Racha de Independencia 2010

Race de Independência 2010 - São Nicolau, Cape Verde on Vimeo.

Highlights from the second annual 26-km bicycle race between Tarrafal and Ribeira Brava on the island of São Nicolau, in Cape Verde. Sponsored by Sonadei and Rydjor Bike Shop. Organized by local Cape Verdeans and Peace Corps volunteers.

 The Second annual cross island bike race has been held on São Nicolau!

 Although we originally were aiming for July 5th (over a month ago)... Ross, I am sure you can relate as to the pace of things on this side of the Atlantic; the bike race was a great success! We had torrential rains blasting the island all day on Saturday (the day before the race) and as I looked out my (Ross's former) front porch and saw the main road turned into a torrent of muddy rapids, I felt like the hopes for finally having this race were washing away along with the debris. I awoke the next morning, the day of the race, to one of the most crystal clear, beautiful days we have had in our little town of Cachaco in a long time. I called my counterpart and co organizer for the race here, Floriano, and said: "I think we have a RACE!"

 Man was it a race to remember! We had a good turnout, 15 participants (including a woman from Tarrafal!) who showed up to race. We had great spectator turnout, most notably in Cachaco (the high point before the decent) and in the islands capital, Ribeira Brava, where the race finished. We had a stage and MC, presented the prizes and commemorative t-shirts to all the participants. The Cycling Team Kits donated by Garage Racing looked great on the riders! And with both international (Sonadei / Rydjor Bike Shop) and local sponsors (BCA, Pensao Jardim, Gualgom) as well as local support from both local Municipalities of Ribeira Brava and Tarrafal, I can confidently say this race was a great success.

 People were talking, and it was said several times to both myself and my partner Floriano that this was without a doubt the best bike race to have occurred on the island yet in terms of community support, organization and turnout (especially with the spectators cheering the cyclists on as they passed through the many towns to the finish).

* * * Official Race Report * * *

“Race de Independência 2010” 26 km - São Nicolau, Cape Verde
(August 22, 2010)

This was the second annual bike race that took place in the small island nation of Cape Verde, on the island of São Nicolau.  It began in the port town of Tarrafal and concluded in the capital of Ribeira Brava, totaling 26 km in all.  The race was a great success, both in terms of community support and participation and both local and international sponsorship.  There were 15 cyclists who came out from all over the island, male and female, young and old.  The race is part of a greater effort to promote bike culture and safety within a small yet strong bike culture that is emerging here in Cape Verde.

The event was a joint effort and was put on by the São Nicolau Bicycle Assocation in partnership with several organizations, volunteers and sponsors including: the U.S. Peace Corps (www.peacecorps.gov), Sonadei (Seattle, WA – www.sonadei.com), Rydjor Bike Shop (Austin, MN – www.rydjor.com) and several other local (Cape Verdean) sponsors.

This year, prizes were given for 1st 2nd and 3rd place, with cash prizes provided by the local (Cape Verdean) government municipalities and the grand prize – a new Trek road bike provided by Rydjor Bike Shop- (Austin, MN).  Sonadei, who has been a strong supporter from the inception, sent racing uniforms and helmets.

WHERE: São Nicolau is a quiet island of approximately 12,000 people that is part of an archipelago of 9 inhabited islands that make up the small island nation of Cape Verde.  It is located approximately 365 miles off of the west coast of Africa.

THE PROJECT:  This project was started initially by former Peace Corps Volunteer Ross Guberman here on the island of São Nicolau and has evolved into a joint effort involving multiple partners, volunteers and sponsors (both here in Cape Verde and in the U.S.).  Currently, two Peace Corps Volunteers, Chase Dubois and Brendan Geraghty, along with their Cape Verdean counterpart Floriano da Cruz Duarte are leading the effort in Cape Verde.

For more information on this race and project, please visit the following links:

http://www.sonadei.com/catalog/CVBO.php
 
…and for video footage of the race checkout this link: http://vimeo.com/14523161

* * * Official Race Report * * *

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 For three years now SONADEI has been very busy working to help raise funds for our Cape Verde Bicycle Project. Ross, our partner in the Peace Corps, has been pushing the local government hard to ensure that our bicycle race happens in July. For more background information about this project please go here.

                           
A new Trek bicycle was donated and shipped!                       CVBO T-Shirts were printed and given away!


                                          Bicycle jerseys and Team Kits were donated and given to riders!


                                                                        And a RACE was had!


                                      
Watch this page!

We will post an update again soon after the race with a full review and new images and video!

- The SONADEI Team

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Our Cape Verde Bicycle Organization (CVBO) project allows us to support cycling across the world! The goal of our company is to help spread a positive and active lifestyle. We give back to our community by donating a portions of all our sales to the American Cancer Society, and the National Forest Foundation. Apart from these donations we have taken steps to support the growth and awareness of cycling in Cape Verde, the island Republic located off the west coast of Africa. The country consists of ten islands (and several islets) located roughly 500 miles off the coast of Senegal in Western Africa.

We are focusing our support on the island São Nicolau.

  Africa                                                          Cape Verde                                               São Nicolau

To help us with this project we have partnered with a member of the Peace Corps. Ross Guberman from New York is currently in his second year of volunteering with the Peace Corps. You can read Ross's blog here: Trials and Tribulations.

"My main function as a volunteer here is working with Parque Natural Monte Gordo , one of two national parks that are being funded by the United Nations. As Peace Corp volunteers, many of us have secondary projects aside from our main work. Outside of my work for Monte Gordo, I have held English classes for my community in Cachaço, organized a children’s soccer tournament, and conducted trash cleanup campaigns in various communities. I am most excited about organizing a Bicycle Safety and Awareness event for the island."

"During a weekend, two separate bike races will be held in the two main towns of the island, Ribeira Brava and Tarrafal. These bike races will be organized and sponsored by the Camara Municpal of each conchelo (and perhaps along with other local organizations such as the Centro de Juventude and ETMA).  The race in R. Brava will go from the town center to Juncilhno and back.  In Tarrafal, the race will go from town center to Praia Branca and back. It is my wish that the two winners receive new bikes."

"The need for this project stems from recent bicyclists being killed by motorists and from children dieing after falling off their bikes without helmets. Further, as the prices of oil soar and it becomes more expensive to travel by public transport, the bicycle is becoming a more viable option of travel for many of the island inhabitants. Thus, it is important now to provide information about how to be safe while riding and how to maintain a bicycle."

"I hope that with the visibility of the bike races and with the monthly bike repair workshops, those who currently bike ride will be encouraged to organize together for more events, which in turn may spur more locals to take up bike riding.  Further, I hope that drivers on the island will become more aware that they must share the road with bicyclists thus increasing their safety. "