Into Cycling - April 2019 by Into Cycling

INTO N E W S PA P E R ISSUE #29

April 2019

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GRANT LOTTERING TO ATTEMPT MOST BRUTAL SOLO FUNDRAISING RIDE EVER IN SOUTH AFRICA

Photo: Grant Lottering Im’possible Tour 2018 - Photo Credit: Sebastien Rodriguez

Grant Lottering, accomplished ultra-endurance road cyclist and Laureus Sport for Good Ambassador, is bringing his legendary Im’possible Tour to South Africa for the very first time. In May 2019, Lottering will attempt to ride 1 340km through the Cape, climbing 17 mountains – almost 16 000m – in a non-stop single ride. He aims to finish this unforgiving journey in under 96 hours, making it the most extreme solo fundraising ride ever undertaken in South Africa.

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Lottering’s vision with his Im’possible Tour is simple – to inspire, to challenge, and to be relevant – which is exactly what he has done in the five Im’possible Tours since his near-fatal cycling accident in July 2013 in Italy. In 2016, Lottering cycled 962km non-stop in only 46 hours, climbing 20 of the most merciless Alpine mountains in all of cycling folklore for his third Im’possible Tour.

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NEWS

2019 CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR WRAP

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When the 2019 Lifecycle Week kicked off with the Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge, on Saturday, 2 March 2019 there were 35 000 nervous eyes on the weather forecast for Sunday, 10 March 2019. They need not have been however; though the Cape Doctor blustered it could not blow away the formidable spirit of the Cape Town Cycle Tour competitors. Even the week’s main event is just a fraction of the story, as the Lifecycle Week celebrated cycling and a healthy lifestyle for eight straight days in the Mother City. Fortunately, after the drizzle at the Cape Town Cycle Tour MTB Challenge – where Alan Hatherly and Candice Lill emerged victorious – the weather played along perfectly for the Cape Town Cycle Tour Junior. The fun rides for the youngest cyclists in the family were held under clear skies on the paths of the Cape Town Stadium Precinct. One of the riders who would play a pivotal role the following Sunday, Cherise Willeit, was particularly excited to bring her two boys to the event. “It’s my absolute favourite event” Willeit enthused. “It is such a fantastic day for the whole family and Thomas actually went in the right direction this time” she laughed.

Photo: DA Western Cape Premier Candidate, Alan Winde

After the Junior event the focus shifted towards gearing up for the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo; where riders were able to register for the Cycle Tour itself and shop for event apparel as well as everything else cycling related. The star of the Expo, Marelize Horn, arrived on the final day of registration, after being invited to the Cycle Tour by title sponsors Pick n Pay. Cycling’s overnight sensation, though famous for all the wrong reasons, was a hit among the riders as she excitedly posed for photos. Marelize, her would-be fellow riders were happy to hear, did not take to the bike for the Cape Town Cycle Tour; ensuring no rugby posts were crashed into by the accident-prone Namibian. The gusty conditions on race day did serve to amplify the pre-event nerves of the first-timers, as they dreaded having their own wind induced “My f*k Marelize” moment. They need not have; as Cape Town Cycle Tour old hands would have told them.

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AFRICAN ASSAULT ON THE ABSA CAPE EPIC

Photo L - R: Absa Cape Epic 2018 African Jersey winners: Julian Jessop & Matthys Beukes - Photo credit: Nick Muzik

The Absa African Special Jersey was created, along with the Burry Stander Memorial Trophy, to foster the growth of elite mountain biking on the continent and to honour the legacy of South Africa’s greatest mountain biker. Now in its seventh edition the category has grown to one of the most fiercely contested within the Absa Cape Epic. The 2019 Absa Cape Epic mountain bike stage race takes place from 17 - 24 March 2019. With three previous winners lining up on two teams and the highly motivated NAD Pro MTB team created almost solely to knock PYGA Euro Steel off their perch the 2019 race will be a humdinger.

In five of the previous six editions the African MTB Team, formerly racing as SCOTT Factory Racing and now as PYGA Euro Steel, have emerged victorious. Matthys Beukes has been ever-present in each of those victories. The George resident was partnered by Phillip Buys in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Gert Heyns rode to victory with Beukes in 2014 and Julian Jessop accompanied him to glory in 2018. Beukes is in fact undefeated in the competition; having not started the 2016 race when USN Purefit’s Darren Lill and Waylon Woolcock took home the title.

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Photo Left: Marelize with a fan - Photo Right: Women's Podium (L - R) - Kim Le Court De Billot, Cherise Willeit, Tiffany Keep I2C0319.indd 1

2019/02/24 12:46:42

DIGITAL

“We are excited to welcome over 35 000 cyclists from across the country and world to our beautiful city for the 41st Cape Town Cycle Tour. The energy this morning is electric while we get ready to take on the 109 kilometre route around the Cape Peninsula. Today is the culmination of many hours of training and practice for this momentous event.” “Thousands of riders are on their bikes for a cause. Cyclists are partnering with various charities and organisations, to participate in this world class bike race. This is the spirit of South Africans who everyday show up to better the lives of the people of our country. Today I am riding in support of the Atlas Foundation which helps children reach their potential through sport,” DA Western Cape Premier Candidate, Alan Winde said before the start. In their minds the infamous South Easter always blew stronger in a previous year. Plus it may be a head-wind in sections, but as the 109 kilometre route is a giant loop of the peninsula, it blows equally from behind too. The elite men’s and women’s races were not adversely affected by the wind at all.

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In fact for cycling fans the racing proved particularly captivating. Both races came down to a sprint finish, with the mountain bikers who agitated the women’s race losing out to Willeit; as the young mother won her fourth Cape Town Cycle Tour title. In the men’s race the former two-time under 23 cross country World Champion from New Zealand, Sam Gaze, held off the specialist road racers Jason Oosthuizen and Clint Hendriks. Willeit’s eye for the future of cycling in South Africa does not end with teaching her sons to ride. She was quick to praise the nineteen year old Tiffany Keep too, after the Valley Electrical Titan Racing rider sprinted to a hard fought third position, behind Willeit and 2018 champion Kim le Court De Billot. After showcasing her undoubted talent as an eighteen year old last year Keep proved far cannier in 2019 and will be tough to beat come the 2020 Cape Town Cycle Tour. Behind the elite riders the Cape Town Cycle Tour lived up to its nickname as the “Fun Ride World Champs”. There were smiles aplenty throughout the route and a fantastic atmosphere on the road verges.

