After the excitement of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, cycling enthusiasts from around the country are now setting their sights on the aQuellé Tour Durban, presented by Bridge Fund Managers on Sunday 30 April.
The event will once again consist of a 105km classic road race, a 45km Fun Ride and the popular 55km cyclo-cross that blends road racing with mountain biking.
Stalwart Domino rider Sifiso Hlongwa (left) is eagerly looking forward to the 2017 aQuellé Tour Durban, presented by Bridge Fund Managers. He gets some encouragement from Mark Logan, Chief Executive Officer at Bridge Fund Managers. Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media
Crucially, the 105km race will serve as an early qualifier for the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour, offering ardent road racers a chance to secure their qualification for next year’s event in the Western Cape.
The loyal following for the KZN Classic is built on the reliable autumn weather and the landmark views on offer on the 105km route that skirts south, west and north of the city, and the breath-taking sea views on the out-and-back route up the North Coast used for the 45km and 55km races.
The event has been boosted by the news that Bridge Fund Managers has signed a three year deal as the new presenting sponsor of the aQuellé Tour Durban.
Paul Stewart, Paul Stewart, Executive Director at Bridge Fund Managers, says among the reasons for the sponsorship are the opportunity to boost KwaZulu-Natal tourism while supporting the critical work of the event’s main beneficiary, the Domino Foundation, a non-profit organisation working with vulnerable and impoverished communities North of Durban.
“Bridge Fund Managers also previously traded as Grindrod Asset Management; the Grindrod brand is well-known in Durban which has been our historic home.
“Given that cycling is a popular sport in Durban and many of our clients and prospective clients are regular cyclists, the sponsorship is an opportunity to introduce our new brand to this market in a meaningful way,” says Stewart.
The sponsorship commitment extends to Bridge Fund Management staff operating a water and feeding station along the route, and a number of staff committed to riding in the various aQuellé Tour Durban events.
“Bridge Fund Managers also aims to help grow the event to bring visitors from Gauteng and other parts of South Africa to Durban to enjoy the sights and sounds of KwaZulu-Natal,” says Stewart.
“Sponsoring an endurance cycling event is also aligned to our brand, as investing, especially for retirement, is a long term commitment.”
