Into Cycling - October 2019 by Into Cycling

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INTO N E W S PA P E R ISSUE #35

October 2019

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ARE YOU READY FOR #SERIOUSGEES AT WINES2WHALES?

Photo: Alan Hatherly, Simon Andreassen (Team Spur Specialized) & Matthew Beers, Wessel Botha (Team NAD 2) 2018, FNB Wines2Whales - Photo Credit: Greg Beadle/Cape Epic

The FNB Wines2Whales was born out of the desire to establish a world-class 3-day stage race in the Western Cape. Since its inception in 2009 it has become a must-do event on the mountain bike calendar, with riders from all of over South Africa and the world queuing for the chance to ride it. Ahead of the 2019 FNB Wines2Whales events the organisers are working tirelessly to ensure every rider starts, rides and finishes with #SeriousGEES. Eleven years on from the inaugural FNB Wines2Whales many things in mountain biking have changed. One remains constant however, the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic stage raceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to continual route refinements. Every year has seen new singletracks added and old trails reworked and perfected. 2019 is no different.

Johan Kriegler and his Cape Trails team repaired and rebuilt bridges, cut virgin trails, sculpt exquisite berms, and seeked trails never ridden by any Wines2Whales rider before. Another 2019 route feature is the admission of E-bikes in the FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage, the mid-week event. E-bikes have proved to be a popular and growing trend, offering a wider scope of mountain bikers the opportunity to experience the FNB Wines2Whales route on an easier mode of transport. With the added power of an electric motor helping them along, the E-Bikers will be able to take in the route like never before.

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NEWS

TOWNS OF THE 2020 ABSA CAPE EPIC Old favourites and familiar venues provide warm Western Cape hospitality for the seventeenth Absa Cape Epic. In March 2020, the race that measures it all will visit Cape Town, Ceres, Tulbagh, Wellington and Val de Vie.

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EXPERIENCE AN ADVENTURE ON THE CAPE CYCLE ROUTES

Photo: Cederberg Circuit - Photo Credit: Retroyspective

A ride through the Western Cape is a cycling journey like no other, covering some of the most diverse ﬂora and fauna on the planet - abundant with tarmac roads, gravel roads, single tracks, switchbacks and jeep tracks to suit everyone from the leisure cyclist to the technical rider. There’s never been more of an excuse to swap the car for your own bicycle. The Cape Cycle Routes have been designed to put the Western Cape on the map, not just as a premier tourist destination, but as Africa’s top cycling destination.

The routes are designed to showcase small towns and attractions across the province. Cape Cycle Routes include: The Cross Cape between Stellenbosch and Plettenberg Bay, the Cycle Tour 364 which uses much of the same route as the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the Overberg Meander and the Cederberg Circuit.

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Leaving the ivy-covered walls of the University of Cape Town behind, riders transfer from the city to the province’s rural heartland ahead of Stage 1. For the first time in a decade Ceres plays host to an Absa Cape Epic race village. The town’s high and primary schools welcome riders to the fertile valley, which is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture. 2010 was the event’s last stay in Ceres, though whistle stops through the surrounding area’s trails have been made in the long years since. A desire to fully explore the region’s rugged riding options necessitated a two-night stay.

Photo Credit: Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS

From Ceres, the race’s first moving day traverses two mountain ranges, heading north-west to Tulbagh. Saronsberg, a modern gem in South Africa’s fourth oldest town, provides the second race village and another two-night stay. The town’s Cape Dutch architecture is among the best-maintained examples of this local fusion of European style and African functionality in the Western Cape. Church Street provides a number of iconic 300-year-old illustrations of the style, and what is sure to be a fiercely contested Dimension Data Hotspot sprint.

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Distinctly African, South African and simultaneously cosmopolitan Cape Town provides Absa Cape Epic riders with the first glimpses of what the race holds in store. For those staying in one of the Mother City’s Tsogo Sun Hotels, the eclectic city centre offers rest and relaxation away from the impending stress of the race. In a city built as the port where Europe meets Asia and Africa, the eastern and western influences merge, from architecture to cuisine the city draws inspiration from its diverse heritage. Riders should experience the sweet spice of Cape Malay cooking, take in an open top bus sight seeing tour and of course pre-ride the Prologue route ahead of the race start on Sunday, 15 March 2020.

N E W S PA P E R

The Absa Cape Epic route, which is proudly presented by Land Rover, may be king – but the towns it visits are its queens. Each are pictures of South Africa’s famous hospitality. Local and international riders alike will be treated to eight days of warm welcomes and friendly smiles as they experience the Western Cape’s diverse landscapes, architecture and cultures.