NEWS

FORSTER / SCHURTER & LANGVAD / VAN DER BREGGEN TRIUMPH AT THE 2019 ABSA CAPE EPIC

With 70km and 1 800m of vertical gain standing between Scott-SRAM MTB-Racing and overall victory on the Champs-Élysées of mountain biking at Val de Vie Estate, you could’ve forgiven them for playing it safe and cruising to the finish. Nino Schurter and Lars Forster went into the final stage from Stellenbosch University to Val de Vie Estate with a comfortable eight-minute lead over second-placed Cannondale Factory Racing. This meant they had to watch only Manuel Fumic and Henrique Avancini to cap off a successful week and claim overall honours. This they did smoothly, giving Schurter his second victory and Forster a golden debut by a margin of 7:36 over Avancini and Fumic. Their conservative run to the finish allowed other teams to gun for coveted Grand Finale stage honours. Queen Stage victors Matthys Beukes from PYGA Euro Steel crossed the line first, but Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez and Ondřej Cink from KROSS-SPUR followed closely in second and third, giving them final stage honours. SpecializedFoundationNAD’s Alan Hatherly and Matt Beers, finished sixth and fifth overall and won the Absa African Men’s Jersey.

Photo: Cape Epic 2019 Women's Winners Annika Langvad and Anna van der Breggen Photo Credit: Shaun Roy/Cape Epic

Annika Langvad and Anna van der Breggen (Investec-songo-Specialized) collected their seventh stage win at the 2019 Absa Cape Epic to give Langvad her fifth victory in the gruelling eight-day race. On Sunday, 24 March at Val de Vie Estate the five-time World Marathon Champion Langvad, and World Road Race and Olympic Champion Van der Breggen, broke away from Candice Lill and Adelheid Morath (Summit Fin) within the last kilometre of the Grand Finale Stage to complete a one-sided victory. In the 70km final stage from Stellenbosch University to Val De Vie Estate, Lill and Morath ended just 17 seconds behind but were over 30 minutes behind on GC. Ariane Lüthi and Maja Wloszczowska (Kross-Spur Racing) finished third on both the stage and overall standings. Langvad was surprisingly calm about collecting her fifth win and matching the record of Absa Cape Epic greats Karl Platt and Christoph Sauser; her focus was rather on Van der Breggen and her first victory. Photo: Cape Epic 2019 Men's Winners Lars Forster & Nino Schurter Photo Credit: Shaun Roy/Cape Epic

In the race for the Absa African Women’s Jersey, Theresa Ralph and Sarah Hill of team Galileo Risk comfortably completed the stage in sixth position, the same place they ended all week, winning the Jersey for 2019.

GRANT LOTTERING TO ATTEMPT MOST BRUTAL SOLO FUNDRAISING RIDE EVER IN SOUTH AFRICA (CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1) A feat never before accomplished. After overcoming cancer, Lottering then embarked on his fourth Im’possible Tour in the Alps in 2017, but acute hypothermia forced him to abandon his attempt after cycling only 410 of 1 800km. Resilience, tenacity and a refusal to give up saw Lottering return to the French Alps and Pyrenees in September 2018. He completed an astonishing 967km non-stop ride over 21 Pyrenean and Alpine mountains in only 47 hours, despite two further shoulder surgeries in January 2018. What better way to live up to the ‘impossible’ standard than by incorporating on-road and off-road riding into his next tour, the first to take place in South Africa? Titled #xtremeSA2019, this year’s tour is made possible by sponsors, VO Connect, Compcare Medical Scheme, Air Mauritius and Mercedes-Benz X-Class. On 23 May 2019, Lottering will set off from the small town of Patensie in the Eastern Cape and traverse the Baviaanskloof westward before finishing in the Cape winelands near Stellenbosch, a staggering 1 340km later. Lottering’s route will include 17 mountains and close to 16 000m of climbing, a feat never before attempted in South Africa. Notwithstanding the fact that this intense ride will include almost 890km of gravel roads and 450km on tar, Lottering has set himself a 96-hour time frame to arrive at the finish. Should Lottering succeed in this attempt, it will surely go down in the record books as the most brutal single ride ever completed in South Africa.

Photo: Grant Lottering Im’possible Tour 2018 - Photo Credit: Sebastien Rodriguez

Lottering’s annual Im’possible Tour has become widely known for its extreme brand of fundraising, reaching over 21 million people through broadcast and print media and raising almost R2 million for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation to date.

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NEWS

#TEAMHGG RISES TO THE CHALLENGE AT THE ABSA CAPE EPIC HGG Financial Group was the proud sponsor of two riders in this year’s Absa Cape Epic Cycle Race. Brad Gold and Corné Barnard did #teamHGG proud by completing this gruelling eight-day mountain bike race that is often described as the Tour de France of mountain biking. The race took place from 17 – 24 March this year and included 624km of offroad terrain, including 16 650m of vertical climbing. However, #teamHGG were not daunted by these prospects – they rose to the challenge and finished in style. “The Cape Epic is the premier mountain bike stage race in the world. It’s hard to describe my experience, but I’d have to say that the most important word is grateful,” says #teamHGG rider Brad. According to CEO of the HGG Financial Group Hendrik Gerryts, the race resonates with HGG’s values of perseverance, rising to challenges and preparing in advance for life’s major events. “We believe that good health and an active lifestyle have an enormous impact on your quality of life which, in turn, affects your financial health and planning. Brad and Corné spent many months preparing for this race and financial success is no different – it requires careful planning and a focus on the future, which is what the HGG Financial Group strives for at all times,” he says. So, when life poses financial challenges, why not speak to the team that knows how to plan for the future and tackle any obstacles as they come along? #teamHGG’s group of accountants, advisers, brokers and financial specialists are there to help you every step of the way. Photo L - R: #teamHGG Brad Gold & Corné Barnard

For More information contact info@hggroep.co.za or 021 851 2778 and get ready to excel in your ﬁnancial journey

PERFECT MIX FOR WINELANDS ENCOUNTER ROUTE Riders in the Liberty Winelands Encounter can expect a perfect mix of mountain-biking ingredients, with a few challenges thrown in, when it takes place next month. Billed as the country’s most beautiful race, the fifth edition of the three-stage event will see cyclists tackle a 147km journey between the Western Cape towns of Franschhoek and Paarl from April 12 - 14. Route director Johan Kriegler said they had created a combination of single-track, gravel roads, jeep tracks and climbs which would be “doable for most riders”. “There are, however, a few technical sections and a degree of ascent which will provide a test for some,” he added.

