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Pietermaritzburg track unveiled for UCI BMX World Champs
Durban - While
the worlds best BMX riders converge
on Pietermaritzburg for the UCI BMX World Champs that
start on Thursday, the track was formally opened on Monday
to critical acclaim from the global BMX fraternity.
From the top of the eight metre high elite start ramp,
Pietermaritzburg's deputy mayor
Jabu Ngube
was all smiles as she overcame her fear of heights to
cut the banner to formally open the new-age track for
the competition, aided by the UCI Technical delegate Johan
Lindstrom, Cycling SA's president
Greg Till and Pietermaritzburg BMX racing icon Sharlene
McGillvray.
"We might have missed out on the soccer, but now
it is Pietermaritzburg's time to shine," said Ngube. "We are working hard to position the city as
a sporting destination, and the BMX World Champs is an
excellent chance to show the world what we can do."
She also urged Pietermaritzburg sport lovers to support
the event in numbers, which will in turn support the city's
bids to host other major international events in the future.
"This way each and every person that attends the
event will also be serving the city," she added.
Cycling South Africa's president
Greg Till was all smiles surveying the state-of-the-art
track, which for the first time will feature dual tracks
for the elite and cruiser classes, and two separate start
ramps.
"It is totally awesome and a dream
come true," said Till. "I have overcome
the disbelief and I must say that the entire set-up has
way exceeded my expectations."
Till also underscored the importance of staging an Olympic
discipline world championships to such high standards,
and the impact this would have on cycling's ongoing drive
to have BMX included in the Commonwealth Games.
He also threw his weight behind the deputy-mayor's call
for the public to support all four days of the event.
"The support from Pietermaritzburg for the recent
downhill BMX event was outstanding. I really hope that
we can get the same sort of support for this event as
we might get for a rugby match."
All our riders will be easily identifiable in their green
and gold, and you cannot understand what a difference
the home crowd support will make for a lot of these riders,"
he added.
"We have plenty of world numbers and very experienced
riders, but we also have riders who have never raced at
this level. For these guys and girls the support of the
home crowd in the Royal Showgrounds
will mean a great deal,' said Till.
The UCI BMX World Championships takes place at the Royal
Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg
from 29 July to 1 August. More information can be found
at www.bmxworldchampspmb.co.za
ENDS
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Celebrating
the opening of the unique track for the UCI BMX World
Champs at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg are (from left) Rider Sharlene
McGillvray, UCI technical delegate
Johan Lindstrom, Pietermaritzburg's
deputy mayor Jabu Ngube, and Cycling SA's president Greg Till. |
