GWF Rides Cape Argus Cycle Tour for Kids
March 7, 2007
Tennis champ doing it for charity
By Zara Nicholson
Former South African/ American tennis champion Johan Kriek is in town to ride the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour for the first time - and he's doing it for charity.
Kriek, 49, moved to Naples in Florida after turning professional 29 years ago, and has brought five American friends to ride the tour with him on Sunday.
Kriek won the Australian Open two years in a row in 1981 and 1982.
Despite having to keep fit as part of his job, cycling is new to him.
"It started out as a personal quest to ride the Argus - I've only been riding for six months. I have a foundation which is involved in water projects and sanitation in Third World countries, and later I thought of getting some sponsors and doing the race in aid of the foundation," he said.
The Global Water Foundation, based in Johannesburg, started out eight months ago.
It has just completed its first project: sinking a well in Uganda.
Kriek is extremely enthusiastic about his new sport.
"I get to come back to South Africa and see this beautiful country and bring people from the US over here as well."
While out on a training ride on a scorching Cape Town day in Camps Bay, Kriek simply wiped his forehead and said: "This is so much fun, it's beautiful over here."
