Ashleigh Moolman Pasio of the Biogen Toyota professional women’s cycling team continued to show impressive form when she won the popular Ninety Niner cycle race in Durbanville at the weekend.

It was Moolman Pasio’s fourth consecutive win in as many weeks, following victories at the Pick n Pay The Star Fast One, the Berge en Dale Super Classic and the VW EP Herald Classic.

The Ninety Niner was contested over a slightly different route this year with the distance increased from 99km to 108km. The Elite women started with the Veteran men’s group and as expected the race-deciding split came on the steep, 3.5km-long Vissershok climb just before the 100km point.

Moolman Pasio and her Biogen Toyota teammate Anriette Schoeman crested the summit together ahead of Swedish national champion, Jennie Stenerhag (Alpha Pharm). Stenerhag managed to close the gap to the leaders on the descent, but wasn’t able to rejoin them before they started the final kilometre, a stiff ascent to the finish line.

Moolman Pasio is a strong climber and she moved clear of Schoeman in the final half-a-kilometre to clinch the victory in 2hrs 54min 53sec. Schoeman finished 15 seconds later to secure a one-two for Biogen Toyota, while Stenerhag rounded out the podium places in 2:55:31.

Leading results:
1 Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (Biogen Toyota, RSA) 2hr54min53sec
2 Anriette Schoeman (Biogen Toyota, RSA) 2:55:08
3 Jenny Stenerhag (Alpha Pharm, SWE) 2:55:31
4 Yolandi du Toit (Bizhub, RSA) 2:55:52
5 Lise Olivier (Natro, RSA) 2:56:21
6 Catherine Williamson (Bizhub, ENG) 2:56:21
7 Jade Roberts(Bizhub, RSA) 2:56:43
8 Jennifer Hohl (Bizhub, SUI) 2:57:02
9 Heletjie van Staden (RSA) 2:58:28
10 Mary Haw (RSA) 2:59:20

Wilde Pure Pressed and Squeezed Fruit Juice is at it again! The Wilde Cycle Race has been a great success in the past and is becoming a much anticipated event in Wellington. It’s almost time to embrace this glorious pedalling experience once again – coming 27 February 2010!

Wilde Pure Pressed and Squeezed Fruit Juice promotes the good health of the whole family through their wide range of delicious pure pressed fruit juices. But, a health lifestyle requires more than just a healthy drink – therefore Wilde is dedicated to hosting and sponsoring health promoting events.

The Wilde Cycle 2010 Race will give many league cyclists a good opportunity to prepare for the forthcoming Cape Argus in March. In addition to that, Wilde has also included two Mountain Bike Routes. Prizes will be sponsored from local Wellington businesses and other various stand holders at the event.

There are two road cycling races, two mountain biking races, as well as a kiddies race. A maximum of 3000 entries will be allowed.

PRE – ENTRIES

94 km Road: R90 PPA / R120 NON – PPA

54 km Road: R90 PPA / R120 NON – PPA

50 km MTB: R90 PPA / R120 NON – PPA

20 km MTB: R90 PPA / R120 NON – PPA

6 km KIDS: R30 PPA / R30 NON – PPA (enter on race day only)

LATE ENTRIES

94 km Road: R110 PPA / R140 NON – PPA

54 km Road: R110 PPA / R140 NON – PPA

50 km MTB: R110 PPA / R140 NON – PPA

20 km MTB: R110 PPA / R140 NON – PPA

6 km KIDS: R30 PPA / R30 NON – PPA (enter on race day only)

The closing date for online entries is 24 February 2010 for online entries, so enter as soon as possible to guarantee your place in this memorable event. There will be entries accepted on the day.

If you’re keen to get into gear, visit www.wildecycle.co.za or www.teamwilde.co.za for more information or to enter online.

Entries for South Africa’s biggest mountain bike race, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay MTB Challenge, are still pouring in. Organisers have therefore decided to extend the closing date to Monday 15 February. Entries are limited, so those still wishing to secure an entry are advised not to delay. Please note no late entries will be accepted after the cut-off date. Revised format “We have revised the MTB Challenge for this year. The shorter races – the 13km and 26km – will now take place on Saturday 6 March. Especially the 13km route is ideal for parents to tackle with their youngsters. The longer races, the 35km and 55km, are on Sunday 7 March,” says Meurant Botha, co-organiser of the MTB Challenge. Saturday’s 13km is suited to youngsters and less experienced riders. “There will be additional water stops along the 13km route and volunteers will be on-hand to assist with things like flat tyres or broken chains,” Botha concluded. The 2010 MTB Challenge returns to the magnificent Boschendal Wine Estate for the eight consecutive year. Riders van enter online by visiting www.mtbchallenge.co.za.

Cycling South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that top sprinter, Nolan Hoffman,
has been handed an 18-month suspension from racing by an Anti-Doping
Disciplinary Panel that convened in Bloemfontein on 3 February 2010.
Hoffman returned a positive test for unacceptably high levels of the
hormone Testosterone, following the scrutiny of a sample taken from him on
18 October 2009.

The sentence for this type of contravention of UCI and CSA anti-doping code
normally carries a two-year ban, but Hoffman admitted guilt, showed remorse
for his actions and gave the hearing panel his full co-operation. They
subsequently reduced the suspension by six months dating back to the date
of sample collection.

“CSA has entered a new era which includes raising the standard of our
riders so that they are able to have a realistic chance at challenging for
international titles. Our riders need to take responsibility for their own
actions and Nolan Hoffman’s case confirms our intentions to clean up
professional cycling in line with the relentless global moves in that
direction,” explained Greg Till, CSA President.

