Durban – Former Sharks flyer and hand cyclist Cedric Mkhize has been riding an emotional rollercoaster ahead of his third aQuellé Tour Durban, following a setback with a broken leg and then the early arrival of his daughter Peyton just a few days ago.
The popular figure has become a distinctive part of the 45km road race in recent years as he brings the same competitive spirit to hand cycling as he did to his rugby career before it was cut short.
Following his 2007 accident Mkhize took a while to decide what he wanted to do with himself and it was an introduction to another wheelchair based sport that got him back into competitive sports.
“It took me a short while before I considered any sort a sport after my accident,” the 29 year old said. “I was first introduced to wheelchair basketball at the KZN awards which were held at the ICC. Thereafter when I had stopped playing basketball, I was approached by a friend who told me about hand cycling and I decided that it was a good idea to give it a try!”
Mkhize recently discovered that his wife Lee-Ann was pregnant and that put hold to his return to training but it has been a frustrating six months for him after he broke his leg and has been unable to get in any training with a lengthy recovery period needed.
“Because of the broken leg I haven’t been able to do much riding so now that I have started again I’m just trying to get back into the swing of things but having a new-born to look after means that I have to also take care of those responsibilities.”
Having represented his province at the highest level on the rugby field the competitive spirit does not wain and Mkhize goes into his hand cycling events with the same passion, enthusiasm and focus that he did when he took to Kings Park in his rugby playing days.
“Preparing for the races is actually no different to how I used to prepare for the rugby games I played as it is the only way I know how – hard,” he added in a steely tone.
Ernst van Dyk has been the standout wheelchair athlete in South Africa over a number of years and the paralympian and multiple wheelchair marathon winner is someone that Mkhize admires for his professionalism as well as for the way in which he inspires others.
“Ernst van Dyk is an inspiration to all,” Mkhize beamed. “I had the opportunity to meet him the day he handed me my brand new hand cycle and so after meeting him I did some research of who he was and what he had achieved in his career. I was inspired from that moment on!”
Having spent a fair amount of time away from the bike Mkhize’s goals have not been diluted and the athlete plans on giving it his all when he gets onto the start line on 28 April at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“For this year’s races I would really like to do well. I haven’t had much time for training so hopefully I can maintain the same times as the past two races and no worse than that,” a determined Mkhize mentioned.
The Paralympic goal has taken a bit of a knock recently with the injury but with a couple of years until the event Mkhize still has his sights set firmly on being part of the South African contingent that will travel to South America for the event.
“The goal to get to the Paralympics has not changed from last year and I am still very determined to get there in 2016.
“I think that making a name for myself locally is going to be important so I hope I can do well here and grow from there and then, hopefully, get into the Paralympic team,” Mkhize concluded optimistically.
The aQuellé Tour Durban road races takes place on Monday 28 April 2014.
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