Tour d'Afrique epic ends in Cape Town
14 May 2009
After four months of cycling across Africa, 51 riders from 11 countries taking part the 2009 Tour d'Afrique Bicycle Race and Expedition crossed the finishing line at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on Saturday, 9 May.
The Tour d'Afrique features 96 cycling days or stages, averaging 123 kilometres each. The stages are broken up by 22 rest days and two days of travel for a total of 120 days.
Three different categories of riders took part:
Route
The route started in Egypt and passed through, in order, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia before finishing in South Africa.
After watching the finishers cover the last few metres of an epic journey, Henry Gold, the founder of the Tour d'Afrique, which claims to be the most gruelling cycling event in the world, commented: "The sense of achievement felt by each and every participant cycling those last few meters of the 12 000-kilometre event is beyond words.
"It is one of those rare moments in life when everything seems to be crystal clear, when you feel secure about yourself, your life path, your place in the world and when you say to yourself 'After this, I can do anything'."
South African winners
In the men's race, South African riders Allan Benn, Bruce McPhail and Tim Gane finished first, second, and third respectively, while another South African, Taryn Laurie, won the women's race.
The annual trans-continental bicycle race-expedition, which travels from Cairo to Cape Town through 10 African countries, was officially welcomed by the acting executive Cape Town mayor Grant Haskin, who presented the riders with their medals.
"It has been an amazing journey and we are very proud of the cyclists and their accomplishments on this tour," said tour director Shanny Hill. "We're honoured that the mayor was able to be part of our celebrations and that so many people came to welcome us."
'What an incredible adventure'
"What an incredible adventure!" said Ethan Gelber, Lonely Planet author and one of two Lonely Planet relay team riders to complete the final section from Namibia to Cape Town.
"Although I was only present for 1 700 kilometres, I am proud to have carried across the finish line the powerful impressions and well wishes of all 16 Lonely Planet participants, all wishing they could have tackled more than they did."
While the Tour d'Afrique is first and foremost an endurance event for professional and amateur cyclists alike, it also takes an active part in charities. The Tour assists ill people in some of the poorest nations in the world and also helps to promote the bicycle as a viable means of transportation.
The Bicycling Empowerment Network
"Over the past five years, together with BEN (The Bicycling Empowerment Network) and other partners, the Tour d'Afrique Foundation has donated and distributed over 1 000 bicycles to HIV/Aids Health Care Workers throughout Africa," said Gold.
"But preserving the environment and combating global warming by cycling, walking and using public transport as often as possible is the message we hope to convey."
Louis de Waal, the chairman of BEN, said: "We applaud the cyclists of the Tour d'Afrique for their efforts to prove that it is possible to cross the length of an entire continent by bicycle. We could all take the lead and make a real difference in our communities by following their example."
Acting mayor Haskin commented: "Cities all over the world realize that a rational approach towards sustainable transportation is essential for the future of the planet and the health of its people.
"We are working closely with BEN and the Non-Motorized Transportation Committee to turn Cape Town into a cycle-friendly city and in the process, secure a more sustainable and healthy home for us all in the Western Cape."
Registration for the Tour d'Afrique 2010 has already opened.
SAinfo reporter and Tour d'Afrique
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