Photo: Liberty Winelands Encounter - Photo Credit: Robert Ward

“Much of the route is similar to last year, but there has been a change to the starting venue, which will now be at the Boschendal Wine Estate (in the Franschhoek Valley). “This means the first eight kilometres will cover new territory, but then it will be back to the Boschendal tracks, climbing to the highest point and going down the single-track on the other side.” He added that the second and third stages of the Winelands Encounter would remain largely unchanged. The second stage will take riders on a circular route, which starts and finishes at the Le Franschhoek Hotel, while the third day will see the race draw to a conclusion at the Nederburg Wine Estate in Paarl. Kriegler said their route objectives were to make sure it was manageable and that the riders were able to enjoy the scenic journey. “But there are a few challenging sections, such as the climb to Matoppies before waterpoint one on the second day, which is quite hectic,” he added. “And then there is a technical stretch around the Berg River dam which will test them and could be influential in the final positions.” He said stage three followed a fairly straightforward route of single-track and open road, leading to the finish at the Nederburg Wine Estate. The luxury aspect, he added, formed a key element of the three-day offering, with accommodation available at the Le Franschhoek Hotel on the Friday and Saturday nights. He suggested that those interested wasted no time in booking their spot in the race as the hotel accommodation was limited to 80 two-man teams. “The main elements of this event is that it incorporates some of the most beautiful mountain-bike trails in the country with top-quality accommodation to make it a weekend to remember. “We have kept that in mind while setting up the route, and we believe that what we have complements the ethos of the race.” The Liberty Winelands Encounter is the second race in the Encounter Series, following the TransCape MTB at the beginning of February.

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EATERY

CYCLE INTO SPIER AND ENJOY VADAS SMOKEHOUSE & BAKERY Situated on Spier Wine farm, Vadas Smokehouse & Bakery now offers their French-style Bakers Breakfast. Available every morning from 7am-11am on the bakery terrace. Sit within the hub of the bakery, surrounded by the comforting aromas of warm breads and pastries straight from the oven. Appreciate freshly baked farm loaves and delicate, flaky croissants with farm butter and house-made jams. Pastry chef Brady Cromhout (previously of Ile de Pain in Knysna & The Hoghouse) is the co-creator of the bakery’s treasure trove of ‘Sweet Surrender Pies’. These American-style sweet pies such as lemon meringue pie, chocolate fudge pie, pecan pie, strawberry pie and Maple, Lime & Mascarpone pie are the perfect tea-time treat or finish to a meal. Don’t forget about Vadas’ now famous Pastéis de Nata; the much-loved Portuguese custard tarts which many claim are the best in the world! Dalewood cheese is available to enjoy with Farmer Angus charcuterie direct from the Spier farm. A barista will be on hand to serve heartening coffees, cappuccinos and teas. From 7am-9am enjoy all coffees for only R15. Come dressed in your cycling or running gear and enjoy a buy 1 coffee get 1 free.

The Vadas Bakery will be making Hot Cross Buns for the month of April. These fluffy and soft buns are lightly spiced, filled with a mix of dried fruit and glazed with a sticky syrup. At only R10 each, buy 5 and get 1 free. All items are available as take-home to share with friends, family and co-workers. For lunch and dinner, enjoy Texas-style smoked meats. Cooked low and slow for 12-16 hours, a few favourites include Kansas-city pulled pork, smoked brisket and smoked harissa chicken wings with pomegranate and yoghurt dressing. Although meat is a large focus, there is considered attention on ample, delicious vegetarian dishes, something chef PJ Vadas is well-known for. Think, smoked corn & goats’ cheese arancini or fire-roasted broccoli with mustard-cider vinaigrette, macadamia nuts & smoked cheddar. Friday evenings, guests are treated to the Vadas Pizza Night. These sourdough pizza bases are made with stoneground flour and are fermented for 48hrs. Buffalo mozzarella from Buffalo Ridge is used - the only water buffalo dairy in South Africa and the country’s only producer of buffalo mozzarella. All meat products used are from Farmer Angus meats, raised on Spier Wine Farm. You can choose from 5 different pizzas such as The Fat Butcher: bianco base with creamed leaks, salsa verde, bone marrow, thyme and smoked cheddar or The Porky: tomato base with buffalo mozzarella, Farmer Angus bacon, avo and feta.

The bakers breakfast is open from 7am – 11am 7 days a week. For lunch and dinner, kitchen is open 7 days a week: Monday to Saturday 12pm – 3pm & 6pm – 9pm and Sundays 12pm – 3pm For bookings contact 021 809 1137 or www.vadas.co.za

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ROAD

GIANT LEAP FOR PAARL BOXING DAY TRACK CHALLENGE

Photo L - R: Nolan Hoffman & Belgian Rickaert Jones Photo Credit: Owen Loyd

The historic Paarl Boxing Day Track Challenge, which will take place for the 122nd time this year, boasts a new organisational entity following the announcement that well-known event management company Hectic Promotions has been appointed to stage the meeting. Hectic Promotions is a non-profit organisation that currently presents two mass participation road cycling events which attract a combined participation total of 12 000 cyclists. These events are the Bestmed Cycle4CANSA Championship, and the Tshwane Classic, which attracted more than 7000 cyclists in its second staging last year. The Paarl Boxing Day Track Challenge is the oldest cycling event in the world and has not skipped a year since its inception in 1897. The event attracts South Africa’s top professionals as well as a host of international riders who tackle each other for a share of the R100 000 prize purse in front of a capacity crowd of 5000 spectators at the Faure Street Stadium in Paarl. “Boxing Day is not only the biggest track cycling event in South Africa, but also one of the most spectated stadium sporting events in South Africa,” said Hectic Promotions director Mauritz Meyer. Designating a professional event company to assume the responsibility of hosting, is a step that the club has been considering for a while now, according to chairman Hein Kroff. “In the professional era of eventing we weren’t convinced that we were enabling the meeting to realise its full potential.” “Although Boxing Day still attracts a capacity crowd and strong competitors’ base, the media, marketing and sponsorship aspects of the meeting needed to be elevated. We have identified Huis Mia Paarl as official beneficiary of Paarl Boxing Day, a temporary safe care facility for abandoned new-born babies.” Meyer assured that some of the world’s foremost track cyclists will be in Paarl on 26 December this year. The meeting concludes with the famous 25 Mile Race and the winner of the final event is regarded as the winner of the day. In addition to the generous prize purse, the Minnaar Cup floating trophy, which dates to 1908, is also up for grabs.

