Ruimsig cyclist honoured with yellow jersey
Leon will be cycling the Ride for MRP Foundation for the eighth time this year
“We aim to raise R1m for the MRP Foundation, which will be directly ploughed into empowerment and skills development programmes,” said 35-year-old Leon Crous.
He will be competing in the Ride for MRP Foundation this year, a gruelling 606 kilometre ride from Johannesburg to Durban, for the eighth time.
What makes this year’s race so special is the fact that Leon will be one of two riders who will be cycling the endurance race for the eighth consecutive year, and, as a reward for this accomplishment, he and the other rider, Dave Duke, will each be wearing a respected yellow jersey.
This race is an annual event, and this year it will be taking place on 2 and 3 December, with the aim of raising awareness as well as money for the MRP Foundation, and the cyclists wear different coloured jerseys as a reward for committing to the cause year after year. First and second time cyclists ride in white, third and fourth time riders wear pink, those who have ridden the event five times or more wear green, and the yellow jersey is worn by the riders who have completed the event the most times. The Absa red jersey is worn by the cyclist who has raised the most money since the previous edition.
Leon and Dave will be wearing yellow jerseys this year, because Craig Jones, who originally started the event nine years ago, and would have been cycling for the ninth time, has had to withdraw for health reasons.
Both cyclists are feeling the responsibility and honour of riding in yellow for the first time and Leon, who is the director at Real Estate Property Service (Reps), said, “The jerseys challenge riders to come back. Being in yellow, it’s important to raise as much money as I can and be an example to first-time riders so that they return. I love challenges and I have a ‘never say die’ attitude to raising as much money for the MRP Foundation as I can.”
The reason Leon and Dave will be wearing the yellow jersey this year, is because Craig Jones, who originally started the event nine years ago, and would have been cycling for the ninth time, had to withdraw because of health reasons.
Both cyclists are feeling the responsibility and honour of riding in yellow for the first time and Leon, who is the director at Real Estate Property Service (Reps), said, “The jerseys challenge riders to come back. Being in yellow, it’s important to raise as much money as I can and be an example to first time riders so that they return. I love challenges and I have a never say die attitude to raise as much money for MRP Foundation as I can.”
Dave echoed his sentiments, and added, “It is an honour to be riding in yellow, but it’s more about the ride than being in yellow. I look forward to this every year – that sense of achievement and uplifting feeling you get from spending time with your colleagues. I keep coming back because it’s the best two days you will ever spend on a bike and I’ll be back for the next year’s tenth edition. The cherry on top is knowing that what you’re doing will help other people.”
The cyclists will depart from Secunda on 2 December, and cycle a distance of 346 kilometres, passing through Standerton and Volksrust, and stopping in Ladysmith to rest. On 3 December, they will kick off their 261 kilometre race from Ladysmith, pass through Mooi River, Hilton, Polly Shorts and end in Durban.
Leon concluded by saying, “The other 49 cyclists joining me start off merely as fellow cyclists. However, after between 26 and 28 hours (depending on the weather) on a bicycle we all leave as friends, knowing we are making a difference in the lives of the youth of South Africa, for a positive future.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