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Saronsberg, located just outside of town, has an interesting tie to the Absa Cape Epic. The farm’s first harvest was being picked from its now award-winning vines at the same time as the first edition of the Untamed African Mountain Bike race was starting in Knysna. In the seventeen years since, both the farm and the Race have grown in international acclaim, but remain true to their African roots. The second moving day takes the race from Saronsberg to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Wellington campus, for the final three nights. Last visited in 2018, the region is well-loved by mountain bikers, though that love is tinged with a little apprehension. Wellington boasts purpose-built mountain biking trails aplenty, but also viciously steep vineyard climbs; there are no easy kilometres to be found there. Alongside the town’s brandy and whisky distilleries and a number of internationally renowned wineries, many of which the route traverses, the town also has a large private game reserve. Arc en Ciel Game provides the route highlight on the race’s penultimate day. Located in Paarl, Val de Vie is the Champs-Élysées of mountain biking for the fourth time. However, the trail to the valley of life is no processional stage. There are mountains, complete with a Dimension Data Hotspot, and a final Land Rover Technical Terrain segment to be conquered first. Once on the estate’s beautifully manicured grounds, riders will have perhaps the first opportunity of the race to relax and take in the sweeping emotions of completing the Absa Cape Epic. Taking a moment to compose oneself before rounding the final bend is a wise plan. For the cacophony of noise which awaits on Val de Vie’s polo fields can be overwhelming to physically and emotionally exhausted riders. Absa’s VIP hospitality area lines the finish line on one side, while grandstands filled with riders’ cheering friends and family members lines the other. Riding up through this tunnel of noise, each finisher will know that they have earned their spot in the Book of Legend and there is no finer location to receive an Absa Cape Epic finisher medal. Crossing the finish line of The Race That Measures All will take guts, determination, fitness, and a combination of luck and skill. Each morning, afternoon and evening the on-the-bike exertions will be countered by the warm hospitality of the Western Cape. While the region’s inhabitants cannot help the riders pedal their way through the 647 kilometres, they can fuel and encourage them for every pedal stroke of the way.

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NEWS

ARE YOU READY FOR #SERIOUSGEES AT WINES2WHALES? (CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1) By forming part of the mid-week event in the FNB Wines2Whales series of races, the students taking part will be treated to one of South Africa’s premier stage racing experiences. Anyone who has ridden a stage race knows, good food is essential. Riders will be able to start their day with a caffeine kick, thanks to the Woolworths coffee cart. The Woolworths luxuries will continue on the bike at the water points, where more fruit and a sweet treat or five awaits, as well as potatoes and perhaps a portion of banana bread. To spread the good fortune which mountain bikers enjoy, FNB Wines2Whales have extended their charity programme to include 15 official beneficiaries in 2019. Among these official charities is the Alta du Toit Aftercare Centre. The centre has a proud 40 year history of helping adults with intellectual disabilities by providing them with nursing care and skills development. Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West at Lourensford Estate, riders will cross through wineries, private farms, mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus!

Photo: FNB Wines2Whales Shiraz - Photo Credit: Greg Beadle

The Varsity MTB race will also form part of the FNB Wines2Whales Pinotage event this year and as a result boast three days of scintillating racing.

Three events spread over 10 days – the Chardonnay, Pinotage and Shiraz – ensure there is something for all skillsets with the focus clearly stamped on celebrating the love of mountain biking and the culture that accompanies it. The FNB Wines2Whales is more about the journey and experience than the destination but, no matter your inclinations or ambitions, you’re guaranteed a fun-filled, actionpacked three days of riding.

BRONZE FOR ROBYN DE GROOT

AT UCI 2019 MOUNTAIN BIKE MARATHON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Team dormakaba cyclist Robyn de Groot placed third in the elite women’s race at the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships held in Grächen, Switzerland recently, this being her best ever finish at World Championships and the first medal for South Africa at the championships. She finished just two minutes 40 seconds behind winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot from France who completed the 70km course in 3:57:09. “This season I decided to fund my European race block myself, even if it meant that the World Championships was a self-funded event, as I believed I stood a chance to better my previous results and it was my main goal of 2019. My goal was to finish in the top five. Considering I had surgery in January, I never expected to get a podium. However, this has been amazing and for sure it is a great feeling and accomplishment. It certainly gives me good energy for the remainder of the season and 2020,” says Robyn. “The racing conditions were good on the day. It was quite a technical route, so I think all the riders were really happy that the weather held. I arrived a few days earlier to inspect the route which was a worthwhile exercise. Compared to previous World Champs, the course had a lot of elevation in relation to the distance and it required a lot of focus,” Robyn continues. In terms of her preparation for the event she mentioned, “I have really been focused on maintaining balance. While I have been focused where necessary, I have also made time for my friends, family, and even ensured Photo L - R: Blaža Pintarič, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Robyn de Groot to find time to continue to play some golf. I felt relaxed going into the race Photo Credit: Michal Cerveny /UCI and it has been a combination of so many things coming together at the Robyn is looking forward to the remainder of the season on home turf. “I’m looking forward right time.” to race Berg & Bush with Amy (McDougall) as well as Wines2Whales late October. Of De Groot won the Rothaus Bike Giro in Germany last month, as well as course, it is now about managing timing as well as resting up before the 2020 season,” had a strong performance at the M3Montafon ultra marathon in Austria in Robyn concludes. May. “We are so proud of Robyn and her accomplishments this season in Europe. She has

She has been working closely with her coach to train things she was pre- quickly become an indelible part of team dormakaba and we cannot wait to see her race in viously unable to do due to the problem with blood flow she had to her leg. South Africa again,” says Shaun Frayne, MD of dormakaba South Africa.