Twenty-four-year-old Hoffman is one of the country’s biggest development
success stories, having gone from a promising youngster to one of the top
riders in the country in just a few years. He is a former South African
Under-23 road race champion and has held multiple national track titles. He
is a regular podium finisher at most of the country’s leading road races
and has in recent years finished on podiums at international stage races,
including victory in the opening stage of the 2009 Tour de Korea.

Hoffman was racing for the Neotel professional team at the time of his
positive test and was immediately dismissed from the team. Neotel then
withdrew its sponsorship from professional road cycling in early 2010, but
has maintained its support of the Neotel Development Academy.

“CSA has been working alongside Drug Free Sport South Africa for the past
couple of years in an effort to clean up cycling.  We have a zero-tolerance
policy on the use of banned performance-enhancing methods and will continue
to ensure an increased number of tests are conducted among all the cycle
racing disciplines in 2010,” added Till.

The 4th leg of the Virgin Active Spring League took place this past Sunday in Stellenbosch over a distance of 106km.

The race had one KOM sprint after 16km at the top of Remhoogte. The KOM Jersey is currently being held by Ryan Kemp (Daikin Gu), who is also the series leader.

The race started off in windy conditions,as the riders headed onto the R44, exiting Stellenbosch. The race stayed together for KOM sprint, which was won by David Garrett (Daikin Gu). Just after the KOM, 4 riders broke away and build up a minute gap, Erik Kleinhans(GT), Siyabonga Mngwazi (Velokhaya GT PPA), Neil Schaffer (Club 100), and one other rider. Scaffer dropped out of the break, after 5km, so that left three riders.

This breakaway stayed away for nearly 25km, before they were caught as the bunch entered Paarl.

The riders from Daikin Gu then took control and the bunch stayed together for the rest of the race. As the riders headed into the the final kilometre, Cape Town Market launched the first attack, setting it up for their sprinter Stefan Ihlenfelt , who edged out Moolman Welgemoed(Daikin Gu) and Robert Quinn (Club 100) coming into third.

The pink yersey was retained by Ryan Kemp, who has a 21 seconds lead over Welgemoed and Ihlenfeldt who are in joined second place.

Results:

1) Stefan Ihlenfeldt (Cape Town Market) 2.38.53
2) Moolman Welgemoed (Daikin Gu)
3) Robert Quinn (Club 100)
4) Leonardo Van Onselen
5) David Garrett (Daikin Gu)

Nothing was going to stop the pre race favourites for the first MTN Cross Country event of the year.  On Saturday, just outside of Alberton, Burry Stander (Specialized/MR Price) and Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade) still dominated the MTN National Cross-Country Series, just as the year before.

Not even the fact that Stander suffered from a loss of concentration during the last lap, which caused him to twice crash into trees, or that the pedal of Speedy’s bike came loose during the 2nd lap, which caused her to lose nearly four minutes, could prevent them from winning their respective races by more than five minutes.

Stander’s winning time for the six-lap (6.28 km) race was 1 hour 57 minutes 59 seconds. Philip Buys (Garminadidas) finished 2nd overall and won the u.23 category in a time of 2:03:17.  Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garminadidas) finished 3rd in 2:03:45 and he was 2nd in the elite category.

Stander was full of praise for the course.

“Even though there were no big climbs or downhills, it was still one of the most challenging courses I have ever ridden.  The route was so challenging that you had to stay focused all the time.  If you read one line incorrectly you paid the price.

“That was what happened to me during the last lap.  On the last climb there was a choice of three lines.  I don’t know what induced me to make the decision, but I chose what I thought would be the easiest line.  It was a mistake.  Not knowing what to expect, I twice lost control of my bike and crashed into trees.

“Apparently this was the wake-up call that I needed because thereafter I was focused again.”

According to Stander the big difference between cross-country racing and marathon racing is that during a marathon tactics play an important part in the outcome of the race, while in cross-country every rider has to fend for himself. Usually the rider who can read the course best and makes the fewest mistakes wins.

Looking at Stander’s lap times, he was ‘Mr Consistency.’ He finished his first lap in 19 minutes and 12 seconds and from then on he managed to finish the next four laps all in under twenty minutes.  During the last lap his time was 20:04 which means that the time difference between his first and last laps was only 52 seconds.

“I am not surprised by my consistent lap times.  I have been focusing on doing stamina work until now, therefore I have adequate endurance but no real speed.  However, this will change during the next few weeks.”

Bassingthwaighte was also consistent as far as his lap times were concerned. He finished his first lap in 20:23 and his last lap in 20:38. His slowest lap time was 20:44.

Buys surprised everybody when he decided to take the initiative from the moment the starter’s gun went. He rode in front, setting the pace, with Stander right on his wheel.  This meant that he shared the record for the fastest lap time with Stander.

A muddy Buys said that he surprised himself with the way he raced.

“My race was just one big gamble and luckily it paid off.”

Yolandé Speedy was quite satisfied with the way her race went.

Her winning time for the four-lap race was 1 hour 36 minutes and 56 seconds.

Hungary’s Eszter Erdelyi (Jeep), who became a South African citizen after falling in love with race promoter, Max Cluer, finished 2nd in 1:41.12.  Mariska Strauss (MTN-energade) was 3rd in the pro-elite category as well as the winner of the u.23 race in a time of 1:42.06.

Caitlin de Wet (Mr Price/Specialized) finished 4th overall and was the 2nd u.23 rider to finish. Her time was 1:46.35.

After her mishap, Speedy said: “I can only blame myself for the fact that my pedal came loose during the 2nd lap.  Mistakes like this could cost you the race. I was lucky that they were able to help me in the technical zone. But I still lost 4 minutes in the process.”

“The most important thing that I have learned is not to take things for granted. Next time, before I race, I will do a proper check on my bike.  I had to race hard to catch Mariska again.”

Asked what motivated her once she was in the lead again, Speedy said it was to set fast lap times.

“After a race I like to compare my lap times with those of the men.”

