Hunter, McLean team up for charity
Brad Morgan
3 October 2008
Two of South Africa's most prominent cycling personalities will be aiming to win R100 000 for charity in the Pick 'n Pay Amashovashova National Classic cycle race this year, after narrowly missing out on achieving their goal in 2007.
The duo - Robert Hunter, the first South African to win a stage of the Tour de France, and Andrew McLean, a veteran who can still mix it up with the younger men and a man who is one of the most influential in South African cycling as a presenter of SuperCycling on television – will ride a tandem from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and attempt to crack the two hour, 20 minutes barrier. If they do so, charity wins.
Last year the target was two hours and 15 minutes, but a nasty north-easterly wind derailed their attempt, although their finishing time of two hours, 16 minutes and 52 seconds was very impressive nonetheless.
Route
The route from the KwaZulu-Natal capital to Durban covers 106 kilometres and the race takes place on 19 October. Hunter and McLean will line up alongside about 5 000 other entrants in the longer distance race; a shorter event, for those not up to the full distance, begins in Hillcrest.
The public can support the pair through Pick 'n Pay's charity portal – Race4Change – which raises funds for different charities, including cycling development.
Even though the target for Hunter and McLean will be a little less stringent this time around, it remains a serious challenge. Their 2007 time was a record time for the race.
Wind too strong
McLean recalled the event for the Daily News, saying: "We killed ourselves from the start last year. We were on our own from the gun and knew we had to hit that first climb up Fox Hill fast and then use the rolling terrain and downhills to our advantage after that. But the wind was too strong for us to keep that pace up in the final 30 kilometres."
He is hoping for some assistance on 19 October and has called on other tandems to help him and Hunter better the target of two hours and 20 minutes.
"If one or two other strong tandems can get over the first climb with us and can share the pace with us, I'm sure we can do it this year," said McLean.
'R100 000 for those in need'
"Again, the wind will be a factor if it is blowing, which it usually is that time of year, but really, our goal is to try and earn R100 000 for those in need."
The Amashovashova is one of South Africa's leading mass participation cycling events. The country leads the world in terms of these races.
The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, raced around Cape Town, is the largest individually timed race in the world, while the Pick 'n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge, raced around Johannesburg, is not far behind in numbers. The Pick ‘n Pay Amashovashova National Classic is KwaZulu-Natal's answer to those two events.
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