Ten-year-old differently-abled cyclist extraordinaire Zach Rauch Legward will ride this year’s Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour 50 km Road Race event!
Zach has been cycling for the last three years on a custom-built hand cycle and is the youngest hand cyclist in South Africa.
He has won Gold in the Outeniqua Wheel Chair Challenge three times, has ridden Cape Town Cycle Tour Junior twice and recently did the the Gun Run.
Zach and his support team, headed up by dad Geoff Legward, started training for the Knysna Cycle Tour four months ago, riding a distance of 13 km every second day, which Zach completes in about 60 min at an average speed of 15 km.
Says Geoff: “Downhill we have seen his bike do 50 km, but I start getting a bit nervous! We have increased his distance to 20 km and he’s doing this easily. Weekends we are doing 30 km and he handles that with ease.”
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Zach is registered with Pedal power and Cycling SA. If he completes the race, he will be the youngest hand cyclist in SA to do 50 km and possibly the first in Africa.
The Knysna Rotary Committee which coordinates the annual event has given free entries to Zach and his team mates, and Zach’s father Geoff has promised to give him R10 per km completed.
Says Geoff: “I would like to challenge other cyclists to sponsor Zach R10 per kilometre. These funds will be given to a charity for disabled children.” Sponsorship commitments can be emailed to enquiries@knysnacycle.co.za.