VW eager partner of 30th Herald Cycle Tour

HERALD Cycle Tour sponsors Volkswagen are excited about their involvement as the Eastern Cape's premier cycling event celebrates its 30th anniversary next year.

It is the 11th year the motor manufacturing company will be involved in backing the Herald-Volkswagen SA Cycle Tour, which takes place on the weekend of January 31 to February 1.

The road race will take place at Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth, with the mountain bike event at the Addo Polo Club.

VWSA spokesman Matt Gennrich said the Uitenhage company was enthusiastic about the event.

"We are proud of our partnership with The Herald as joint sponsors," Gennrich said. "It is the premier cycling event in our province and VWSA believes the event speaks to its target market and shows our commitment to an active lifestyle."

He said VWSA's participation in the tour was in line with the organisation's values of excellence, respect and one team.

The cycling event's website and online entry portal will go live today. Additional information and entry forms will be available at cycling outlets in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Once again, it will be a weekend festival of cycling, with the highlights being the 106km Classic and 80km Extreme Mountain Bike Challenge.

The Ultimate Quest category, introduced in 2012, will again be open for riders wanting to conquer both the road and mountain bike races.

Herald chief marketing officer Justin Peel said the event had reached the milestone of 30 years, emphasised the support cyclists had for the race.

"It truly is a weekend festival of cycling for all levels of cyclists from all age groups," Peel said.

"As the leading newspaper in Nelson Mandela Bay, it's an honour for us to play an integral role in Port Elizabeth's premier cycling event."

With a wide variety of sponsors on board, cyclists can expect great prizes, with one lucky entrant driving away in a new VW Polo.

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