Velokhaya riders off to Oudtshoorn.

Cape Town, June 22, 2012

The second annual Cycling South Africa Youth Festival will take place in Oudtshoorn from 25 – 28 June and four Velokhaya riders have been chosen to represent Western Province at the festival.

Velokhaya’s Nicholas Dlamini (jnr) Siphosethu Ophila (u/16) Siphamandla Kwani (u/16) and Abulele Xuza (u/14) and other riders from Western Province will be competing in the festival which will include cycling events such as a road race, team time trials and a criterium, amongst others.

According to Cycling SA, the format and regulations for the 2012 event will be similar to that of the 2011 Oudtshoorn Youth Festival except the disciplines catered for will be Road cycling, Mountain Biking, and Para-cycling.

More about the Youth Festival.
The establishment of the Youth Festival series keeps in line with Cycling SA’s Long Term Participant Development (LTPD) model, and has a similar focus and format as that of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). In addition to this format, the disabled cycling discipline has been incorporated.

Through points and team allocation, the Youth Festival attempts to address talent identification for all youth, whilst at the same time having a special focus on transformation and thereafter the development of all our youth, including cyclists with a disability.

Youngsters under the age of 19 are given the opportunity to participate in road cycling and mountain biking events, enhancing skills and encouraging cross-pollination between the two cycling disciplines. Road and Para-cycling will incorporate a road race, team time trial (individual time trial for disabled athletes) and criterium, and mountain bikers can race in a cross-country, half marathon or quarter marathon event (age dependent).

Visit www.cyclingsa.com for more information.