Hand cyclist and former Sharks flyer Cedric Mkhize has confirmed he will be back on the start line of the aQuellé Tour Durban presented Sunday Tribune in 2015 and eager to put in a strong showing once again when the event takes place on Sunday 26 April despite having found it tough to find the right balance between training, work commitments and spending time with his young daughter Peyton.
Mkhize has become a stalwart figure at the Tour Durban and not even the birth of his daughter stopped him from taking on the race in 2014.
Despite the new whirlwind in his life resulting in a tricky schedule, the widely recognised personality is still determined to make space for this year’s edition of the race he thoroughly enjoys.
Former Sharks flyer and hand cyclist Cedric Mkhize will be back at the 2015 aQuellé Tour Durban despite not being able to train as much as he would like following the birth of his daughter Peyton last year as well as work commitments but the 30 year old will be on the start line on Sunday, 26 April. // Photo: Dave Macleod/ Gameplan Media.
“I am very keen to race in the aQuellé Tour Durban this year!” Mkhize said excitedly.
“I have been really busy so the training schedule has taken a bit of a back seat over the past couple of months but I still think that I will be able to get in enough training on weekends and around work time that I will be fit enough by the time the race comes around in a couple of weeks.”
Having been unable to get on the bike as much as he would have liked, Mkhize has changed his goals for the event from previous years and with only a few weeks left until this year’s race the 30 year-old will be under pressure to match his time from 2014.
“I just don’t want to finish in a worse time than last year, that’s my main goal!” said Mkhize determinedly.
“I know that I haven’t got a lot of time to prepare so the chances of me bettering my previous times is quite slim but I have set myself the goal of matching my time from last year, which I think I can do given the amount of time that I still have to prepare for the race.
The drive and ambition that Mkhize has for his future as a hand cyclist is still evident despite not being able to training as hard as he would like to at the currently.
He is however also enjoying being able to get out there and experience more than just the competitive element of the sport too.
“I still definitely have goals that I want to achieve in the sport! At the moment they are on the back burner though.
“I want to try and make it as a hand cyclist but I have other priorities at the moment.
“With that said though, it is great being able to relax and enjoy other people’s company when I am out riding.
“Just to be able to take in the whole vibe of a race away from the actual competitive aspect is something that I am really enjoying at the moment,” he added.
The Tour Durban is a race that Mkhize is well familiar with and racing in his hometown also helps reduces the logistical burden of competing as a disabled athlete.
“I really enjoy riding in the Tour Durban and it is a race that I try and do as regularly as possible because of the whole vibe that surrounds the race and it gives me the chance to get out there and meet people, which is lovely.
“For me it is great that it is based in Durban because it is easy on the pocket as I don’t have too many logistical issues however being able to ride on the new M4 this year is definitely one of the major draw cards that I am looking forward to!
“It is just a beautiful race and Durban is a beautiful place to ride,” Mkhize explained.
More information can be found at www.tourdurban.co.za.