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NEWS

TOP TRACK DUO QUALIFY FOR UCI TRACK WC SEASON This is a major milestone on their quest for final Tokyo Olympic qualification. To qualify for Tokyo riders must compete in at least three of the six upcoming World Cup events where they will hopefully gain the points needed to meet the Olympic qualifying criteria. The World Cup season is made up of six international races: Minsk 1- 3 November, Glasgow 8 -10 November, Hong Kong 29th November - 1st December, Cambridge 6th - 8th December, Australia 13th - 15th December, and Milton 24th - 26th January 2020. Both Spies and Du Preez needed a top 45 ranking for the sprint and a Top 36 ranking for the keirin. This was a challenge a year ago but both riders have gradually established themselves and moved up the rankings. Current UCI World rankings: Jean Spies currently 23rd in the keirin and 35th in the sprint, with Charlene Du Preez 26th in the keirin and 29th in the sprint. After a frantic early couple of months, marred by back luck and miss fortune, Spies has turned his season around to make sure he qualified for the World Cups. “I am really happy. It has been a tough year, so make to the quota is a relief, as it is a really important step in the Olympic qualification criteria,” said Spies.

Photo Credit: Natascha V.Chekannikova

Charlene Du Preez has been quietly chasing UCI points all over Europe and UK and like Spies has shown through hard work and dedication you can achieve the goals you set. “I am very pleased to say that everything is “on track” with a secured allocation for sprint and keirin in the 2019/2020 season World Cups,” said Du Preez.

After racing and training in Barcelona, Spain the latest UCI rankings show that both Jean Spies and Charlene Du Preez have achieved the required placings to allow them to race the 2019/2020 UCI World Cup Track season.

Johannesburg-based GIG Sports Agency was formed to give South African cycling stars like Bennie Moqumo and Jean Spies – who is on his way to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – opportunities so that their potential can become reality.

WESTERN CAPE CYCLING

MARC PRITZEN WINS

In cycling and in many other sporting environments huge confusion exists regarding the names of regions in sport. This situation is made worse by franchise clubs using names not recognized by the current structures. Old habits die hard.

Marc Pritzen of Team Officeguru Racing won the 3-day Tour of Windhoek after a great ride on the final stage on Sunday, 22 September 2019.

REGIONS EXPLAINED

To make it easy for us SASCOC (South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee) made a decision that the boundaries for sport purposes will be the same as the municipal boundaries. The Municipal boundaries are clustered together as regions or District Municipalities and Metropolis. Some of the readers will remember a time that PPA was affiliated to Cycling SA as an additional province. SASCOC aligned the structures of all sport bodies in South Africa and instructed Cycling to revise their structure to the demographics of South Africa. This meant that there should be a governing body with 9 Provincial bodies with their respective regions and then the club level. Interestingly SASCOC does not recognize more than one National sport federation for each sport governed by an International Federation.

TOUR DE WINDHOEK

Pritzen and Louis Visser of Team TEG PRO Cycling went into the final day level-pegging with the same time, but Pritzen put in a great ride on the Daan Viljoen hills to pull away and eventually win the stage by nearly two minutes. That was the defining ride of the five-stage tour as he went on to win in an overall time of six hours 34 minutes and 14 seconds, with Visser coming second in 6:36:05 and David Maree of Team Enza/PBC third in 6:36:09.

“With all this said, what does it mean to the cyclist in the Western Cape. First and foremost is that the Provincial Structure in this Province is called the Western Cape Cycling Association and not Western Province or WP.” “WP is actually a region and is called the Cape Town Metropolitan and is wrongly referred to as WP. (Refer to organizational chart, or organogram for Western Cape Cycling).” “Two of these regions in the Western Cape, Central Karoo and Overberg do not currently have a functioning structure. For those that is under the impression that Paarl is part of the Cape Metropole (WP) - you are mistaken. If you live in an area that is not served by the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality, then you belong to a different region.” “After reading this information you would probably ask the question why is this information important? Cycling in the Western Cape is a unique multidiscipline sport with a fast growing membership and everyone should know by whom and how their sport is governed and refrain from using the terminology Boland, WP or SWD. Cycling is leading the way when it comes to complying with all the legal obligations and we could all contribute by knowing our sport. Knowledge is power,” says Corné Bence, Chairperson, Western Cape Cycling.