Speedy was also very consistent with a time of 23:04 for the first lap and 23:21 for the last lap.

The junior boy’s race was won by James Reid (Mr Price/Specialized) in 1:48:05 with Luke Roberts finishing 2nd in 1:51:27 and Arno du Toit (Mr Price/Specialized) 3rd in 1:52:41.

Candice Neethling (DCM) won the junior women’s race in 1:19:36 and Simone Vosloo was 2nd in 1:21:25.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje

Barring serious mechanical problems or a spectacular crash, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Burry Stander (Specialized/MR Price) and Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade) will win their respective races during Saturday’s first event of the MTN National Cross-Country Series.

Last year, as an under-23 rider, Stander set the fastest time in every cross-country race in which he participated. His winning time was usually five or more minutes faster than that of any of the other local riders.

The only time that Stander was beaten in the MTN series, was during the Cascades event when he had to compete against some of the world’s best riders, who used the race to prepare for the World Cup in Pietermaritzburg. Germany’s Wolfram Kurchat was the overall winner, with Spain’s Jose Hermida 2nd and Stander 3rd. The time difference between the first three riders was only two minutes.

With Stander’s victory almost a foregone conclusion, the battle for the second place will be interesting. The 19 year-old Rourke Croeser (DCM) might just be responsible for the big surprise of the day.

During the past nine years, Croeser has won every cross-country race he finished.  He was the South African junior champion for the past two years.

Saturday will be the first time that he will not only be racing as an under-23 rider but also compete against the elite riders. Croeser makes it clear that being the novice among the ‘big boys’ does not mean that he will only be racing to make up the numbers.

He has already proven that he can be a real factor when he finished 9th overall in the MTN Barberton Ultra-marathon (120km). It was the first time that Croeser raced over such a long distance.

“The only difference for me between last year and this year, is that I am going to race harder than ever before. Ever since I started racing on my mountain bike, I have had only one goal in mind and that is to become a world champion one day. This year is just another stepping stone towards that goal.”

Some people are worried that Croeser might burn himself out this year, trying to do too much too soon. To suddenly be racing 120 kilometers while he was not allowed to race more than 60 kilometers last year is, according to informed opinion, a certain way to court disaster.

There are those who predict that Croeser, if he were to keep on racing over 100 kilometers, might sustain injuries that could cost him his dream of becoming a world champion.  Croeser admits that he is well aware of the risk of injuries and that he has already discussed his racing program for the rest of the year with his sponsors.

Last year Yolandé Speedy won the MTN SA Championship race in George by 10 minutes. After her performances in the MTN Attakwas and Barberton marathons, where she beat literally hundreds of male riders, the safe bet would be that she will again win by more than ten minutes on Saturday.

Saturday’s race for the junior boys promises to be another highlight. The big battle for the first place will probably be between Ruan du Toit and James Reid (MR Price/Specialized), while Arno du Toit and Luke Robberts might just cause a surprise.

Reid is the in-form rider at the moment having won both the Attakwas and Barberton races of the MiWay Series.

In last year’s MTN National Cross-Country series, consisting of four races, Reid beat Ruan du Toit twice and lost twice against him.

“I think our junior race is going to be unbelievably hard.  Cross-country racing is just so much more exciting than half-marathon races.  During a cross-country race you have to think all the time about what your next move should be.”

When Reid was asked who he thinks the riders to beat will be, the first name he mentioned was Luke Robberts.

“Luke is an incredibly light rider and very talented. We have the same coach.”

As far as the junior women’s race is concerned it would be a surprise if Candice Neethling (DCM) does not win, although she has been through a rough time during the past ten days, being sick and losing weight.

However, Neethling is quietly confident that she has got rid of the virus that has caused so much trouble and she is now looking forward to start winning on her mountain bike again.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje

Seven-times Tour de France winner and all-time cycling great Lance Armstrong will participate in this year’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. Armstrong confirmed this on Twitter last night.

This marks the first time that Armstrong, the world’s most iconic cyclist, will take part in the world’s largest timed cycling race.

David Bellairs, Co-Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, organisers of the event, is thrilled about Armstrong’s participation. “Last year it was Matt Damon and this year it’s Lance. With such high profile individuals taking part, there can be no doubt about Cycle Tour’s iconic status. It makes us extremely proud to be working on this event.”

Armstrong announced his participation on Twitter last night, saying: “Hey South Africa! Excited to come down in March. Bringing your man @darylimpey with me. And yes, we’re racing The Argus (sic). Hear gr8 things.”

South African pro cyclist Daryl Impey rides for Armstrong’s newly formed Team RadioShack. “The fact that Lance will be riding Cycle Tour alongside one of South Africa’s cycling superstars is just wonderful,” Bellairs concluded.

The 33rd Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour takes place on Sunday, 14 March. More information on the Cycle Tour and its related events can be found at http://www.cycletour.co.za/.

‘Take it easy’ is the one phrase that Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) finds impossible to put into practice.

It just does not exist in the vocabulary of the multiple World Cup Champion, who is at the moment the third best downhill racer in the world.

On Sunday (7 February) he will compete in the first of the MTN National Downhill events which will take place just outside of the village of Skeerpoort and quite close to the Hartebeespoort Dam. He is also planning to compete in the 3-day Sani2Sea Mountain Bike event, and so it just goes on and on.

Not even the fact that he was in danger of losing a leg at the end of last year slows Minnaar down.

As part of his preparation for the Roof of Africa Enduro, Minnaar competed in the Hare Scramble Motor-bike Enduro event at the end of last year. He was doing quite well initially and after three laps he was in 4th position.

But then disaster struck.  When Minnaar was going around a right-hand corner, he hit a concealed rock that threw him over the handlebars and straight onto his right shoulder, breaking his collarbone.

