Ambassadors Add International Touch To Bestmed Tshwane Classic

Ambassadors galore! Ambassadors from all over the world attended an event presentation of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic earlier this week.

More than twenty ambassadors have confirmed their participation in the Bestmed Tshwane Classic following an event presentation earlier this week at Tshwane House in Pretoria.

The third edition of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic, in partnership with Jacaranda FM and Office National, takes place on 3 November this year, starting and finishing at the historic Voortrekker Monument in the capital city.

The excitement at the presentation was tangible and Danish Ambassador Tobias Rehfeld wasted no time in entering a friendly wager with his counterpart from Belgium, Didier Vanderhasselt, on who would reach the finish line first in the 95km race on 3 November.

“This is a wonderful initiative and we feel privileged that the organisation has engaged with us,” said Rehfeld. “We are really looking forward to the race. Denmark has a proud cycling heritage and we have a reputation to uphold following our victory in the men’s World Championship road race at the weekend!”

Among the ambassadors are some accomplished cyclists, such as Uruguay’s Cesar Rodriguez Zavalla, who is in great shape. He would could well upset the Belgian-Danish party on race day! What are we trying to say?

“The ambassadors will wear a distinctive Bestmed Tshwane Classic branded helmet cover which will make them recognisable,” said event organiser Mauritz Meyer. “We will start them in the same batch along with their embassy employees and family members.

“This is a special addition to the event and an important building block in our drive to market the race to an international audience,” said Meyer.

Tshwane MMC for social and community development, Sakkie du Plooy, also attended the presentation and was well pleased with the attendance. “This is a major event for the Tshwane Metro and the attendance today shows that the race is popular going into the third year of presentation”.

“Pretoria is unique as far as the significant embassy representation in the city is concerned and it’s going to be a wonderful occasion to see all the ambassadors and their staff on their bicycles.”

Du Plooy will play host to the ambassadors on race day and the city is setting up a hospitality area to welcome them back following their ride.

Vanderhasselt is a cycling enthusiast who also took part in the Ikhasi Ride in Mamelodi earlier this year. He tweeted afterwards, “I can’t wait for the Tshwane Classic!”

At the presentation he said that he had already entered, “but this initiative makes us feel special, so we’d like to thank the organisation.

“We are excited to see the development of this wonderful race. We are giving our full support to the city and will assist to entrench the race,” he said.

Besides the signature 95km race, which takes riders past various major historical landmarks in Tshwane, fun riders are also catered for with the 50km and 20km routes, while kids can have a bash at either 5km or 500m at the Voortrekker Monument.

The course for the Tshwane Classic, which takes a new safer routing through the city this year, presents a well-balanced challenge.

The Tom Jenkins ascent at the back of the Union Buildings, 15km before the finish, provides the final challenge of the day and is the big talking point of the race. It’s 1km in length at an average gradient of 9 percent.

“The road surface of the climb is kept as is for the most bit as everyone feels it adds to the character of the event. The Tshwane Metro fill up potholes on the side of the road, but the rough cement surface is left untouched,” said Meyer.

Various embassy representatives have indicated that they are going to purchase bicycles for employees who are taking part and these bikes will be donated to the Tshwane Urban Riders following the event.

For more information go to www.tshwaneclassic.co.za or Follow the race on Facebook @tshwaneclassic

About Bestmed:

Bestmed is a non – profit, mutual medical scheme registered with the Council of Medical Schemes. It has been providing quality healthcare to the lives of South Africans for over 52 years.

Bestmed owes its continued growth and success to its loyal members’. Bestmed is by members, for members and this philosophy is at the essence of the organisation. Bestmed is passionate about enhancing the quality of healthcare for its members’ and takes pride in its tailored Beat, Pace and Pulse plan options.

For more information, please visit www.bestmed.co.za

About Hectic Promotions:

Hectic Promotions is a registered non-profit corporation and boasts a proven record of accomplishment in presenting mass participation cycling events which fulfil the requirements of sponsors, stakeholders and participants.

It is one of the foremost cycling event organisation companies in South Africa with a long history of presenting prestigious events on the national cycling calendar that benefit several community-based charity projects.

Released by De Villiers Cycling Events, on behalf of the Tshwane Classic.

Media Enquiries Email: Wynand De Villiers on devillierscycling@mweb.co.za or phone 083 269 7659