Cycling SA      

Safety manager Transformation & Development manager Rider manager Youth/Schools manager Women Representative Ordinary Members: Chairpersons of Cape Town Metropole, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Eden, Overberg and West Coast regions

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Western Cape Cycling

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Eden

Central Karoo

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Clubs

Overberg

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West Coast

Clubs

Officeguru Racing also won the team classification, while ACDC Luso came second in 20:16:46 and TEG PRO Cycling third in 20:37:34. The 20-year-old Pritzen dominated the other categories, winning the Young Rider award and the Best Sprinter award, while Travis Stedman of Team Pro Touch SpiderTech won the King of the Mountain category. Pritzen, who was born in Namibia, but moved to South Africa at a young age, has since taken out South African citizenship and is one of South Africa’s top young cyclists. Earlier this year he won the under 23 title at the South African National Road Race championships, as well as the Tour of Good Hope, while he won The Namibian Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Classic last year. Namibia’s Michelle Vorster of Team Pupkewitz Megabuild won the women’s category with Risa Dreyer of Team Delush coming second and Courtney Smith of Team CustomizedCycling Bioplus third. Vorster also won the Best Namibian rider award, while team mate Danielle Strydom won the King of the Mountain award and Courtney Smith Best Sprinter award.

President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer BMX Commissioner MTB Commissioner Para-Cycling Commissioner Road Commissioner Track Commissioner Technical manager Public Relations/Media manager Coaching manager

Cape Winelands

Photo L - R: Devon Short, Chris Jooste, Louis Visser, Marc Pritzen, David Maree and Dylan Girdlestone

The tour saw a record turnout of 16 men’s teams, including six from South Africa, and six women’s teams, including one from South Africa and according to the former president of the Namibia Cycling Federation, Rolf Adrian, the tour has helped to raise the standard of Namibian cycling.

Cape Metropole (Known as WP)

Clubs

“It’s important to have a tour like this to raise the level of our cycling, and especially the level of women’s cycling has been raised considerably. It’s much better to host such a tour, because then we have a much bigger pool of riders competing,” he said. Leander Borg of the organising committee said that the local riders had learnt a lot. “All the riders got exposed to a much higher level of racing while they also learnt a lot about team tactics. We also got great feedback from the South African teams who were impressed by the organisation and safety of the riders,” he said.

FITNESS

SCIENCE FLEXION WE TEACH, WE REPRESENT, WE TRAIN!

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LIFESTYLE

PEDAL AFRICA - YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS

Riding a bicycle is one of the best ways to enjoy scenery and landscapes - what better way to enjoy the beach, coastal forests and lagoons of the pristine North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal than by bicycle! Pedal Africa has been operating since 2016 from Prince’s Grant on the KwaZulu North Coast.

“Over 650 people have enjoyed the experience to date. The bicycles have wide, fat tyres for beach and sandy jeep track riding in the local indigenous forests. These bikes are also known as ‘fatties’. The beach between Blythedale and Zinkwazi is amazing to ride on around low tide - stunning bays, firm sand, beautiful rock formations and dune vegetation,” says Julian Bryant, Pedal Africa. “There is a full setup of 10 bikes to tackle the approximate 2 hour (18km) route with viewing point stops. There are a variety of routes depending on rider skill and experience - although each route features a substantial amount of riding on the beach, which is the main attraction. Riders as young as 9 years of age have enjoyed the adventure. There is also wonderful forest single track adjacent to the lagoon and the odd bridge or 2 as well,” Julian adds. Julian guides the tours and ensures everyone gets as much enjoyment out of the bikes and the route as possible. Riding on the beach at low tide is an experience that will bring a smile to anyone’s face. If you lucky you will even spot dolphins, whales (during whale season) and the abundant birdlife of the area. After an exhilarating ride on the fat bikes, riders can enjoy fantastic hospitality at the Prince’s Grant Lodge where one can enjoy a good meal and cold beverages, whilst overlooking the beautiful views across the estate towards the Indian Ocean.

What you need to know: Bike rental R350, Trail fee is R25 per rider, helmet rental is R25, group discounts for 5+ riders and riders should wear trainers. For more information contact Julian Bryant on 082 419 0578, email: pedalafrica@gmail.com or visit www.pedalafrica.com

TEAM DIMENSION DATA FOR QHUBEKA WIN PRESTIGIOUS BEYOND SPORT GLOBAL AWARD Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka were announced as winners at the prestigious Beyond Sport Global Awards 2019 in New York recently as the Best Corporate Campaign or Initiative in the Sport for Good category. This is for their work with the Qhubeka Charity.