WESTERN PROVINCE CYCLING ROAD LEAGUE 2019 SEASON After an exceptional 2018 Road League, which saw Craig Boyes crowned the winner of the league in Category 1, the Western Province Cycling Association (WPCA) who is affiliated under Cycling South Africa (CSA) is proud to announce the 2019 WP Cycling Road League. “We are going to run the league table over 10 races and invite new cyclists and the 2018 league riders who are interested, to participate in the 2019 league season.” The Western Province Schools Association have dedicated school’s events that run-in conjunction with some of the WP Cycling League races on routes that are deemed easier and safer for young cyclist. From these events, scholars are chosen to represent Western Province at various CSA Youth Festivals around the country. WP Cycling have also recently joined forces with WP MTB to establish a single online presence. “The Sports Trust are also aligning themselves with the scholar’s league and we look forward to having their youngsters joining us.” Due to a recent decline in the number of road races, the WP Cycling league was initiated by the WPCA who represents 23 cycling clubs within the Cape Town area. The aim is to improve the standard of competitive cycling in the region and to prepare aspiring riders for international participation. The league has grown from 150 cyclists in 2015 to over 1000 cyclists in 2018 and, is still growing. Racing is organized by the Road Commission of Western Province with assistance from affiliated clubs, the Winelands Cycling Association and their affiliated clubs, as well as the West Coast Cycling Association and their affiliated clubs. All disciplines of road cycling are catered for. Racing takes the form of traditional road races over distances in excess of 100 kilometres, circuit races, criteriums and time trials.

Photo: WP Cycling Road League - Photo Credit: Michel Dei-Cont

For 2019, racing will again be divided into 3 different categories where the same standard of cyclists competes against each other without taking age into account. Category 1 is for the top racing cyclists from the age of 17 and older, based on A group PPA seeding, whilst Category 2 is a slight step down in standard from Category 1 and is aimed at talented cyclist also from the age of 17 and older – typically PPA seedings of B, C and D. Category 3 is an inter club competition for bona fide members of clubs affiliated to CSA, novice racers and those who are still competitive but are unable to dedicate their time to train. PPA seeding of E and higher are accommodated here. WP Cycling encourages the Elite and Sub Veterans to ride in Category 1, Veterans in Category 2 and Masters in Category 3. WPCA is working hard towards the goal of having a dedicated Ladies Category, but they are encouraged to ride in Category 3 until a Ladies Category is realised. The Ladies will have their own competition, podium and prize fund. “During 2018 we had quite a few ladies only races and this was highly competitive.” WP Cycling’s road season kicked off in traditional fashion with a criterium at Century City. This fast flat circuit was ideal for the sprinters. The kids hotly contested the podium positions in the junior age categories. The team from Specialized swept the board in Category 1, with podium positions for Gareth Hitchings, Jacques Lloyd and Craig Boyes. Category 2 was won by Josh Louw, newly promoted from Category 3, while Jurgen Orzessek took the honours in Category 3. For more information contact road@wpcycling.com or info@myriadevents.co.za

STEFAN DE BOD CROWNED AFRICAN TIME TRIAL CHAMP The African Cycling (CAC) Road Continental Championships was hosted in Baher Dar, Ethiopia from 14 - 19 March 2019 and this event marked the 14th edition of the Continental Championships for road cycling. On 17 March 2019 Stefan de Bod won the African Time Trial Championships, raced to the victory ahead of Eritrean, Sirak Tesfom and countryman, Ryan Gibbons respectively. The two Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka riders, riding in their national colours of South Africa, took to the 50km individual time trial and secured the Gold and Bronze medals for South Africa. “It is great to take the African Time Trial title. For the growth of the sport on our continent, these events are really important for us. Each year the level of African racing increases, so I am happy to have come out on top today.” - Stefan de Bod. In the 160km road race on 19 March Ryan Gibbons just missed a place on the podium and finished fourth in the final bunch sprint. Results - Time Trial: Zanri Rossouw (Elite Women) 5th, Liezel Jordaan (Elite women) 7th, Charlissa Schultz (Junior women) 6th, Damon Fouchee (Junior men) 6th, Tiano da Silva (Junior men 8th). Results - Road Race: Joanna van de Winkel placed third in the elite women’s race, Damon Fouchee finished sixth in a sprint finish in the junior men’s road race, while Charlissa Schultz were placed tenth in the junior women’s race.

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MTB EVENT

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MTB

HOW MANY LAPS CAN YOU DO IN 8 HOURS? Following an amazing 8-hour challenge on Welbedacht wine estate in 2018, the 2019 8-hour challenge is back, but bigger and better than ever-spanning over 3 days with camping as an option. “It will also be the first time we introduce The Ultimate challenge.” This event will take place from Saturday, 27 April until Monday, 29 April. The Saturday will consist of Trail running where you can choose between going solo or as a 2-man relay (fun or extreme). You can also do the “Dress in pink” run/MTB relay. Sunday will consist of the MTB solo race, the eBike race as well as the Extreme and Fun 2-man relay races. Finally, the popular Duathlon will take place on the Monday, once again solo or as an Extreme or Fun 2-man relay team. The Ultimate challenge will take place over all three days, and this is where corporates can get involved for maximum brand exposure. R10 000 per team of four will get your athletes clothing and bibs embroidered with the company logo, have rights to set up a gazebo to sell goods or alternatively set up an activation station, have website exposure and many more VIP benefits during the weekend. 30 male and 30 females will be able to compete for this Ultimate title. If you don’t have athletes, we will give you amazing athletes to pick from a hat at an exclusive braai at the farm. Individual entry is R1950 for the three days. For more information contact Ferdinand at 082 851 9999 or visit www.8hourchallenge.com

SWARTBERG 100

TREK2TEEBUS

The term “Gran Fondo” loosely translated in Italian means “Big Ride” or “Big Challenge”, these events always involve long distances with tough climbs on difficult terrain that includes cobblestones or gravel sectors.

The Trek2Teebus three day stage race, dubbed a Karoo Adventure takes place from the 26-28 April 2019 with the race village located on the Harmonie Farm near Steynsburg, providing the ideal location from which to explore the rural Karoo.

The Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo takes place on 27 April 2019 and draws on two different race cultures, namely that of the grungy gravel-grinder events in the USA, such as the Dirty Kanza, Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Michigan Mountain Mayhem and Barry Roubaix. Then there is the European Spring Classic races such as the Strade Bianche and Paris Roubaix with their cobbled and gravel sectors. The Swartberg 100 takes place during the height of the European Spring Classics in Africa’s autumn.

On the bike Trek2Teebus provides a total of 210 kilometres of racing across three 72, 55 and 80 kilometre long stages; and takes in 2100 meters of climbing in the process. The routes traverse the broad grassy planes, ascend the hillocks and trace the cordons of dense greenery which track the watercourses, all of which provide the region with its distinctive scenery.

