![\"ccs-62657-0-48994800-1446814492.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-48994800-1446814492.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>The UCI 1.1 status granted by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), will see many top women cyclists competing for points at the 2015 Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge women’s race on Sunday 15 November. Photo: Craig Dutton \/ pics2go.co.za<\/span><\/p>\nWCCA hosted women cyclists from all over the continent for the month-long Women\u2019s Development Training Camp, including Eritrea, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Botswana. The riders have been assigned to two invitational WCCA teams, which will be competing in the Momentum 947 Cycle Challenge UCI 1.1 women\u2019s race next weekend alongside leading international women\u2019s cycling teams such as Bigla Pro Cycling Team, Team Liv Plantur and Team Tibco SVB.<\/p>\n
In addition, South Africa\u2019s Activate\/Demacon, Time Freight eTeam, BestMed ASG Women\u2019s Cycling and Clover Prestigio as well as composite invitational teams from South Africa, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Israel, Namibia, Rwanda and Mauritius will be competing for the 2015 title.<\/p>\n
Van Zyl chatted about what a race of this stature means to women\u2019s cycling on the continent: \u201cIn terms of a race like this \u2013 this is just the start. It\u2019s exactly the right stepping stone we\u2019ve needed to get women\u2019s cycling on the go. In the last two to three years alone, the number of women entering and cycling these sort of races has doubled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Zyl could not reiterate enough the humbleness of the countries he has been working with. \u201cThe women I have had the pleasure of assisting over this time are incredible. I have never before met a greater bunch of calm, loving, respectful ladies that are so willing to learn. They all get along so well with each other. These women know the struggles that each of them has gone through to get to where they are today. These women expect nothing, and are so unbelievably appreciative of everything. There are a few language barriers, but at the end of the day they are all laughing, smiling and joking around with common words and phrases that they all know. And they work so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
He mentioned the great efforts he had witnessed in training the ladies, and the determination and passion for cycling he saw on their faces. Cycling South Africa Women\u2019s Commission Director, Lise Olivier, also took part in some of the action, and Van Zyl said that the abundance of women power with the cyclists has been magical to watch.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have literally just sat back, observed, and said to myself, \u201cwow\u201d. It\u2019s wonderful to be a part of it all. Men in Africa have had some time in the sun, but now its time for our women to shine, and get these opportunities that they so rightfully deserve,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
For more information about the World Cycling Centre Africa, click here: http:\/\/www.wccafrica.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n