The award recognises organizations that are using their reach, resources and influence to effect change. Together with their partners, supporters, riders and staff they have funded over 27 000 bikes to Qhubeka. These funds are channelled into Qhubeka’s scholar mobility and mechanic training programmes, which help children to access education, help support skills development and job creation in South Africa. This year’s Beyond Sport Global Awards 2019 shortlist represented 37 countries, across six continents and more than 40 sports, all dedicated to creating positive social impact in communities around the world through sport to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “We are honoured to win the Best Corporate Campaign or Initiative in the Sport for Good category at the Beyond Sport awards. In a field filled with projects doing amazing work, to have been presented with this award is truly humbling. Moreover, the calibre of entries on the shortlist is testament to the change we can collectively make in changing lives across the globe.”

Photo Credit: www.zcmc.co.za

“We will use this platform to continue to spread the ethos of our team, and change lives with bicycles through the Qhubeka Charity. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Beyond Sport for leveraging sport to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” - Doug Ryder.

THE BEST BIKE FOR YOUR BUCK Choosing a bike is all about you: how much can you afford, how often you’re going to use your bike, whether you can afford to insure it, how good a cyclist are you and of course whether or not you are cycling competitively. If you’ve shopped around a lot, you’ll know that it’s possible to spend a small fortune on a bike. According to Discovery Insure data, the bike with the highest-insured value on its books is the Time Alpe d’Heuz with lightweight Meilenstein T-wheels, at a cool R253 000 – yes, the price of a small car. Other bikes with high insurance values are the De Rosa SRAM Red, at R249 851, and a 2018 Cipollini RB1K at R240 000. The highest payout made so far by Discovery Insure was R180 000 for accidental damage to a Pinarello Dogma.

Which bikes do Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka ride? Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, the first African team to compete in the Tour de France (and all Discovery Vitality Ambassadors), has chosen to use bikes from BMC of Switzerland from January 1 this year. The team needs about five bikes per rider in a time trial race, which amounts to a total of around 40 bikes, but it obviously needs to have spares.

The most commonly insured bicycles with Discovery include: Raleigh, with insured values ranging from R1 500 to R80 000, Trek, with insured values range from R1 500 to R150 000, Merida, at an average insured value of R22 000, Giant, at an average insured value of R25 000 and Scott, at an average insured value of R30 000. As with most things, the better the bike you want, the more money you’ll spend. But unless you’re a competitive cyclist, you don’t need to spend a fortune. It’s always possible to find a bike within your budget that offers a good balance of speed, durability and comfort. Once you have a budget in mind, the next question is around what you will be using the bike for the most. This will help you determine which type of bike you should be looking for and narrow the scope somewhat. Leisure – this can include short rides to the shops or along the promenade, rather than for exercise purposes. A hybrid is probably the best bet, as they have the durability and stability of a mountain bike, but are more lightweight and efficient, making for an easier ride. Commuting – if you plan to use your bike to commute to work, you’ll want a light bike that’s easy to pedal, with powerful disc brakes, as well as mudguard mounts to help keep your work clothes clean. Road – for fastpaced road cycling and fitness training, you’ll need a road bike that is lightweight with strong frames and designed for a bent-over position to improve aerodynamics and help you build up speed. Off-road – if you will be cycling off-road most of the time, consider a mountain bike. They are durable and strong, built more for stamina and agility than speed.

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For the whole team, it can use about 300 bikes in a season. Each member of the Qhubeka team has two bikes at home, a road bike and a time trial bike, in addition to the five bikes that are made available to them for a race. Not too surprising when you consider than in one year, a single rider can cover as much as 30 000 kilometres. That requires a lot more bike quality than the average recreational rider needs to pay for. So don’t worry if your bike costs a fraction of what a fellow rider’s costs. Simply do your research, understand your own biking needs and then find the perfect bike for you – and your pocket. Whatever your children’s move, help them move more. Enter the children’s mountain bike race happening, part of the Discovery 947 Ride Joburg at www.947ridejoburg.co.za

MTB

E-MTB UCI MEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ALAN HATHERLY SETS PACE FROM OUTSET

The UCI Mountain Bike World Championships presented by Mercedes-Benz at Mont-Sainte-Anne, Québec, Canada started on 28 August 2019. The first rainbow jerseys of the UCI World Championships were presented to the Swiss national team and the first ever UCI E-MTB World Championships saw Alan Hatherly (RSA) and Nathalie Schneitter (SUI), win this innovative new format. The start of the next race was a new sight and sound for the UCI World Championships, the faint buzz of electric motors to accompany the cowbells: a new discipline that would produce new champions. With the machines restricted in power output and top assistance speed, strategy is a vital part of the skill mix: when to use, and when to conserve the electric power that complements leg power! With a field that had a wide age range, would the wisdom of experience or the exuberance of youth win out? The men’s four-lap race started with Alan Hatherly (RSA) – the 2018 Under 23 XCO UCI World Champion – setting the pace. By the halfway point he had extended his lead to 34sec. As the race progressed, this was a pattern that was to repeat, the young South African beautifully mixing pace and judgement. Hatherly won the gold medal and inaugural E-MTB UCI Men World Championship in style with a time of 1:04:53. Gilloux took silver, 1:10 down, with Absalon the bronze, a further 29sec in arrears. An enthralling race from start to finish.