The route starts and ends in Prince Albert, arguably one of the most attractive Karoo towns in South Africa, it covers 171km of which there are 3 large gravel sectors. The final climb is over the gravel Swartberg Pass, a relentless climb of 28 km, the last 9.8km being on gravel with gradients of 16% in places. The route is spectacular and takes riders through the Prince Albert Valley, the northern foothills of the Swartberg, Meiringspoort, a narrow defile that cuts through the mountains, the southern foothills of the Swartberg as it doubles back towards the Cango Caves and then finally the epic Swartberg Pass. The Swartberg100, in true South African tradition, is one of the toughest Gran Fondo’s in the world. “We have created a course that goes back to the days of old when mountain passes were all gravel and brave cyclists climbed them on single speed bikes weighing in at 16kg. A course that allows us to pit our modern training knowledge and technology against an old foe, a road surface that isn’t always friendly.” The town of Prince Albert is relatively remote and has become a long weekend destination for race participants, the organisers therefore lay on a few shorter races for the less endurance minded family members and spouses. For more information visit www.swartberg100.com

Route highlights include the ascent over the infamous Bulhoek Pass and a descent below the Karoo’s red soils into the Orange-Fish Tunnel. Each rider will have the chance to descend to the control room for the 82 kilometre long underground aqueduct – which transports 22 cubic metres of water per second from the Gariep Dam to the Great Fish River.

Photo: Trek2Teebus - Photo Credit: Oakpics.com

Off the bike Petrichor Adventures’ superb organisation and the world famous Karoo hospitality combine to perfection. Luxury tented accommodation options and the ability to book for a non-riding partner to accompany riders illustrates the race organisers’ commitment. As for the food… riders, and their accompanying friends and family members, can expect traditional hearty and home-made Karoo cuisine. It is an area well-off the usual tourist route and a great deal of the charm is provided by the honest country life – where visitors are greeted with the familiar hospitality of returning friends. For more information visit www.petrichoradventures.co.za

20 - 22

Event Cost - All 3 Days, R1400pp - Single Stage, R500pp (kids under 10, R50 per day)

September 2019

Timing by Great-Time

2019 Online Entries: www.entrytime.com T: 074 457 6777 | W: www.langeberglinkmtb.com // Based at Oudewerf, 10km from Swellendam on the R60 \\ // Light snack after each day’s ride \\

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Route - Stage 1 Night Race - 4km lap

// t-shirt & goody bag to all pre-entries, Medals to all 3-day ﬁnishers\\

- Stage 2, 52km - 900m ascent

// accommodation: www.swellendam-info.co.za \\

- Stage 2, 28km - 520m ascent

MTB

JAKHALS EVENTS - ORGANISING EVENTS IS OUR PASSION! Five years ago Corné Botha, a keen cyclist with a great love for the sport of cycling decided to set up an events company called Jakhals Events - specializing in the organising of mountain bike events in the Eden area. At the time Corné won several awards including Sports Administrator of the Year, Technical Excellence of the Eden Sports Council as well as a Western Cape Sports Council Award setting the tone for his new events company by incorporating cycling as a discipline. “I am one of the few people that wake up in the morning excited to go to work. Organizing events is my passion,” Corné says. In 2014 Corné organised his first mountain bike event, the Surval MTB Challenge, which took place in Oudtshoorn. Other disciplines followed which included trail running, and a combination of road and mountain biking events such as Surval Stof en Teer and Karoo Battle of the Bikes. Since its inception Jakhals Events has expanded and hosted various annual events in the Klein Karoo towns of Oudtshoorn, Calitzdorp, and De Rust, with the latest addition being the Dorsland MTB Challenge in Van Wyksdorp, which took place in October 2018. Jakhals Events also host mountain bike and trail running events in George, Beaufort West and as far as Laingsburg. Some new events will be added to the Jakhals portfolio for 2019.

Photo: Corné Botha - Photo Credit: Sonette Visser

“In 2018 we expanded our brand with a line-up of 12 events per annum as well as acquired the Activation of the Bestmed Series.” Corné says. Currently the Jakhals Events crew consist of Corné, his wife Stefanie and dedicated cycling minded personnel. “We started off as a small business five years ago, but I can proudly say that we are one of the leading event management companies in the Eden region. We believe in personal attention which include the need of our riders and runners. Attention to detail at our registration, start-line, water-points, well marked route, and finish-line, are very important to us,” Corné, concludes. Apart from being an event organizer, Corné also serves on the following executive committees: Eden Cycling - Vice President, Western Cape Cycling - Road Commissioner, and Cycling SA - Event Safety Commissioner. Upcoming events with an edge during the months of April, May, and June presented by Jakhals Events include: Karoo Battle of The Bikes, Tour De Farm, Red Stone MTB & Trail Running weekend, Meiringspoort MTB, and Sylvester Trail Run & MTB Challenge. Photo: Ostrich Crawl 2019 - Photo Credit: Sonette Visser

For more information contact 074 260 2871 or visit www.jakhalsevents.wixsite.com

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DEVELOPMENT & CHARITY

ANOTHER EXCITING NEW ADDITION TO TRAIL’S END

On 12th February 2019 Trail’s End launched their new Flow Trail generously hosted by Specialized. This is a fabulous new addition to the many exciting activities already on offer to the cycling and adventure enthusiast in the beautiful Elgin Grabouw Valley. The Theewaterskloof Municipality see tourism as one of the big creators of employment in this valley and have helped promote new ventures such as this one. Trail’s End also sees sport, and particularly cycling, as a great unifier. Together with local NGO Grabouw Beautiful and the Bikes-4-All initiative 240 bicycles have been delivered to deserving youngsters in this valley already. Two years ago Trail’s End introduced Bike4All to Grabouw Beautiful and an incredible partnership was formed. For those unable to afford bicycles projects are undertaken in order to ‘earn’ the bikes. Trail’s End would love to see future mountain bike champions being born out of the Bike-4-All project in this town. To this end they have made the flow trail available for skills training. If you Ride it, You must Drink it! Many of the local wine, cider and even a brandy producer were present to show off their brands. Trail’s End believe in supporting local - and why not: the most amazing brands come from the Elgin Grabouw region. The flow Trail has been named the Declan O’Malley Flow Trail in loving memory of Declan who had a long friendship with Trail’s End and the owners, spanning more than 20 years.

He was responsible for the beautifully constructed catch nets along the flow trail bridges – completed days before his untimely passing. Come and ride the Flow Trail and have fun learning new skills over wooden bridges, jumps and around ponds on beautifully manicured berms. You can even challenge the leader board for the fastest lap! For more information contact +27 21 859 5193 or visit www.trailsend.bike

MERCEDES-BENZ ANNOUNCES R20 MILLION INVESTMENT INTO QHUBEKA CHARITY'S REAL BICYCLE CO. AND PARTNERSHIP WITH TEAM DIMENSION DATA

The move from importing and assembling bicycles to manufacturing them locally will contribute to job creation and skills transfer; stimulating the local economy and shaping the future of mobility. Having perfected the bicycle prototype, RBC is currently scaling its manufacturing capabilities. As well as being distributed through Qhubeka’s various learn-to-earn, work-to-earn and disaster relief programmes, RBC-built bicycles will be available for retail to the general public, presenting a new income stream for the charity. Mercedes-Benz will also procure 350 RBC-built bicycles from Qhubeka Charity. These will be donated to learners of Nyameko High School in Mdantsane, which is part of the company’s School Transformation and Empowerment Programme (STEP) programme.

