One of KwaZulu-Natal’s most consistent road cycling performers Bryan Cusack is lining up his 15th aQuellé Tour Durban on Sunday, 11 September, and is urging local riders to seize the opportunity to enjoy cycling the city’s roads in the safety of the full road closure.
Cusack, who is the current KZN provincial champion and a regular winner of his age category at major classics around the country, says he is excited to take on the new 106km road race as a flagship event on the local cycling calendar.
“It is a great event and it is one of Durban’s main cycling events. Why get up at 4am to train in traffic but then miss out on an event with full road closure, in daylight, where you can justify all that training and riding. If you are a newbie it is a great event to begin with. If you done one already, go out there and better your time, and if you are a seasoned rider encourage your friends to enter to keep this event alive, and then go out there to try to beat their time,” he said.
Cusack has been one of the regions consistent star performers since he returned to cycling in 2008 and said the sport has many appeals that motivate him to get up early to train and then compete at the highest level.
He said: “I like to stay fit, I love the outdoors, and I absolutely enjoy the social aspect of cycling. I love the banter at the coffee stops, the post-race autopsies, and the general sense of well-being that I get from being a cyclist keeps my passion alive.”
As a regular at the aQuellé Tour Durban Cusack said the unique history of the race which is owned by and benefits The Domino Foundation resonates with all his cycling friends.
“It is admirable the way the Tour Durban gives back so much. I love the way they try to get people involved and push the charities,” he said.
With the entry for the 106km road race limited to 1000 riders as part of the agreed safety and road closure plan Cusack wants to see all the regular faces from the KZN road cycling community on the start-line, particularly those that have been conspicuous by their absence in the last few years.
Entries for the 2022 aQuellé Tour Durban are open and riders can enter at www.tourdurban.co.za.