Photo: Alan Hatherly (RSA), 2019 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships E-MTB Cross-Country - Photo credit: Michal Cerveny

WRAP-UP FOR SPUR SCHOOLS MTB LEAGUE The Western Cape wrapped up an exciting 2019 Spur Schools Mountain Bike League (SSMTBL) season with a record number of 1025 entries on 14 September 2019. Host school Paul Roos Gimnasium continued their winning streak of the past 11 years and walked off as the winner in the boys and overall categories. Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West finished second overall with the boys placing second and the girls finishing in fourth position. Durbanville High School took the third slot in the overall competition with their boys third on the podium and their girls team placing fourth. Rhenish Girls High School showed great consistency this year and won the female category of the Western Cape leg followed by HTS Drostdy in second with Durbanville High School in a close third.

The champion primary school for 2019 was Kenridge with Van Riebeeckstrand second and Paarl Boys in third place. According to Khakhi Diala, Spur Group Sponsorship & Events Manager, the SSMTBL is achieving its goal of getting kids on bikes having hit a record number of 18757 entries for the 2019 season with an expansion of the league’s footprint with schools from Langebaan, Hermanus, Macassar, Bonteheuwel and Worcester competing in the Western Cape leg of the league. The finals of the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League (SSMTBL), one of the most anticipated events on the South African mountain biking calendar took place at Wagpos High School outside Brits in the North West Province from 27-28 September 2019 with 54 schools competing for the coveted title of National SSMTBL Champion. After a day of fiercely contested racing in testing conditions it was Garsfontein High School who walked off with the mixed team trophy, while Menlopark High School claimed the women’s trophy, and Paul Roos Gimnasium once again secured the men’s title. Final: The final day of racing saw all nine provinces pitching their strengths in the SSMTBL inter-provincial competition. Gauteng remains the strongest province for the second year running with Gauteng North crowned Provincial Champions followed by Gauteng South second and Western Cape third. Annelize Ziehl-Owens, president of the official governing body of Schools Cycling South Africa (SCSA) stated that this was a phenomenal year for Schools Cycling across the country. “More schools are joining the ‘magic’ of Schools Cycling as a team sport and are in the process of getting their structures in place to accommodate cycling as an official school sport. With Schools Cycling SA and the League’s shared objectives SCSA is looking forward to this powerful collaboration.”

Photo: Aiden Penfold of Paul Roos Gimnasium finished second the youth men 16 category Photo Credit: Chris Hitchcock

“Together we can secure Schools Cycling’s future creating healthier children and families. SCSA would also like to work more closely with the department of Education and Sports and Recreation in 2020 to encourage, promote and develop the Sport,” Ziehl-Owens concluded.

CAPE PIONEER CHAMPIONS CROWNED The curtains of the 2019 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek have officially drawn to a close. DSV Pro Cycling’s Gert Heyns and Arno du Toit were eager to run riot over familiar trails as they entered the final stage with a slender lead over KMC’s Gerbon Mos and Tim Smeenge. DSV tasted blood early into the 65km route and set a tempo that was just too much for KMC to hold onto. It was clear that Heyns and Du Toit were revelling in flying over the single track that they know so well, and stormed across the finish line to take the stage win and victory overall. The DSV team had been kept out of yellow for most of the race due a mechanical on stage one, but also because of the relentless pace on the flowing Klein Karoo trails from a dogged KMC. Having come so close to victory and ultimately securing the second spot on the podium overall is something that the Netherland’s KMC is extremely proud of. Finishing the event in third place overall was Asrin Cycling’s Wolfgang Krenn and Moran Vermeulen. As new comers to both the mountain bike and stage racing scene, the international team admitted to being completely out of their comfort zone. In the women’s race, Theresa Ralph and Sarah Hill crossed the finish line as the undisputed queens of the ‘Race with Soul’. Despite battling with an injury, Dormakaba’s Sam Sanders made sure to end the event on a high note by taking the stage win with her teammate Amy McDougall. It was Seattle Coffee’s Nicky Giliomee and Cherise Willeit who rounded out the women’s podium both on the day and in the general classification.

