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<\/a>Paralympic Gold medalist Heinz Frei (SUI) is looking forward to coming to South Africa.<\/span>\n<\/div>\nThe H3 category hand cyclist is excited about returning to South Africa, having been here once before a very long time ago. \u201cI was in Cape Town in 1996, just before the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, for a training camp. At the time, I was an athlete in a wheelchair and so I competed there with athletes like Krige Schabort and Ernst van Dyk. Oooh, it\u2019s been a long time since then,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At the end of the training camp in 1996, Frei competed in the Cape Town Marathon and won. \u201cThe race started at 6am in darkness \u2013 it was a wonderful experience in my young career,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On staying motivated from day to day, Frei had this to say: \u201cI just love the benefit of fitness and power within sporting activities! With some power and endurance, my life as a disabled person is so much easier. I\u2019m also a real \u201csport\u201d person \u2013 I love to be with nature and outside in the fresh air, especially on a bike. We can do such lovely routes, meet other people and see incredible sights!<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen comparing it, I think the Pietermaritzburg World Cup will be similar to other races around the world, except that the people, culture, and the countryside will be different and very interesting for me. I also don\u2019t know much about the weather; it must be close to spring time and here we have autumn now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Frei is happy with his successes over the years, and has the same mindset going into a new race as he\u2019s always had. \u201cI try to do my best in all of the races that I do, but I\u2019m 57-years-old now, and can\u2019t always be faster and faster. I\u2019ve had a wonderful season though, coming close to a gold medal at the World Championships in Switzerland (two silver medals), victories at the World Cups in Yverdon and Elzach, and other great performances. What more could I wish for?<\/p>\n
\u201cI will get to the start line in South Africa with all my power, enthusiasm, fun and coolness. I hope it works \u2013 why not go for gold?\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n
The 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup \u2013 Pietermaritzburg (11-13 September 2015) will have two competition venues with the time trial competition being staged in the Midmar Dam complex on Friday 11 September and the road races in the city of Pietermaritzburg using Alexandra Park as the official competition venue on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September.<\/p>\n