BLIND ABSA CAPE EPIC PARTICIPANT TO TEST HIS ENDURANCE AT CAPE ARGUS PICK ‘N PAY CYCLE TOUR THIS WEEKEND

Gerrie, in front, and Hein, at the back, on their Way (Photo: Melindi Kearney)

BLIND ADVENTURER HEIN WAGNER DOES CYCLE TOUR WITH PRAGMA’S GERRIE OLIVIER IN PREPARATION FOR LEGENDARY STAGE RACE

Blind adventurer and motivational speaker Hein Wagner and his riding partner Gerrie Olivier will take on the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour in Cape Town this coming Sunday, 12 March, in preparation of this year’s Absa Cape Epic.

Says Wagner, who has been completely blind from birth: “Gerrie and I have been very busy training in preparation for this year’s Absa Cape Epic and believe we’re ready for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. Our aim is to do it under 3 hours on ‘Windhond’, our road tandem.” He laughingly adds that ‘Worshond’ is their mountain bike tandem. “And of course I’d like to be the winner of the Frank van der Velde Cup for the first blind rider to cross the finish line.”

Wagner has taken on many daring adventures including mountain climbing, sailing from Cape Town to Rio and running marathons. He also holds the World Land Speed record for a blind driver. “I’ve completed the Cape Argus Cycle Tour once before, but Gerrie’s done it many, many times, so he’s definitely the more experienced rider.”

The two have not done much road cycling and have focused most of their energy on off-road, longer rides. “We’ve had our first fall last weekend and I was also bitten by a dog. Hopefully this was the first and last time. The funny thing about falling when you’re on a tandem is that you both need to fall in the same direction. Gerrie and I decided it was a good thing it happened because we wouldn’t have talked about it otherwise.”

Wagner also adds that he cannot wait for the Absa Cape Epic to start. “I’ve been getting up at 04:30 daily for the last seven months and look forward to sleeping late for a change. I’m definitely going to welcome the break.” He will also be participating in the Freedom Swim in May this year.

Besides Pragma’s two teams riding this year’s Absa Cape Epic, the company is also responsible for two of the most important services during the gruelling event namely the on route pro- and amateur tech zones and daily bike wash. This includes receiving the bikes on the finish line and securely placing them in the bike park after the bikes are washed.