Photo: 2019 Momentum Health Cape Pioneer Trek Photo credit: www.zcmc.co.za

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LOURENSFORD ESTATE

Lourensford Estate - Home to World-class Wine & Mountain Biking Trails Lourensford Estate in Somerset West will play host to the start of the FNB Wine 2 Whales for the 11th consecutive year this October. During Stage 1, mountain bikers will be able to experience the scenic climbs, flowing paths and thrilling descents amongst the vineyards, forest, fynbos and fruit orchards of one of the world’s most beautiful wine estates as they navigate the gravel trails and pristine single tracks in the basin of the Helderberg Mountains. The spectacular setting in Somerset West is as ideal for making world class wine as it is for mountain biking. Cellarmaster Hannes Nel, who has completed 3 W2Ws, does all of his riding on the estate, and uses his mountain bike as a crucial tool in his award winning wine making. “I am fortunate to work and live on Lourensford,” says Hannes. “The best way for me to monitor the vineyards is by bicycle. I am able to cover much more ground than I can in a vehicle, and I can cycle in between the rows to inspect the development of the grapes. Cycling brings me closer to the vines, and connects me to the soil from where our grapes are harvested.”

Photo: Lourensford Estate Wine cellar - Photo Credit: Greg Beadle

Hannes’ top three tips for navigating the Lourensford trails are: 1. Pace yourself – Unless you are one of the super fit pro’s, do not be an eager beaver and start the first day too fast and overcook it on the first 20km of the race 2. Stay well hydrated from the start 3. Most importantly enjoy the stunning Lourensford surroundings and have fun – you are cycling on one of the most beautiful wine estates in the world. Stage 1 of the FNB W2W marks the start of the journey to Onrus. Epic views aplenty, the Lourensford route has two new trails: Old Pine and JK’s Contour. Trails such as Schoeman’s, Witboom and Canarie have also been re-introduced. Riders can look forward to an enthralling but technical downhill from the summit of Grootnek, as well as great mixture of open roads and single track. Other highlights include spectacular indigenous forests, beautiful orchards and vineyards and unbeatable views over False Bay. Lourensford General Manager Koos Jordaan says through the ongoing partnership with FNB W2W, the estate is able to give riders access to what he believes are some of the best and most scenic trails in the Western Cape and the exclusive opportunity to experience Lourensford‘s beauty and rich biodiversity by bike. “Eleven years ago, the first W2W trails were built on Lourensford and over the years, we have been able to share our picturesque estate with thousands of mountain bikers,” says Jordaan.

Photo: Wine2Whales Chardonnay 2018 - Photo Credit: Dwayne Senior

Registered FNB W2W participants looking to get a Stage 1 preview and a sneak peek at the natural wonders of Lourensford are invited to a 25km Pre-ride on Sunday 13 October. The Pre-ride registration is from 7.30am – 8.30am at the Coffee Roastery Company and entry costs R120, which includes a bottle of River Garden Classique Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot. It’s essential that FNB W2W participants pre-book at https://lourensford.co.za/event-directory/.

Photo L - R: Winemaking team: Morne McGear, Hannes Nel and Timothy Witbooi

Photo: Cellarmaster Hannes Nel in his natural environment

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LOURENSFORD ESTATE Rider registration for FNB W2W happens the day before each race on Thursday 24 October from 2pm – 7pm (Chardonnay), Sunday 27 October from 11am – 3pm (Pinotage) and Thursday 31 October from 2 – 7pm (Shiraz) at Lourensford Winery. Why not take a quick break after registration to enjoy one of The Millhouse Kitchen’s yummy pizzas and a sneaky pre-race glass of wine? Pinotage riders take note: once registered, riders, friends and family are invited to the Lourensford Market, which takes place every Sunday between 10am – 3pm. Make carbo-loading hassle-free by tucking into one of the food choices and be tempted by the delicious wine and craft beer on offer. “Our philosophy is one of sharing nature’s essence to inspire memorable moments – be it with our wine or through an event such as W2W,” says Jordaan. “Respect for our rich biodiversity and environmental sustainability is at the core of what we do, and we are proud of the Conservation Champion status bestowed on us by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).”

