Teenage sensation wins 947 Cycle Challenge

16 November 2015

 

Jozi celebrities and high-profile personalities came out in their numbers yesterday (Sunday November 15) to add colour and beauty to the 19th edition of the 947 Momentum Cycle Challenge.

 

Veteran cyclist and Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi, City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Community for Community Development Councillor Chris Vondo, renowned actress Hlubi Mboya and prominent model Maps Maponyane were some of the personalities who graced the event, the toughest in Johannesburg.

 

Teenage sensation Stefan de Bod won the male section of the race in 2:15:23, beating his closest rivals Clint Hendricks (2:15:29) and Daryl Impey (2:15:32). The women’s section was won in 2:34:01 by Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who became the first woman cyclist to win the title for the third time. The runners-up in the women’s section were Sabrina Studies (2:34:58) and Floortjie Mackay (2:35:04).

 

Moolman Pasio posted in her Twitter account shortly after winning the race that she was still trying to comprehend what had happened.

“My heart is overflowing with gratitude. Such an honour to win,” she said.

One of the race’s major objectives was to raise funds for the needy, with over 70% of the proceeds going to corporate social programmes programmes.

 

MMC Vondo, who officiated the race on behalf of Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau, said the 947 Momentum Cycle Challenge was not only the ultimate test of endurance but also a representation of the City’s long-term goal of a “cleaner environment in a cleaner city”.

 

MMC Vondo said the City of Johannesburg was – as a result of its successful hosting of major local, continental and world events – fast realising the objectives of its Growth and Development Strategy 2040 (GDS 2040).

 

“Cycling was the integral part of the City’s recently successful EcoMobility World Festival. We’re forging ahead with the non-motorised transport system. We want the people of our city to start thinking about walking or cycling to their workplaces,” he said, adding that this would be their way of contributing to promoting and sustaining a cleaner environment.

 

“The 947 Momentum Cycle Challenge is very important to Johannesburg. As a City, we have invested a great deal of support to the event – its planning, preparation and staging,” MMC Vondo said.

 

He applauded the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) for ensuring the safety of cyclists, motorists and residents, and the Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) for making sure that there was First Aid and medical assistance at all times.

 

“We’re proving beyond reasonable doubt that we can host big events successfully. We’ve just successfully hosted the Soweto Marathon – an event that is continentally renowned,” he said MMC Vondo.