Mercedes-Benz continues to support the Laureus legacy through its role as the country patron sponsor in South Africa. “Mercedes-Benz and Laureus both believe in the power of passion, determination and perseverance. Laureus imparts these qualities to young disadvantaged people through the medium of sport. “Both Mercedes-Benz and Laureus enrich the lives of young people by enabling them to identify their personal strengths and learn how to get the best out of their abilities. But, to change the world for the better, we need to keep moving forward,” says Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars. It is through the strong relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation that Mercedes-Benz was introduced to Qhubeka Charity - a non-profit company that works to move people forward by improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs with bicycles. In 2017, Qhubeka Charity established a fully-owned bicycle design and manufacturing subsidiary, Real Bicycle Co. (RBC), which shares a hometown with the automotive manufacturer’s plant. Mercedes-Benz invested R20 million rand into RBC through an enterprise and supplier development fund.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa will be the official vehicle sponsor for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, in a deal which will see the German automotive giant as the team’s official vehicle partner for three years. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, a Laureus Ambassador since 2014, will carry the three-pointed star on the collar of their jerseys, and drive a wide range of vehicles as they race across the globe over approximately 280 days in 2019. “Mercedes-Benz has been an incredible supporter of our Team Dimension Data UCI Continental Team in South Africa and the Qhubeka Charity, this shows how much they care about the development of people, sports talent and the mobility of communities.

SUPPORTING IRONMAN 4 THE KIDZ CHARITY TRUST Competing for a worthy cause bigger than yourself is what it’s all about at this years’ IRONMAN African Championships in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, 7 April 2019. Strand based athlete Jacques Bouwer will take on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust. The IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust aims to raise funds annually, ensuring that the Trust can continue to make a tangible difference in the lives of children in need. This years’ course will see some interesting changes and is sure to challenge even the most seasoned athlete. Starting with a 3.8km ocean swim, followed by a 180km (2 loop+) cycle and finishing with one of the best supported run courses on the IRONMAN circuit, a 4 lap, 42.2km run. Even if you are doing your first or 50th IRONMAN event, you are surely in for a treat. After conquering the 180km bicycle course supporters line the entire running course, cheering athletes on, every step of the way in true South-African spirit. With the smell of “braaivleis” in the air as supporters fire-up their “skottels” they keep the atmosphere going throughout the gruelling day. Finally, the athletes approach the finish-line to the cheer of spectators. The majestic moment has arrived as you cross the finish-line – “ You are an IRONMAN”! “A word of thanks to the support of Corporate Guarantee and ATS Transport for their contribution towards the IRONMAN 4 the Kidz Charity Trust,” says Jacques. Follow Jacques’ journey via social media @bouwerj and find out how to get involved supporting this worthy cause making a tangible difference in the lives of children in need. For more information visit www.ironman4thekidz.co.za

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REALTY

7 reasons to get permanent residency in Europe

Securing permanent residency in another country is very desirable as it allows the bearer of that residency permit the legal right to live indefinitely in that country, despite not being a citizen. A residency permit is a sought-after Plan B because it is effectively an insurance policy to be able to relocate to that country at any time without a visa required; and without having to go through the normal onerous immigration processes and procedures. Cyprus, an English-speaking ex-British colony, full EU member and not part of Greece, currently has THE BEST permanent residency programme available in Europe. The programme is an investment in real estate; and with Cyprus’ positive property growth, demand for long and short-term tenants, this offers a very attractive investment for the short, medium and long term.

Here are the 7 reasons why South Africans desire Cypriot permanent residency: 1. Permanent residency is secured in 6 – 8 weeks of making application. 2. It’s the only programme in Europe where 3 generations in the same family line ALL secure permanent residency on the same application. 3. The programme includes all dependent children up to age 25; as well as both the parents as well as the parents-in-law. 4. The permanent residency permits are FOR LIFE for everyone and they automatically renew. 5. You can rent the property out for short-term holiday market or the long term lets, thereby earning an attractive Euro-based income. 6. You only need to visit Cyprus 1 day every 2nd year for the residency permits to remain valid. 7. There is no inheritance tax so on your death you can dispose of your assets to your loved ones without having to pay the Cypriot government any death duty. This is very advantageous for legacy planning. Protect yourself, your family and your assets from unpredicted events by taking advantage of the opportunity to secure permanent residency in Cyprus. Think of getting dual citizenship as guaranteeing your family’s future. An astute offshore property investment that works for you in the short, medium and long term is the achievement of a lifetime. In Cyprus investing in the Fast Track residency programme not only makes financial sense, but it will tangibly benefit your immediate family. Can you afford not to take advantage of this while the programme is still open? Cypriot Realty is a pioneer in actively and consistently promoting property opportunities primarily in Cyprus. They have successful been doing this from their Cape Town and Sandton offices since 2008. As a result, the company is recognised and respected as Southern Africa’s authoritative investment specialist for promoting Cyprus as an ideal destination for acquiring permanent residency/citizenship, property investment, immigration/ retirement and starting a European-based business.

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LIFESTYLE

HI-TEC WALKERBAY XTREME IS THE PLACE TO BE IN APRIL

The Hi-Tec Walkerbay Xtreme taking place from 26-28 April 2019. is the ideal weekend to getaway with mates. It has everything you could want as a young, fit and healthy person seeking an active – yet fun time away with friends!

