Hand-cycling gets a local push in SA
2006-02-16
IN an attempt to establish the sport of hand cycling in South Africa local sport lovers are eagerly planning the Paarl Rock International Hand Cycling Challenge.
Leading the organisation of the event is Maranda Fourie (event co-ordinator), Elrick Kulsen (national cycling coach) and paralympic medal winner in wheelchair racing, Ernst van Dyk.
“Hand cycling can be classified as an extreme sport of the disabled athlete - just a short ride on a hand cycle will convince you of this fact. Hand cycling is the fastest growing sport for disabled athletes world-wide and it is not uncommon to have some 80 cyclists competing in races in Europe,” says Fourie.
An official division for hand cycling at the Pick ’n Pay Argus Cycle Tour has already been established, giving the sport a big boost locally.
In an effort to attract top hand cyclists from overseas it was decided to establish the Paarl Rock Challenge.
“It’s always hard to travel for just one race, but we hope that by offering them a little more, we can get the numbers and the level of the competition up,” says Fourie.
The event will be held from 4 tot 12 March, (the week leading up to the Argus Cycle Tour), and consist of time-trials, road races and coaching clinics.
The hand cycling event will also be held in conjunction with the South African Road Cycling Championships.
Van Dyk hopes the Paarl event could grow in stature and in doing so be registered as the Africa-leg of the World Hand Cycling Series.
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