Three youngsters from Inanda, enrolled in the GO!Durban Cycle Academy, have been selected to participate in national interprovincial final of the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League at Bekker High School in Magaliesberg, Gauteng this weekend.

eThekwini Municipal Mayor, Cllr Zandile Gumede, handed Kusaselihle Ngidi (17) from Siyajabula High School, Mncedisi Mkhize (14) and Lungani Mbambo (16) both from Mbheki Secondary School, their official GO!Durban team blazers ahead of their departure with their coach Siyabonga Njiva, and 19 other KZN cyclists. They are 3 of 400 riders representing 60 schools from the Southern African region.

Coach Jika explained to the Mayor that the Spur Schools MTB League is the largest high school cycling programme in the world, and these youngsters had a fair chance of doing exceptionally well.

The Cycle Academy is a development programme within GO!Durban – the new integrated public transport system which will eventually link the City through dedicated bus lanes, rail routes and a system of walkways and cycle lanes for non-motorised transport such as cycling.

The academy was launched in January 2016 and is based within cycle parks – the first at eNanda Adventure Park, and then one in KwaMashu and another in KwaDabeka, now boasting approximately 300 participants who go to the parks after school to learn to ride after having completed their homework under supervision.

The Mayor congratulated the boys on their achievement and wished them well for the race. “We are very proud of you. Go do your best!” she said.