While Minnaar was recovering in hospital, doctors noticed that his left thigh was swollen to about 10cm thicker than his right thigh. They rushed him into surgery and removed three massive blood clots, one of which was apparently the size of the doctor’s fist!  In  medical terms this is called ‘compartment syndrome’.

According to Minnaar he could have lost his leg if he had not been in a hospital.

Then and there, many people would have decided to take things easy for a while, but not Minnaar.

The moment he was able to walk properly, he was in a canoe and preparing for the three-day Dusi Canoe marathon in January.

Minnaar and his K2-partner, Sven Bruss, managed to finish 65th out of the 813 teams that completed the race.  This is an amazing  result considering that Minnaar only started to paddle in December and only seriously started to run in January.

Asked why a world-class mountain biker would compete in a canoe marathon, Minnaar replied that he was fulfilling a promise he had made to his grandmother.

According to Minnaar his grandmother’s brother, Bobby Templeton, had won the Dusi four times in the 1950’s, paddling with Ernie Pearce.

“When I was a child my grandmother always told me very exciting stories about uncle Bobby’s Dusi adventures.  She also gave me the stopwatch my uncle used while training for the Dusi.

“I promised my grandmother that one day I would also do the Dusi, but I kept postponing it every year.  Recently my grandmother died and I then felt that I had no more excuses not to do the Dusi.”

One of the big Dusi highlights for Minnaar was when he and Bruss shot the Island rapid which is one of the biggest rapids of the river.

“It was quite an experience to get through the rapid.  Another great experience for me was just to finish day one of the Dusi. It was one of the hardest days of my life because I had not run with a canoe on my shoulders before. What was also very special was the start of the Dusi. Everybody in Pietermaritzburg knew who Sven and I were and they cheered us on all the way until we were outside the city.”

As far as Sunday’s racing is concerned, Minnaar said his main purpose is to do just enough to qualify for the World Championship.

“I have never raced the course before. I hear it is quite rocky and technical, which will ensure exciting racing.”

According to Minnaar he will not be quite at his best on Sunday, because his main focus is to peak for the World Cup season. Last year he won three of the World Cup events and was also 2nd at the World Championship.

For Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade) mountain biking is not just about winning races or determining how many male riders she can beat during major events.  It is also about sharing her expertise.

She is a firm believer in the principle ‘The more the better’.

This is the reason why she has started to coach a few riders and it seems that she is certainly achieving success. During MTN’s Barberton Event one of her pupils, Karien van Jaarsveld, finished second in the women’s race over 75km.

Speedy just loves it when a plan comes together like it did on Saturday when she, being the teacher, won the women’s race, and her pupil came second.

Yolandi du Toit (Team Bizhub) finished 3rd.

When asked how she felt about Van Jaarsveld’s performance, Speedy’s face immediately lit up in a big smile.

“It is great. There is such a small pool of good female mountain bikers. Therefore it is good for the sport every time there is a new face on the winner’s podium. The challenge for Karien and me is to ensure that she gets onto winners podiums regularly.”

Van Jaarsveld is full of praise for the role her mentor has played in her success.

“Yolandé has only been coaching me since November last year. The most important thing that she has taught me, is that patience is a virtue. There are no short cuts to success in mountain biking. You have to put in long, hard miles of training if you want to win.”’

What is amazing about Van Jaarsveld’s second place finish is the fact that she is 29 and has only been cycling seriously for just over a year. Until 2008 she was an athlete who competed on the track in the 400 m, and she also participated in cross-country races.

The turning point in her career occurred when she injured her knee and could not run any longer.

A good friend, Jake Alberts, a nephew of the cycling legend Ertjies Bezuidenhout, convinced her to take up cycling.

“In the beginning cycling was not my first preference.  I used to be a professional motor-bike racer for five years. That was a tough life and I took quite a few serious tumbles while racing.  In the process I also damaged my knee quite badly. That’s why I took up cycling,” Van Jaarsveld explained.

According to Alberts he first realized that Van Jaarsveld had a talent for cycling while they were on holiday in the Seychelles.

“During one of our rides she dropped me on a climb. My first thoughts were: ‘Hold on, this is not supposed to happen.  I am the cyclist and she is the novice.’  I then realized that Karien has the necessary talent and I convinced her to start cycling seriously.

“Last year we went to France and rode most of the serious climbs of the Tour de France. Karien proved again that she is not scared of big mountains.”

Van Jaarsveld and Du Toit were still side by side 65 kilometres into the race, when a male rider fell in front of them, causing Du Toit to crash. “I got up immediately, but couldn’t close the gap on the downhill approach to the finishing line, which was all single-track,” Du Toit said.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje

Christopher Jennings, the reigning South African Junior Road Cycling Champion, upstaged the big professional teams at the weekend when he put on a classy display to ride away from the country’s top professionals and win the Berge en Dale Super Classic in Krugersdorp.
Now in his first year in the Under-23 category, Jennings, who turns 19 on Friday, is racing for the Toyota–Cycling South Africa Development Academy team. He timed his solo attack perfectly, making his move with 40km of the 97km race remaining.

Team Medscheme’s Hanko Kachelhoffer and Jaco Ferreira of Team Computer Smith finished second and third respectively.

“To be honest didn’t think I’d stay away. I thought someone might ride across to me, but they didn’t. The first time I got given a time gap I had a one minute, 20 second lead. That gave me the motivation to go harder,” explained Jennings.

Jennings agreed that the absence radios helped him in his victorious ride on Saturday. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has begun to implement a ban on radio communication between riders and their team cars in an effort to make racing more intuitive and less predictable and 2010 marks the beginning of the initiative, which has largely met with resistance from professional teams.

“Without radios it is a lot more difficult to gather information on breakaways. Today that worked in my favour a little. What was also in my favour was that the route was quite undulating with lots of turns, so I was out of sight of the bunch a lot, making it harder for them to focus on the chase,” said Jennings.

