The event's focus was however not about the individual rider, but rather on team participation with provinces entering teams. The teams had to be of a specific compilation depending to the age categories and had to have ladies and previously disadvantaged riders in their teams.
SWD had a team in each age category and was able to win the team points competition in each of the age categories. The teams participated in 5 disciplines like road race, criterium, team time trial, MTB Cross Country and MTB Marathon and received points for their positions as well as participation.
Individual riders also participated and at the end of the event all the provinces' riders points were added to determine which province accumulated the most points.
Although SWD did not have the most riders they took the honours beating Eastern Province for the first place and Western Province finished in third.
The Youth Festival was hosted by the SWD Cycling Association in conjunction with CSA and formed part of the Youth Festival taking place in Oudtshoorn.
During the week the cyclists were exposed to much more than they were used to.
Young cyclists are seldom exposed to team competition and multi day racing. Competing in 5 different disciplines in 4 days was an experience for most of the kids. This event also exposed riders to disciplines they normally would not take part in.
Without events such as these, talent identification and exposure to cycling and skills development would be very difficult.
The team is now looking forward to the next event at the Gariep Dam during October.
The SWD cycling team who had a great performance at the Youth Festival bagging a load of medals.