There are a whole host of sporting activities to choose from, each with their own unique twist to keep it interesting. Are you into your running? Bring along your digsmates and make the trail running events an in-house competition. Curious how that could work? Get your housemates to enter their respective events and assign reasonable times that they should make. Then predict winners. Come Friday morning, gather the troops and complete either the 10km or 20km run – followed by a major chill out for the rest of the day in the race village and an evening braai of course. Then wake up nice and fresh on Saturday morning for the second trail trot, ending off with our fun Twilight Xtreme night run. Photo: Hi-Tec Walkerbay Xtreme - Photo Credit: Walkerbay Xtreme Now that you are buzzing with endorphins from all the exercise, tally the numbers, declare the winner and celebrate the victory But perhaps an even bigger pull to the festival is the picturesque beauty of the town, ocean and suror loss at one of the amazing bars and restaurants on the strip. rounding mountains you’ll get to explore just over 1 hour’s drive from Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Sound like a vibe? We think so but adapt it how you like! Hermanus is the definition of a hidden gem and Walkerbay Xtreme wants to share it with you! The Or maybe you’re keen for something a little different, a little heart of the festival is the spectator-friendly Race Village and main stage in Market Square. Events daring, a little swim-run-jumpy? If so, then the See & Sand are spread out into surrounding areas from the New Harbour to Voëlklip, mostly starting or finishing in Xtreme is definitely for you and your friends! the Race Village. The See & Sand Xtreme is a thrilling adventure comprising a When you have a break from competing or supporting there are so many other activities to keep 400m Swim, 1.5km Run, Dreunkrans Cliff Jump, 400m Swim, you enthused. From paragliding, shark cage diving, hiking, whale watching and sunbathing at one of 1km Run, and finishing off with a final 500m Swim. It’s epic to do the many gorgeous beaches to exploring the award-winning wine farms that dot the Hemel-en-Aarde with a group and you will talk about each other’s unique experi- valley, or settling down after the day’s activities at one of the many restaurants. ences for days after. Then there are the mountain bike races, the “Hermanus caters for every taste. So, rally up your friends, get those entries in now and come savour triathlons, the unique off-road xathlon, the open water swims and in this unforgettable experience with us in one of the most breath-taking coastal towns.” even paddling! There are so many sporting events that make this weekend away worthwhile. Choose 1 or 10, it’s up to you. For more information visit www.walkerbayxtreme.com

MAKE ADVENTURE YOUR LIFESTYLE! The Adventure Lifestyle Show brings an interactive platform between visitors and exhibitors from 5 - 7 April 2019 at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville. Feel, hear, touch and taste the adventure that an Active – Outdoor Lifestyle offers you. Walk through all the elements that form the Adventure Lifestyle Show – which will offer you anything from adventure driven destinations, activities, outdoor gadgets and gear and an informative focus on a healthy active lifestyle for the whole family. This show is focused to relate and cater wholeheartedly to the adventure and outdoor industry and all active, healthy, adventure and outdoor enthusiast families. The Adventure Lifestyle Show will host individual and family activities including trail running, mountain biking, sports workshops and more. Our visitors will enjoy an adventure lifestyle experience on an interactive platform, with exhibitors bringing their product offerings to life with demonstrations, displays, experiences, and activities. In addition, exhibitors will be able to showcase their night-products and eveninggear as we kick off the show weekend with a night show, gates open at 16:00 on Friday afternoon and close at 22:00. Visitors will enjoy an evening of shopping, demonstrations, food, and music. Easing people into a weekend filled with adventure activities. For more information visit www.adventurelifestyleshow.co.za

CISKA AUSTIN NEWLY APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CYCLING SA

STATE | DURBANVILLE | CAPE TOWN

Cycling South Africa welcomes the newly-appointed Vice President Ciska du Plessis Austin, who has taken office from 20 February 2019. At the recent Annual General Meeting held in Pretoria, Western Cape Cycling nominated Ciska to fill the vacant position, which was welcomed by the Executive Committee. Ciska took the position of Vice President not too long ago in June 2016, but had to withdraw from her position due to increased work commitments at the time.

Her link to the federation has spanned many years when she became involved in a cycling club in the Free State in 2002. ACTIVITIES LIVE MUSIC TRAIL RUN

She moved onto administration roles in the sport, where most South African road cyclists will know her as Secretary for the Cycling SA Road Commission from 2007-2009, and thereafter as the Secretary General for Cycling SA from 2010 to mid-2012.

D BEER AND WINE ADVENTURE SPORT

Ciska is currently studying a Master’s Degree in European Sports Governance through the University of Limoges in France, considered the foremost programme in Sports Administration in Europe.

ONE In herOUTDOOR GADGETS & GEAR role as VP, Ciska will play a supportive role to the President and staff as well as the Executive Committee and the various Commissions. “Governance of the sport is key to me and I will work closely with our Secretary General especially to ensure all processes are respected and where needed, I will assist to put it in place.” She will also work closely with all the board members as well as staff to ensure performance and assessment of resources in all the areas as well as providing training and guidance. Ciska believes that “any federation should be athlete-centric”. “Cyclists are the core of our organisation at Cycling SA. As it is our responsibility as a federation to determine and drive achievable strategies for the future of our cyclists, I hope I can play a small role in doing this and to see us succeed beyond imagination.”

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Photo: Ciska du Plessis Austin

LIFESTYLE

EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN INCREDIBLE

The Rola Toyota Group is proud to be associated with the new 5th generation RAV4 that has recently been launched in South-Africa.

Incredible and ready to wow are some of the terms used to describe this long awaited model. The RAV4 has been and remains one of South-Africa’s most popular small SUV’s. From the birth of its first generation in 1994, the RAV4 has continually managed to perfectly merge the best of city and outdoor lifestyle activity vehicles, becoming a symbol of fun and adventure that can play anywhere. And now the newest evolution of the world’s first-ever compact crossover SUV is here and you can expect nothing less than incredible. The 2019 fifth-generation RAV4 is sleeker, bolder and more streamlined than ever.

An uncompromising balance of style, safety, and capability.

RAV4 Models now available at the Rola Toyota Group: RAV4 2.0 GX 2WD from R416,400 | RAV4 2.0 GX CVT 2WD from R427,600 RAV4 2.0 GX-R-CVT AWD from R508,100 | RAV4 2.0 VX CVT 2WD from R505,400 RAV4 2.5 VX AT AWD from R577,900 *T&C apply The Rola Toyota dealerships, based in Bredasdorp and Somerset-West, are perfectly positioned to offer exciting and tailor-made deals to our guests on these models. The RAV4 was built to be driven and designed to stand out

The RAV4 looks the part with its robust exterior design and contemporary interior space. And thanks to a wide range of active safety features which allows you to drive with more confidence, RAV4 acts the part too. In front, you get a high-driving position and seats designed to ensure pure comfort, while the rear has plenty of shoulder room with generous footwells, giving passengers ample space to spread out. Safety has been enhanced with even more intelligent features, taking driver assistance to new heights. Be rest assured, however, you will always be in control.