Jennings said that with nine kilometres remaining, he got a final time gap from his manager, Barry Austin, who was able to drive up alongside him.

“Barry said that I had 45 seconds and that’s when I knew I’d have a good chance of staying away, but I still pushed as hard as possible to make certain. It wasn’t the biggest win of my career, but it was a good confidence boost with SA champs just three weeks away.”

The Medscheme and MTN Energade teams did the bulk of the chasing the final 20km, but their effort was inconsistent, allowing Jennings to pull off the win.

In 2009, Jennings made history when he became the first South African junior male to win a top-rated UCI race after he captured the honours on the final stage of the Tour de Pays de Vaud in Switzerland.

In the Berge en Dale Super Classic women’s race, Biogen Toyota’s Ashleigh Moolman claimed a rather hollow victory after the lead break of four riders was misdirected in the final stages of the race.

Cherise Taylor (Nashua Telecoms), Joanna van der Winkle (Biogen Toyota), Robyn de Groot (MTN Energade) and Lylanie Lauwrens (MTN Energade), held more than a two-minute lead over the main pack when an errant lead vehicle led them off course. They returned to the correct route more than 10 minutes behind their rivals, leaving Moolman the opportunity to win her second race in successive weeks.

Cyclists who missed the entry cut-off for the 2010 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour have one last chance to secure a spot on the starting line with substitution entries opening on Monday, 1 February.

Substitute online or manually

The cost of a substitution entry is R350, irrespective of PPA of CSA membership.

Cyclists who have internet access can make an online substitution application:
Visit the online entry page on http://www.cycletour.co.za/ from 1-26 February.
Enter the details of the person who is entering as a substitute.
Pay the substitution fee online.
Download a consent form for the cyclists withdrawing, who complete the form and fax it to 021 797 5306.
Organisers will e-mail a confirmation letter to the substitution entrant within 72 hours of receiving consent form.
Cyclists can also follow a manual application procedure:
Download the substitution entry and consent forms from http://www.cycletour.co.za/ or request a form to be faxed to you by phoning 021 763 7960.
Post the completed entry form, the signed consent form of the person withdrawing, as well as a cheque / postal order to Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, PO Box 777, Rondebosch, 7700. This must reach organisers by 26 February. No late substitutions will be accepted.
Cyclists who choose to withdraw will not receive a refund.

All new entrants will receive a new race number and start in the group for which they qualify, depending on experience and their results in seeding events. This number can be collected at the Cape Argus Lifecycle Expo that will be held at the Good Hope Centre.

Should you wish to secure a substitution entry but do not know of anyone withdrawing, please fax your name, contact details and the number of places required to 021 797 5306 or e-mail substitutions@cycletour.co.za. The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust will do its best to find you a cancellation.

Use your own race number

Organisers have warned that cyclists racing under someone else’s race number face disqualification, and entrants are urged not to let anyone else use the race number allocated to them. While it seems an easy solution, the consequences could be life-threatening.

David Bellairs, Co-Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, explains: “Participants’ details, including their medical and emergency contact details, are linked to their race number, and this number is our first port of call in an emergency situation. As part of our safe cycling initiative we therefore urge all cyclists to only use the race number allocated to them.”

Those participating with another cyclist’s race number will be disqualified, while the original entrant will be suspended from future events.

For more information, visit http://www.cycletour.co.za/ or call 021 763 7960.

The third edition of the Virgin Active League Elite Series took place on Sunday in Constantia. The race promised to be a challenging circuit, with riders starting with Ou Kaapse Weg steep side, Black Hill, through Smitswinkel, Slangkop and then back over Ou Kaapse Weg and finishing at Constantia.

There was also only one KOM today and that was at the top of Ou Kaapse Weg the first time round.

The riders started off at a fast pace with the riders from Cape Town Market, Club 100 launching the first attacks, but the riders of Daikin Gu took control as Shaun Roos (Daikin Gu) was the series leader. As the the riders turned right up Ou Kaapse Weg, Jaco Cronje (North Cliff Cycles) launched the first attack.

The riders regrouped half way up and then David Garrett (Daikin Gu) launched an attack and was followed by Lance Muller (Club 100). These riders manage to build up a small gap and the KOM was won by Garrett with Lance Muller in second place and Ryan Kemp (Daikin Gu) taking 3rd.

The riders regrouped on the downhill into Sunvalley. Many attacks followed, but all of them were brought back untill the riders hit Misty Cliffs. Robert Quinn (Club 100) then broke away and build up a minute gap quite quickly. This gap was brought down to about 20 seconds when the bunch started Ou Kaapse Weg for the 2nd time.

At the foot of Ou Kaapse Weg, David Garrett launched an attack and quickly build up a sizeable gap. Garrett caught Quinn who only managed to stay on Garrett’s wheel untill halfway up the climb. Garrett then crossed over the top of Ou Kaapse Weg first with a 20 seconds advantage over a group of 20 riders chasing him.

With 8km to go 2 riders, Moolman Welgemoed (Daikin Gu) and Charles Keey (Club100) crossed over to Garrett.
These 3 riders where about 20 seconds in front of the chasing 18 riders. With 5km to go Garrett broke away from Welgemoed and Keey.

The bunch chase was being led by Cape Town Market and with 150 meters to go to the line Garrett was caught. The bunch sprint was won by Stefan Ihlenfelft (Cape Town Market) with Moolman Welgemoed coming in second.

Results:

1) Stefan Ihlenfeldt (Cape Town Market) 2h18min
2) Moolman Welgemoed (Daikin Gu)
3) JP Jacobs (Outriders)

To try to predict who will be the winner of Saturday’s MTN Barberton Ultra-marathon, is not an easy task. The saying about a certain Fat Lady who first has to sing before anything can be taken for granted comes to mind.

