By Michael Mhondoro
Preparations for this year’s edition of the Tour de Great Dyke organized by YAFM are at an advanced stage with the organizers expecting more than fifty cyclists to participate in the 500 kilometre gruelling tour from Darwendale to Zvishavane.
The premier cycling event will be held from the 3rd to the 6th of November 2021 under the theme ‘Cycle for Resilience’.
In an interview with Great Dyke News 24, Runyararo Muronda who is the Events and Marketing Executive at YA FM, the organizers of the event, said they are now at an advanced stage in preparing for the cycling tour.
“The tour will run from the 3rd to the 6th of November, and as far as preparing for the event, we have made remarkable progress. We have so much uptake in terms of sponsorship and mining companies have really shown great support,” she said.
Muronda also called upon different stakeholders to register for the Tour de Great Dyke.
“This year we were hoping to get more than fifty cyclists for the professional race and for the fun race we call upon mining companies, suppliers, non-governmental organizations, the environmental and educational sectors, local authorities, and the business community along the Great Dyke to come on board toride for resilience and towards supporting the charitable needs of Gifted Children Foundation which assists underprivileged but bright students to acquire education,” she said.
Muronda also explained the origins of the name Tour de Great Dyke.
“The name Tour de Great Dyke, was inspired by Tour de France, a famous international cycling race. The name locates the race in that international context but within a local geological setting.
“It’s a tour of the Great Dyke and it’s a tour of the geographical landforms, towns and cities, the mines as well as the communities. It is a tour combining wellness, environment,tourism and business,” said Muronda.
Tour de Great Dyke was launched in 2016 to create awareness of the investment opportunities of the 550km long Great Dyke geological complex that trends from north to south across the central parts of the country. The country’s major mines such as Great Dyke Investments, Zimplats Zimasco, Afrochine, Unki and Mimosa are located on the Great Dyke.