We have adopted a philosophy of creating the ultimate customer experience and through this becoming “Best in Town” in every aspect of our business. We have an attitude of serving others to the best of our ability and ultimately be “Your Favourite” business partner. Book your Demo-Drive as soon as possible with the Rola Toyota team. Contact us for more details on a personalised deal. www.RolaToyota.co.za Rola Toyota Somerset West | toyota@rolagrp.co.za | 021 841 8600 Rola Toyota Bredasdorp | toyotabredasdorp@rolagrp.co.za | 028 424 1144 #RolaLifestyle www.rolacars.co.za

START YOUR DAY WITH A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST

How often do you skip breakfast or grab a coffee and pastry on-the-go to stop the mid-morning hunger pains? Once a week? Twice? Everyday? ‘Breakfast’ literally means to ‘break the fast’ that occurs overnight. After approximately 12 hours without fuel, it’s easy to see why it’s called the most important meal of the day – providing the energy your body needs to get you going in the morning. Introducing the F1 Sport Shake The Formula 1 Sport shake is developed by experts in sports nutrition and has been specially formulated to aid athletes and contains milk protein. Nutritionally balanced with carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals, F1 Sport establishes a solid foundation to your daily diet while being easy to consume. The F1 Sports Shake is only available in Vanilla Cream flavour Carbohydrate and can be taken before or after your workout. F1 Sport shake contains the following: 18g of protein when made according to directions, both casein and whey protein Kilojoule-controlled, 915 kJ per serving when mixed with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk, unique protein-carbohydrate blend with fibre and essential vitamins and minerals, vitamins C, E and selenium.

T: 079 301 4787 | E: info@herbalifeshop.capetown Order online at www.herbalifeshop.capetown

PAGE 13

THROWBACK

PRITZEN & WLOSZCZOWSKA TRIUMPHS AT TOGH National U23 road champion Marc Pritzen triumphed in a battle of tactics to finish top of the overall podium on the last day of the Takealot Tour of Good Hope in the Cape Winelands that took place from 4-8 March 2019. The country’s premier road cycle race, presented by the City of Drakenstein, ended in windy conditions as the riders tackled the final stage of 66.7km, finishing with its traditional climb up to the Taal Monument, just outside Paarl. In a tense struggle to the finish, Pritzen, who won the race for the first time, used his climbing power to finally shake off Jason Oosthuizen (TEG Procycling) and grab the yellow jersey. Frans Claes (Alfa Bodyworks/Giant), who was third on the stage, also finished third overall. Overnight leader Dylan Girdlestone suffered a puncture on the final stage and finished in eighth place overall, about three minutes behind the winner. Nolan Hoffman (Team Enza) won the sprints category ahead of Yousif Mirza Alhammadi (Team Emirates UAE) and Gustav Basson (TEG Procycling). The King of the Mountain title went to HB Kruger (Alfa Bodyworks/Giant), with Pritzen second and Steven van Heerden (Team Enza) third. Photo L - R: Ariane Luthi, Maja Wloszczowska and Catherine Colyn Photo Credit: Full Stop Communications

Pritzen said they had planned the day differently, with his initial role being to secure the stage win and allow Girdlestone to retain his overall top position. In the women’s race, Catherine Colyn claimed the final stage honours, but could not prevent first-time entrant Maja Wloszczowska of Poland from taking the overall honours. Wloszczowska, Kross Fit Racing teammate of Ariane Luthi, finished three seconds behind Colyn, while Luthi finished third on the day, and second in the general classification, followed by Colyn in third. The Polish rider was delighted to win the title, describing the event as “five days of fantastic racing. There was good competition, some great climbs and a tough time-trial, so I am very happy with the win,” said Wloszczowska. “The best for me was winning the queen stage of 145km with some hard climbs and that shows my fitness is pretty good.

Photo: Takealot Tour of Good Hope - Photo Credit: Louis Visser

“I love racing in South Africa, although I haven’t been here since winning the first round of the [mountain-bike] World Cup in 2012. It is my first road race in the country and to win three of the five stages is very satisfying,” Wloszczowska concluded.

GAZE AND VAN DER BREGGEN STORM TO SONGO.INFO CHAMPIONS RACE SUCCESS

On Wednesday 13 March 2019 the Kaymandi Sports Fields and songo.info BMX track hosted the 2019 songo.info Champions Race. The Stellenbosch based sporting and education charity attracted eight former and reigning World Champions, three Olympic Gold Medallists and the reigning European Champion. Accounting for three of those eleven titles between them Sam Gaze and Anna van der Breggen were worthy winners on the day and in terms of their impressive palmarès. The racing started earlier in the afternoon with the Future Champions Race. Boys and girls raced for prizes donated by Specialized Bicycles in Under 14 and Under 18 age groups. The younger girl’s category was won by songo.info programme rider Milani Dingani, while Henre de Villiers won the Under 14 boy’s race. The Under 18 titles were secured by 2018 champion Andrea Schofman and the highly regarded junior racer Aiden Penfold. In the elite women’s race the Investec-songo-Specialized paring of Annika Langvad and Van Der Breggen went up against their Absa Cape Epic rivals Nadine Rieder, Candice Lill and Ariane Lüthi. Van Der Breggen showed what a formidable force she is likely to be in the week-long stage race as she stormed away from the rest of the field.

Photo: 2019 songo.info Champions Race - Photo Credit: Michal Cervený

The young New Zealander proved the stronger rider on the day, and wheelie across the line; much to the delight of the songo.info children lining the barriers. Gaze’s win comes just three days after his victory in the 2019 Cape Town Cycle Tour and he could scarcely have hoped for a better start to his South African racing season. “The songo.info Champions Race is all about showing people what we do and where we do it” songo.info’s sport programme manager Sipho Madolo explained. “It is also amazing for the kids to see Nino, Jaro and Sam racing. To bring them closer to riders like that gives them motivation to pursue their cycling dreams.” Specialized’s Sam Gaze Exits Absa Cape Epic

Photo L - R: Christoph Sauser, Nadine Rieder, Anna van der Breggen and Annika Langvad Photo Credit: Michal Červený

The stacked men’s field featured six of the eight World Champions present at the event, with the reigning World and Olympic mountain bike champion Nino Schurter looking resplendent in his rainbow stripes on the start line. He was however again trounced, on South African soil, by Gaze; the former Under 23 World Champion and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist.

PAGE 14

Sam Gaze, who teamed with defending champion, Jaroslav Kulhavy for the Absa Cape Epic crashed during the first day of racing, but soldiered on to finish. Feeling strong, Sam returned for a second day of competition and raced well for the first half hour, but soon began to experience the effects of the prior day’s crash. Ultimately, he finished 28 minutes behind the leaders on the day. After another solid day of rest, Sam decided to toe the line for stage three of the Absa Cape Epic, but soon thereafter decided to exit the event. Sam voluntarily withdrew himself from Stage 3 of the Absa Cape Epic due to his symptoms. He has been diagnosed with a significant concussion following a neurological assessment by the Mediclinic medical team, and in the interest of rider safety, has been medically withdrawn from the race. “While Sam is torn over leaving the Epic early, we wholeheartedly support his decision. Sam’s health and full recovery is our top priority.” – Specialized.

CYCLING EVENTS

EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO - APRIL & MAY 2019 EVENT

DATE