However, the one prediction that can be made with certainty, is that there will be drama in the Barberton mountains. Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade) and Burry Stander (Specialized/MR Price) are the two riders who will make sure of that.

Two years ago Stander and Evans were involved in a dramatic battle that continued all the way to the finishing line, with Stander just managing to outsprint Evans.

Last year neither of them managed to win, but they made sure that there was adequate drama.

Stander crashed spectacularly while racing at full speed down the mountain. He made a slight error of judgment around one of the corners in the thick mud and had to pay the price.

Stander’s crash was not in vain. Herman Verwey, a photographer, managed to cash in big time on Stander’s mud bath. He won a major local photographic competition with the picture he had taken of the all muddy Stander grimacing with pain.

Evans’s drama also led to some pain.  He was involved in a war of words with Brandon Stewart (DCM) which ended with Stewart pushing Evans into the bushes.

On Saturday everyone will again be looking forward to a continuation of the battle between Evans and Stander on their mountain bikes.

However, as Evans pointed out, it very seldom happens that both of them manage to race to the finishing line.

“Look what happened during last year’s MTN South African Ultra-marathon Race in Harrismith. I had a bad day with punctures and Burry won. Two weeks ago, at the MTN Attakwas Ultra-marathon, it was Burry who punctured at a crucial moment and I won the race.”

Evans made it clear that he is not obsessed with winning the Barberton Race, because this year his main focus is not on winning the MTN Series overall.

“I had a good start to the season, winning the MTN Attakwas Ultra-marathon. That has taken much pressure off me. So I will just go out and enjoy myself.  I might even see if I could help one of my team-mates to a podium finish.”

But having said that, Evans admits that he will probably not be able to contain himself.

“When I enter a race I become instinctively competitive. When the starter’s gun goes off and the racing begins, that is when the monster in me comes out. I won’t be doing what I am doing if I were not fundamentally competitive.

“To have Burry also racing, makes it exciting. He is a classy rider. You don’t become a world champion if you are not the best. Burry is the one rider who is not scared to take the initiative whenever he races.”

Saturday could be a classic scenario of two dogs fighting for a bone and a third opponent riding away with the spoils.

Max Knox (DCM) won the MTN Barberton Ultra-marathon last year and he makes no secret of his intention to defend his title successfully.

According to Knox he had done all the hard training over the December holidays.

“During the MTN Attakwas Ultra-marathon I could feel that I was in good form.  Unfortunately I punctured when it mattered. What might count in my favour is that I know the Barberton course very well.

“The important thing to remember when racing at Barberton is that the course is quite hilly. Many riders make the mistake of getting carried away during the first half of the race and then ending up paying the price towards the end. It is important to pace yourself. If you can manage to stay with the front guys towards the end, you will have a fair chance of winning.

“I know that Burry and Kevin will be my main rivals, but am not concerned about their presence. I am going to do my own race and only worry about what I can do. In the end, the only thing that matters to me is whether or not I have given my best.”

Ben-Melt Swanepoel (Specialized/MR Price) and David George will be the other two riders to watch on Saturday.

As far as the women’s race is concerned, it will be a big surprise if Yolandé Speedy (MTN-energade) does not win. The big battle will be between Yolandi du Toit (Team Bizhub) and Ischen Stopforth (Team Bizhub) for the 2ndposition.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje

“I will be back and racing again.”

That was the promise Mannie Heymans (Garmin adidas) made to himself and to the mountain-biking community shortly after he had crashed and badly broken his elbow last year.

However, no one warned Heymans that the road to recovery would be a long, frustrating and lonely battle. During the past few months there were times when even Heymans had his doubts about whether he would be able to make good on his promise to be racing competitively again.

If it had not been for his passion for mountain biking, he would probably have given up.

And now, on Saturday, Heymans will at long last make his return to mountain biking, the sport which he truly loves. However, Heymans makes it clear that people should not expect any heroics from him during the MTN Barberton Ultra-marathon.

“My main goal is just to finish the race in one piece. I only started riding my mountain bike again last week. My elbow felt OK during my training rides, but I have to be realistic. It will be something totally different to be racing.”

With Garmin adidas’ Francois Theron out of action until the end of March and Philip Buys planning to be at his best only in two weeks time, it will be an excellent opportunity for Marc Bassingthwaighte to achieve a podium finish for his team.

He relishes the challenge.

“If I can maintain the good form that I had at the Attakwas Ultra-marathon, I will have a good race in Barberton. Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade) and Burry Stander (Specialized/MR Price) have proven that they are the two strongest riders at the moment.

“I know that between the two of them they will make the racing really hard.  Therefore my main challenge will be to see if I can stay with them on the steep climb to the top of the mountain. If I can manage to do that, I will have a realistic chance for a very good finish.”

According to Buys he can feel that he is getting stronger every day, but he is still not where he wants to be.

“This does not mean that I will not be going for a good result. If I have good legs on Saturday and there is an opportunity, I will certainly go for it.” “My season was longer than most in 2009 and I took off two weeks later which meant my training started two weeks later, but I am happy with my progress.”

Buys was the undisputed in-form rider for the second half of the 2009 season and should not be discounted even now.

Keep up to speed with the team at www.teamgarmin.co.za or follow us on twitter @teamgarminmtb

The one thing that is certain when MTN gets involved with a mountain bike event is that the race will go from strength to strength with more riders participating each year.

One just has to look at what has happened in the last two years with the Barberton-event.

Fritz Pienaar, series director, expects that about 2000 riders will compete in Saturday’s MTN-event.

It is not just the Barberton event that is getting more popular.

According to Pienaar mountain biking as a whole is going through a boom period.

