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The Ofm Classic cycle race retires after 13 years in Bloem─── 09:33 Wed, 30 Jul 2014
Morgan Piek
Bloemfontein - It’s with regret that OFM announces the retirement of the ever popular OFM Classic cycle races.
Last year, nearly 4000 people took part in one or more of the events, which included two Mountain Bike events.
OFM General Manager, Efstathiou says it’s with deep regret that the race will be retired from today.
“It is with deep regret that we make a decision that we know will impact local cycling as well the local economy”, says OFM’s General Manager Nick Efstathiou.
“However, the current economic climate has forced us to re-evaluate all of our marketing properties. The Classic suffers from exposure to rising costs, and reliance on a number of outside agencies. Increased costs for safety reasons have led to the race becoming economically unviable, and as a result we have no choice but to close the event. Safety is paramoun," said Efstathiou.
The Classic has a route that involves co-operation from the Mangaung Metro, the Free State Province as well as SANRAL for traffic safety purposes, and covers over 110km of road which require monitoring for damage as well as closure over the race weekend.
Last year, nearly 4000 people took part in one or more of the events, which included two Mountain Bike events.
“Our title sponsor, the Mangaung Metro Municipality, have been fantastic and are naturally also disappointed that the event cannot continue, he concluded.
The Ofm Classic has taken place in Bloemfontein for the past 13 years, and before that, for nearly a decade in Bethlehem.
OFM General Manager, Efstathiou says it’s with deep regret that the race will be retired from today.:
