Europcar SA is counting the days to the launch of the Mzansi Tour, which runs from April 8 to 12, says Commercial Officer Martin Lydall. The company is official car-rental sponsor and providing vehicles for international teams and for event logistics.
“We’re doubly excited about this event,” says Lydall. “We’re proud to see Team Europcar SA riding in this five-stage race and we’re proud to continue our sponsorship of the Young Rider jersey.”
The traditional yellow jersey is awarded after each stage to the overall leader of the race so far. Similarly, the Europcar Young Rider jersey will be awarded after each stage to the under-23 rider who is overall leader in that age group.
“Team Europcar is about developing strong young riders into great new talents,” says Lydall. “In the debut Mzansi Tour last year, we were especially proud at the teamwork we watched on the road to see Europcar’s Paul van Zweel placed fifth overall.”
Team Europcar SA will compete against 15 top professional and amateur teams from Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa. Former national under-23 champion Calvin Beneke captains the six-rider squad for 2014, which features van Zweel, Ryan Gibbons, James Fourie, Stuart Fitzpatrick and Martin Scheppel.
In keeping with Europcar’s development aims, the riders are relatively young, with both Gibbons and Fourie falling in the under-23 category. Gibbons is seen as an up-and-coming talent who recently finished second in the under-23 lowveld TRAC Tour, backed closely by Fourie.
All remaining members still have to see their 24th birthdays. Fitzpatrick and Scheppel are expected to give good support to the depth offered by Beneke. Van Zweel excels on hills – and will get plenty of opportunity to show this in the main part of the tour around the Eastern Free State’s Golden Gate.
The Mzansi Tour is sanctioned by both Cycling South Africa and the International Cycling Union UCI. It is SA’s only UCI 2.2 ranked event and Joburgers get a special opportunity to see the prologue time trials in the picturesque setting of a 5.5-kilometre undulating circuit around Emmarentia Dam and the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.
The central section of the tour moves to the Free State’s spectacular Golden Gate area, using this as the hub for different stages that will take riders twisting and turning, climbing and swooping between Bethlehem, Fouriesburg, Clarens, Kestell, and Phuthaditjaba. The second Free State day will even feature a mountain-top finish. Finally, the tour will loop back from the Free State to Gauteng and on its final day, it will culminate in a made-for-spectators event in Midrand.
“We urge South Africans to get out and show their support for the Mzansi Tour when and where they can,” says Lydall. “The tour is close to our hearts at Europcar because it speaks of what we hold dear about being a Proudly South African company.
“It showcases the talent and energy of our young people and the beauty of our country. We wish all the riders well and are sure the spectators will enjoy every minute!”
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ABOUT EUROPCAR SOUTH AFRICA
Europcar has established itself as one of South Africa’s leading global car rental companies; one which prides itself on delivering locally relevant, world-class service excellence with a dynamic and fresh attitude. Its payoff line of ‘Moving Your Way’ encompasses the company’s global strategy to be a key player in shaping the future of mobility, together with its commitment to exceptional customer service.
The company, owned and managed by the Imperial Group*, has operated exclusively as Europcar since 2009 having a rich 33-year history with its roots as Imperial Car Rental.
Voted Africa’s Leading Car Hire Company at the 2012 World Travel Awards – for the seventh consecutive year – the company serves around a third of the South African car rental market and has segmented the business to tailor solutions to the business and leisure markets, both inbound and locally.
The organisation is just as conscientious when it comes to social responsibility, and supports a number of programmes focusing on children, education, HIV/ Aids and poverty alleviation. Sustainability is also a business imperative and the company focuses heavily on the promotion of environmental responsibility, awareness and behavior throughout its operations, with the primary goal of reducing its outputs.
Europcar offers a fleet peaking at 18,500 vehicles at over 120 locations throughout Southern Africa – and through the global Europcar network, offers car rental access to around 220,000 across 150 countries.
Holding ISO9001 (2008) accreditation, Europcar holds a level Two BBBEE rating. It is a member of the South African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA), and has partnerships with several important service providers in the travel industry.
Then again, that’s typical of a Proudly South African company which believes that supporting everything local – from people to businesses – is critical to the future of this country.
*IMPERIAL is a diversified industrial services and retail group with activities spanning logistics; car rental; tourism; financial services; vehicle distribution and retail. It operates in South Africa, Africa, Europe and Australia, is listed on the Johannesburg stock exchange and employs over 40,000 people
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