“It seems that mountain biking is the happening sport at the moment and that makes for exciting racing.”

Pienaar reckons  that one of the reasons why the Barberton-event is becoming more and more popular is because the route has been changed last year.

“For true mountain bikers the race might have been too fast and perhaps even bordering on easy in the past, but I think last year we managed to make it more challenging by changing the route slightly so that second half of the race is more technical. The MTN Barberton still has one of the toughest climbs of the series. The big climb starts after about 10 kilometers and finishes after about 17 kilometers.

“The moment you get to the top you will be challenged by one a steep and very fast downhill section where a rider will have to keep his wits about him if he does not want to crash.

“The second half of the race consists mostly of rolling hills with challenging technical section towards the finish.”

Pienaar had good news for those Gautengers who might still have second thoughts on whether or not it will be worth their while to race in Barberton because of the constant rain over the past few days.

“Yes, it will be raining for most of the week in Pretoria and Johannesburg, but the good news is that it is highly likely it won’t rain over the weekend in Barberton according to long term forecasts.

“However there is a good chance that the cyclists riding skills are going to be tested by the muddy conditions. Those who followed last year’s race will still remember Burry Stander’s spectacular crash coming down at full speed around one of the muddy corners.

”Personally I think Barberton is a must for every rider who is planning to compete in the Sani2C or the ABSA Cape Epic. It will give anyone a good indication of their current form.”

As far as the actual racing is concerned Pienaar predicts that it will boil down to a battle between Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade), Burry Stander (Specialized) and Max Knox (DCM).

Evans has won the Attakwas-race quite convincingly, but one can only wonder what would have happened if Stander and Knox did not puncture at a crucial moment.

Knox is the defending champion. Those who saw him race at the MTN Attakwas XCM1 was more than impressed about the way he seemed to become stronger and stronger as the race progressed.

It is no secret that it is important for Knox as a Lowvelder to win at home.

As far as the women’s race is concerned it would be an upset if Yolandé Speedy (MTN-Energade) does not win. She proved by finishing 19th overall in the MTN Attakwas ultra-marathon over 135km that she is in a class of her own.

With Yolande de Villiers injured, Ischen Stopforth (Team Bizhub’s) is the only one that might be able to beat Speedy.

Cherise Taylor (Team Nashua)’s proved by winning the MiWay Attakwas Half Marathon  (57km) at Groot Brak that her racing abilities is certainly not just restricted just to winning on tar.

What made Taylor’s victory special was the fact that she managed to beat Candice Neethling (DCM) who won a bronze medal at last year’s cross country world championship in Australia.

Actually there was a little bit of history involved when Taylor and Neethling raced shoulder to shoulder in the MiWay-race. They are the only two South African female cyclists to have won a medal at an elite world championship. Three years ago Taylor won a silver at the world junior road championship. She has also represented South Africa at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Attakwas won’t be  the last time South Africa’s two world beaters will be racing against each other. This Saturday at the MTN Barberton event Taylor and Neethling will resume their rivalry in the second event of the MiWay-series.

Taylor makes it clear that she is not the race favourite.

“I have to be honest with myself. I was slightly lucky in the Attakwas-race. Candice and myself raced together until about 8 kilometers from the finish. I then managed to get in front. What counted in my favour was the fact that we raced on narrow single track which  made it difficult for Candice to overtake me.

“Candice is just too good rider to be caught out twice. I think she has what it takes to become South Africa’s best ever female mountain biker.

“Saturday will be the first time that I am going to race the MTN Barberton event.  I don’t know a lot about the race apart from the fact that we will be climbing for about 30 kilometers. That in itself is going to be a challenge.”

The fact that Taylor is set on becoming a regular fixture in South African mountainbiking scene is not only because she and Burry Stander (Specialized), the world’s third best cross country-rider, is an item.

“I just love the whole challenge of mountain biking.

“In road cycling you can still win races even if you don’t have the best of legs by hiding in the peloton and saving your energy for when it matters. You cannot do that in mountain biking.

“In mountain bike racing it is always about who is the strongest and how long you can push yourself to the maximum. That makes it exciting.

“I also think that competing regularly in mountain bike races will improve my strength and endurance.”

Ironically Taylor’s first experience of mountain bike racing was sort of frightening.

She was partnering Burry’s dad, Charles, in the Sabie Experience. During one of the stages on a downhill section she made a slight judgment error that led to her losing control of her bike and disappearing over a small cliff. Luckily she got caught in one of the branches of a tree.

That led to the joke of the tour- of what is yellow and hangs from a tree: Cherise Taylor.

Taylor proved her versatility over the weekend by finishing 2nd in the Pick n Pay The Star Fast One 103km road cycling race south of Johannesburg.

Anybody who continues training when he is not feeling well, can expect serious consequences. It could even be the end of his sporting career.

Francois Theron (Garmin-adidas) can vouch for that.

The 21 year-old mountain biker from Pretoria very nearly had to quit racing because he kept on training while he was ill, not realizing what damage he was doing to his heart.

Eventually, when Theron really had to battle every time he got onto his mountain bike, he realized that he had to consult a doctor urgently.

Prof. Wouter Basson had shocking news for Theron.

In short and in layman’s terms, Basson’s advice for Theron was to get off his mountain bike immediately if he did not want to have a heart attack or suffer from heart problems for the rest of his life.

Theron did as he was told and his health has now been back on the bike without any issues for more than a month. His recovery has been so good that there is a good chance that he will be able to race again in March.

One thing is certain – Theron won’t be competing in the Cape Epic. Basson made it clear that eight days of hard racing is just not on.

Missing out on the Epic does not bother Theron. He has received a second chance in life, and also as a professional mountain biker and he is adamant to make the most of it. He was also full of praise for his sponsors who stood by him through all this supporting him all the way.

