS

The weekend of February 14-16 is not only Valentine’s weekend, but also the dates for the road races of The Herald Cycle Tour, fuelled by Astron Energy, in Gqeberha.

Offering more than one good reason to break away to the Friendly City, visitors need to look no further than Town Lodge Gqeberha in Summerstrand for all their accommodation needs as the official road race accommodation sponsor and partner for The Herald Cycle Tour 2025.

Town Lodge Gqeberha is sponsoring 40 single and/or double rooms for the weekend of The Herald Cycle Tour’s road races (Saturday February 15 and Sunday February 16 from Pollok Beach), in addition to providing preferential rates for out-of-town riders and spectators.

This follows the mountain bike races of The Herald Cycle Tour 2025 which take place the previous weekend on Sunday February 9 at the Addo Polo Club.

Hotel general manager Glenn Pappin said the preferential rates applied for the period February 1-16 at Town Lodge Gqeberha.

“A major sporting event like The Herald Cycle Tour is an excellent platform to showcase Gqeberha and its surrounds, boosting visitor numbers, increasing spend in hotels, restaurants and other businesses, and, overall, shining a light on the many wonderful local attractions,” Pappin said.

He added that City Lodge Hotels, conveniently located along the route of the iconic cycle race, was proud to be associated with The Herald Cycle Tour 2025.

“We offer six hotels in the Eastern Cape, representing all four of our brands — Courtyard Hotel, City Lodge Hotel, Town Lodge and Road Lodge.

“Each brand has a property in Summerstrand. We look forward to hosting cyclists, their entourages and families each year.”

Town Lodge Gqeberha is ideally situated close to the Boardwalk Mall and excellent restaurants, while some of the best beaches in the city are all within walking distance.

The hotel offers fast and reliable wi-fi, a 14-seater boardroom, a sparkling pool and deck, plus a sundowner bar with spectacular views of the ocean.

“Gqeberha has successfully hosted many sporting events and this is no doubt due to its pleasant year-round weather, world-class facilities, diverse geographical features like beaches and the warm ocean, trails and lush foliage, and its role as the economic hub in the Eastern Cape,” Pappin said.

“For those keen to make a holiday out of it, there is a lot to see and do in the area.”

In addition, on race weekend the race village will offer picnic zones, a family tent, beer garden, kiddies play park, live entertainment and Standard Bank’s VIP lounges.

Riders and spectators can also look forward to exciting race village activations by platinum sponsor Telkom, as well as co-naming sponsor Astron Energy.

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.

READY FOR ACTION: The Eastern Cape Motors Ford team will once again be backing The Herald Cycle Tour 2025 showcasing a line-up of their latest prime Ford vehicles. Riders from this year's edition showing their support are, from left, Helene Nepgen, Caroline Viljoen, Karen Barnard and Nigel Ladwig of ECMG. Image: Richard Pearce

The Eastern Cape Motor Group (ECM) will once again provide valuable operational support as the official vehicle sponsor for the upcoming The Herald Cycle Tour, fuelled by Astron Energy 2025.

The 39th edition of The Herald Cycle Tour includes mountain bike races at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday February 9, and road races at Pollok Beach on Saturday February 15 and Sunday February 16.

The prime Ford line-up of the latest vehicles on the market is bound to turn some heads as support vehicles, which include lead vehicles for the elite riders, as well as other vehicles tasked with route checks, route markings and other travel logistics.

ECM North End dealer principal Dale Cuthbert said the group was proud to be associated with this world-class event and looking forward to a great turnout, and some “good, clean fun for the whole family to enjoy”.

“We have had an outstanding long-standing relationship with The Herald, and The Herald Cycle Tour for many years, basically from the beginning.

“It has always been an honour to be part of this event. The level of excellence of the event delivered by the organisers makes it a pleasure for us to partner as ‘Delivering Excellence’ is very much a part of our DNA,” Cuthbert said.

Partnering with the 2025 The Herald Cycle Tour also makes perfect sense for ECM because of its drive to support local.

“Partnering with a real, home-grown Eastern Cape event and seeing how well it has grown over the years makes it very easy for us as a group to keep our partnership.

“The participant numbers have grown exponentially along with the entrants and visitors from various other parts of the country.”

Some of the ECM-sponsored vehicles that will support The Herald Cycle Tour 2025 are the Next-Gen Ford Ranger (Single Turbo and Bi-Turbo variants across the range), Next Gen Ford Everest (Adventure vehicle of the Year), All New Ford Territory (known for its space and versatility), and the underestimated, punch-packing Ford Puma (available in Titanium and ST derivatives).

Entries for the Herald Cycle Tour close at midday on February 3.

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

Riders who tackle both feature races for road and mountain bikes can enter as an Ultimate Quest participant.

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

FUELLING CHAMPIONS: The Herald is thrilled to announce Glenryck as a top-tier partner of the 2025 edition of The Herald Cycle Tour. Here, cycle tour rider Royce Griffon refuelling with a powerhouse high-protein recovery meal after a gruelling training ride. Image: BERNA ULAY-WALTERS

Riders of The Herald Cycle Tour, fuelled by Astron Energy 2025 will be getting a healthy protein boost from Glenryck, which is supporting the 39th edition of the popular Eastern Cape racing event.

The Herald Cycle Tour consists of mountain bike races at the Addo Polo Club on Sunday February 9, and road races at Pollok Beach on Saturday February 15 and Sunday February 16.

Glenryck is a great fit for the cycle tour, since the brand is focused on promoting wellness, accessible nutrition, and community connection, Glenryck sales executive Sakkie Luther said.

“Glenryck is proud to support The Herald Cycle Tour because we believe in building healthier communities and fostering memorable experiences through active lifestyles.

“This partnership aligns with our mission to encourage wellness and engagement within the community.

“By offering high-quality, nutrient-dense foods, we make balanced, active living more attainable, supporting overall wellness for individuals and families alike,” Luther said.

Glenryck products deliver essential nutrients, including lean protein and omega-3s, which support athletes, like cyclists, by sustaining energy levels and endurance.

“Our products offer lean protein, which is crucial for muscle endurance and recovery.

“During long rides, Glenryck’s protein content helps maintain muscle mass and wards off fatigue, while omega-3s promote joint health and reduce inflammation, enhancing both endurance and comfort,” Luther said.

African Pioneer Marine (APM) acquired the brand Glenryck in 2020, and the South African icon has been around for more than 80 years.

“Looking ahead, Glenryck anticipates a growing focus on personalised nutrition for athletes, with an emphasis on sustainable, high-quality protein sources.

“As athletes increasingly recognise the impact of diet on both their performance and recovery, we expect trends toward nutrient-dense foods that not only fuel endurance but also support long-term health.

“We’re excited to provide cyclists with nutritious, ethically sourced options that align with this evolving approach to athlete wellness,” Luther said.

Entries for the Herald Cycle Tour 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.