Official The Bicycle League Release

The Bicycle League Media Release

The Bicycle League, sponsored by EduInnov8 Foundation, is an exciting new grass-roots cycling project aimed at young riders.

Loosely based on the short-track mountain bike format, The League brings the sport into communities utilising schools fields and parks with basic courses and routes designed to provide a launch pad for rider development.

The project is made possible through the support of the EduInnov8 Foundation Whose financial support contributes to the establishment of The Bicycle League. EduInnov8 is an educational software provider with a focus on teacher aids and operates throughout Africa.

“EduInnov8 is very proud to support The Bicycle League as the program shares our vision of improved education and social opportunities throughout Africa. The link between cycling and academic improvement is well documented and it is this synergy that makes the program a perfect fit for EduInnov8” said CEO Eugene van Rensburg.

At the core of the project is geographic ‘clustering’ that ensures multiple local participation opportunities before qualifying riders and teams progress to district and regional knockouts. These locally focussed events are designed to prime riders and teams for participation in the official Schools Cycling South Africa (SCSA) provincial and national competitions. 

This clear pathway provides the year-round participation platform that is essential to entrench the sport within school sports structures.

According to Tobias Lubbe of Schools Cycling South Africa (SCSA), “The Bicycle League program fills a critical gap at the grassroots level, focusing on development and unlocking potential in previously untapped areas. With a strong emphasis on growth and inclusivity, we're perfectly positioned to manage entry-point demand and eagerly anticipate welcoming many new riders and teams to the world of schools cycling, particularly from rural and disadvantaged communities.”

His views are shared by Cycling South Africa deputy president Charles Kros. “By taking the racing to communities, we not only eliminate the costly transport barrier benefitting a small number of riders, but also allow riders and administrators to develop localised programs exposing a much larger audience to the sport. This is a critical if cycling is to build a sustainable base of new riders.”

In keeping with the close-to-home theme, the bulk of the events are scheduled for midweek afternoons. The fast-paced program with 10-12 minute race times enables the production of a 2-3 hour racing afternoon and cuts down on operational expenses as the entire event is setup and run on the same day.

The backbone of the program is an open-source event management software system and training program to assist local organisers to operate events through a centralised system with real-time support. 

Program director Meurant Botha emphasised that affordable, pop-up events and local organiser development are the key elements of program scalability. “Within the program, new organisers can learn the ropes of race management operating small events without the added pressure of critical outcomes. Basic timekeeping systems teaches the critical link between accurate registration and results while exposure to event permitting and the health- and safety requirements develops the skills required to eventually take on larger projects”

The League is operated by Cycle2Ride who together with Botha conceptualised and trialled the program over the past 3 years. Co-Founder Jaco Kotze has extensive education experience through his career with a prominent school group. “Cycle2Ride is thrilled to take the learnings of the past few seasons and enable many more communities to experience the benefit of cycling not only in improved health, but also in the social development opportunities that the sport can unlock” Kotze was quoted.

During the past 3 years the development of the cycling events coincided with the establishment of the cycling development program in the Bottelary Hills area. This program succesfully provides weekly coaching to more than 45 children at 5 schools or aftercare venues and provided these riders to participate in 6 local cycling events during 2024.

Through this program 8 of these riders were selected to participate in the WP school cycling league to represent the Bottelary district.

Local, relevant and affordable cycling events supported by coaching and a structured development programme provides the blue print for succesful cycling development at scale.

The calendar with the first Gauteng and Western Province events as well as detailed program information can be found online at www.thebicycleleague.co.za with entries set to open 17 January.

Follow thebicycleleague on Instagram and Facebook or email info@thebicycleleague.co.za for more information.