“I was just stupid, you can actually say obsessed. There was this one race in which I really wanted to do well. So I kept on training, knowing that I was ill and I had to pay the price.

“I now realize that no race is more important than one’s health.  I also know now that nothing can be gained by training when ill.  It’s a waste of time and causes damage to one’s body.

“If my bad experience induces other young riders not to make the same mistake, it will be worthwhile.”

He also added that “I was lucky, my sponsor Garmin stood by me and was very supportive, they could easily have dropped me when they heard I would be unable to race for months.”

Mannie Heymans, is also on the mend but it is taking time.

Heymans said that he has finally been able to take the mountain bike out again. Until now he has just been doing long training rides on tarred roads.

“My elbow is still sensitive, therefore I am not going to take any chances. In a week’s time I am going to try to ride the MTN Barberton Race, but there is no guarantee that I will finish. I am just going to test myself.”

After being forced to end her 2009 season prematurely because of a broken collarbone, Ashleigh Moolman (Biogen Toyota) made a triumphant return to racing on Sunday when she won the Pick n Pay The Star Fast One 103km road cycling race south of Johannesburg.
The Stellenbosch-based rider confirmed that she’s not just a strong climber when she outsprinted a large lead pack in the popular race, which started at Nasrec and finished at Vanderbijlpark. Cherise Taylor (Nashua) and Carla Swart (MTN Energade) finished second and third respectively.

“It was great to win my first race back,” smiled Moolman. “I was a bit nervous as there was patchy rain, the roads were wet and there were a few potholes. But the pack rode very predictably and we got to the final turn safely.”

There were plenty of attacks in the race, but the absence of a strong wind or any significant ascents ensured that none of the attacks were successful and a 26-rider strong group remained to contest the final, gradual uphill dash for the finish line.

“Our Biogen Toyota team rode quite defensively because we only had four riders in the race, while MTN Energade had nine and Konica Minolta had eight,” explained Moolman. “Because it was quite a long sprint, it suited me perfectly. I sat on Lynette’s (Burger) wheel for a leadout and then timed my kick just right.”

Moolman’s team captain, Lynette Burger, the current South African road champion and also a noted sprinter, snapped a spoke within sight of the finish line, but she’d done enough to give Moolman the perfect springboard from which to launch her winning move.

2010 Pick n Pay The Star Fast One
Sunday 24 January, 103km, Nasrec–Vanderbijlpark
Leading results:
1 Ashleigh Moolman (RSA – Biogen Toyota) 02hr35min51sec
2 Cherise Taylor (RSA – Nashua)
3 Carla Swart (USA – MTN Energade)
4 Susanne Ljungskog (SWE – MTN Energade)
5 Sanet Smal (RSA)
6 Jeaun-Mari Breytenbach (RSA – Nashua)
7 Lisa Vermaak (RSA)
8 Marissa van der Merwe (RSA – MTN Energade)
9 Charlotte van der Merwe (RSA – Nashua)
10 Lizanne Naude (RSA – Biogen Toyota) all same time

This is the firm belief of the owner of Team Nashua, Owen Botha. He has, therefore, made a deal with Australia’s MB Cycles’ professional women’s team to race together with his Team Nashua internationally.

Riders from the two teams will compete in races in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, the Netherlands and Belgium.

It is interesting to note that Marcel Bengtson, who owns the MB Cycle Team, is a former South African who is now based in Brisbane.

During a tour of New Zealand (24-28 February) the two teams will combine to race together for the first time. Last year MB Cycles’ Amber Haliday won the UCI 2.2-tour.

According to Botha it happens too frequently that South African women riders are being sent overseas to compete without really knowing what to expect.

“From now on it will be different. I am almost certain that Cherise Taylor will be a member of the team that will be racing in New Zealand. With Haliday’s guidance, Cherise will know exactly which of the riders she has to watch and what the tour is all about.”

Basically the same will happen during the tour of China’s Chongming Island, which was won by Chloe Hosking (MB Cycles) last year.

Botha might well be described as a visionary as far as South African cycling is concerned.

In October this year the Commonwealth Games will take place in New Delhi, India.  Botha realizes that the circumstances in India could get tough for a first-time visitor to the country.  Many people have told horror stories about food poisoning after eating or drinking something that they were not accustomed to.

“I don’t want this to happen to any of my riders if they were to be selected to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Games. This is one of the reasons why we are sending a team to compete in the Tour of India. It will give our riders an opportunity to get acquainted with the conditions in India.  If some of them should be selected for the Commonwealth Games, they will be familiar with the circumstances and it won’t be a case of ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread’.

“Another positive aspect about the Tour of India is that a section of the course will overlap with the course which is going to be used for the Games.”

Botha is also thinking ahead as far as the World Championship is concerned. It takes place from the 29th of September to the 3rd of October in Geelong, Australia.

“If any of the Team Nashua riders should be selected for the South African team, the plan is to make sure that they arrive in Australia two weeks before the event so that they can be acclimatized properly. It will also give them ample opportunity to train on the course.”

Botha’s long-term vision for his riders is to assist them to obtain an entry to the Tour de Femme (women’s version of the Tour de France).

The Australian riders will be racing in most of South Africa’s big one-day classics. They will be arriving on 26 January.

The Australians, Liz Young and Davina Summers could be the two intellectuals in the South African pro-squad. Young holds a doctorate in political science and she held the position of Director of Environmental Policy for Queensland for a period of time.  Summers holds a Masters degree in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science degree. Jessie MacLean is the other Aussie who will be competing in most of the races in South Africa. Jessie is a forma World Pursuit Junior Champion on the track.

Halliday, Australia’s 2010 time trial champion , might also be doing a few races in South Africa.

The South African riders in the team will be: Taylor, Charlotte van der Merwe, Milandi Cronje and Jeaun-Mari Breytenbach.