Durban - Amid the camaraderie, high spirits and fun, the annual Amashova Durban Classic cycling race was hit by tragedy on Sunday when a 71-year-old Bluff cyclist died after colliding with a taxi while cycling towards the race start.
Ronnie Mansell was struck by the taxi in Boshoff Street, Pietermaritzburg, paramedics said.
Although he survived the collision, he later died at a local health care facility.
Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesman Zinhle Mngomezulu said the accident had occurred in an area that was not manned by police or race officials.
Bystanders said Mansell was hit head on. He was found about 20m away from his bike and had multiple fractures.
ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said paramedics stabilised him before taking him to the Pietermaritzburg Mediclinic.
Clinic spokesman Reshnee Beekrum said the cyclist had been brought into the emergency centre in a critical condition.
“He was transferred to the intensive care unit, but his condition deteriorated quite quickly. He was resuscitated, but he still died.”
She said the man’s family were traumatised and they were not willing to speak to the media.
Sunday’s race was to have been Mansell’s fourth Amashova. Last year he finished in 5:12:31.
This is the second year the Amashova has been hit by tragedy. Last year, 50-year-old cyclist George Manke had a heart attack at Botha’s Hill during the 106km race.
Amashova race director Annie Batchelder confirmed that Mansell had been cycling to the race.
“He was riding on the streets, not on the race route. Cyclists sometimes get dropped off near the race start and then cycle to the start as a warm-up.
“Regardless of whether he was an Amashova cyclist, to hear of any cyclist being hit by a taxi is terrible. The fact that he was going to cycle the Amashova is just the same as if he was hit while taking part in the race… We send our sincere condolences to his family.”
The taxi driver was not arrested after the accident. However, a case has been opened with the Pietermaritzburg police.
The Mercury