Photo: Lourensford Estate Garden - Photo Credit: Greg Beadle

From the flagship Chrysalis and cult The Dome ranges to the Limited Release and River Garden wines, Lourensford’s award-winning wine is an ode to the estate’s awe-inspiring natural environment. A visit to Lourensford will leave visitors tempted by an array of choice experiences including wine tasting, a coffee roastery, restaurant and lifestyle shop. Chardonnay and Shiraz riders registering on the Thursday before their race are invited to linger longer and enjoy everything else that Lourensford has to offer. Wine Tasting at Lourensford: Premium Wine Tasting (R60) | Any 4 wines of the Limited Release range or MCC Belgian Chocolate and Wine Pairing (R110) The Dome Chardonnay with Orange Dark Chocolate, Lourensford Estate Merlot with Dark Cherry Chocolate, Lourensford Estate Shiraz with Dark Chili Chocolate and our unique Honey Liqueur with Dark Mint Chocolate. Blind Wine Tasting Challenge (R45) Accept the challenge of being poured 4 wines and try to identify them. If the group identifies them correctly, you get your tasting for free. Vodka Pairing (R130 - Booking Essential) Siberian Express Vodka is the brand new, premium vodka range distilled and produced at Lourensford estate. Pairing includes: Original Vodka with dried pineapple, Citrus Vodka with ‘Ginger Snaps’, Blackcurrant Vodka with cherries and Coffee Vodka with a dark chocolate biscuit and milk. For more information visit Lourensford.co.za or call 021 847 2333. Find Lourensford on Twitter or Instagram (@Lourensford) and visit their page on Facebook.com/Lourensford Lourensford Market The vibrant market, housed in a permanent structure, boasts 70 permanent stalls and a number of Pop-Ups. Visitors are spoiled with sprawling lawns, majestic trees and landscaped gardens to enjoy the quality products that are our priority. You will discover everything from delectable food, handmade wares and art, to organic, artisanal produce. T: 072 284 1654 | E: hello@lfhm.co.za | www.lfhm.co.za The Millhouse Kitchen Chef Bjorn Guido’s goal with the Millhouse Kitchen is to create a neighbourhood feel where guests can relax and enjoy each other’s company in the beautiful setting of the Lourensford Estate. The menu is inspired by the French and Italians, famous for their fantastic rustic dishes. They make use of fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients available within a 50-km radius of the Lourensford farm. T: 079 717 3799 | E: events@millhousekitchen.co.za The Coffee Roasting Company The Coffee Roasting Company is South Africa’s single-origin pioneer where our coffees are roasted by hand and in small batches. Open 7 days a week, be sure to visit and enjoy great coffee tasting talks, watch coffee being roasted, receive advice from their roasters and become part of an ever-growing family of coffee lovers. The Red Riding Hood Deli offers a variety of freshly baked cakes, quiches and muffins. All goods are made using only freerange eggs, real butter and pure spices. They also have a lovely selection of gifts and equipment. T: 021 847 0536 | E: order@coffeecompany.co.za | www.coffeecompany.co.za Wellness in The Winelands Spa Situated in the most exquisite surroundings of Cape Winelands, Wellness in the Winelands | Lourensford offers a top selection of high quality spa treatments. Our spa menus include indulgent beauty rituals, specialised hydrating, anti-ageing treatments, signature massages and body wraps. For our treatments we use Healing EARTH cremes, oils and balms developed in South Africa. Our products are 100% organic. Our spa offers a quiet environment for guests to unwind, recharged and be pampered.

We cater for tailor-made experiences for individuals, groups and couples. Pre-booking of treatments is essential to avoid disappointment. T: 073 431 0459 | E: Lourensford@wellnessinthewinelands.co.za www.wellnessinthewinelands.co.za Lifestyle shop Browse through our beautiful handpicked selection of natural clothing, accessories and homeware. The perfect place to purchase gifts for all occasions. A large range of locally made Souvenirs on offer Plus, an always welcome, ice cream, cold drink or snack. T: 087 135 5542/ 087 802 1922 | E: info@liferetreat.co.za | www.lifestyleshoponline.co.za Life Retreat Movement studio Experience body, mind, movement, and breath in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Our classes include Yoga (Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kundalini, Restorative, Sculpt, Healing, Beginner, Yin and Flow), Nia Dancing, Kiddies Yoga and Barre Conditioning. Download the Free Life Retreat Studio App to view our full Schedule of Classes/ Talks/ Workshops/ Events. T: 087 135 5542 / 021 847 0089 | E: info@liferetreat.co.za | www.liferetreat.co.za

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GENERAL

MITSUBISHI MOTORS SA

PARTNERS WITH STILLWATER SPORTS EVENTS

EUROBIKE AWARDS 2019

DEMONSTRATE CREATIVITY OF BIKE INDUSTRY This year’s edition of Eurobike Awards 2019 the leading trade show by Lake Constance, once again claimed to be the first port of call for trends and practical innovative spirit within the industry. Eurobike Awards 2019 took place from 4-6 September in Friedrichshafen, Germany. This year’s winners inspired the six-strong international panel of judges with both their unique character and the consistency with which they had thought through and worked out their ideas and projects. For the show organisers, the presentation of the 2019 Awards on the first day of the trade fair was also a demonstration that Eurobike and its exhibitors represent the benchmark in all of the increasingly broad segments of the industry – from sport through to new mobility. From the roughly 400 entries, 43 were selected this year for Eurobike Awards, with nine of them receiving Gold Awards. Added to this were five Start-Up Awards for the best developments by newcomers to the industry, one of them being the Bike Box, a company based in Knysna, South Africa.

Photo: 2019 Fedhealth MTB Challenge - Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg

Local sports marketing agency, Stillwater Sports is excited to welcome Mitsubishi Motors South Africa (MMSA) as the official vehicle partner of twelve of its leading sporting events. “We are exceptionally proud to partner with Mitsubishi Motors,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director Stillwater Sports. “From off road adventure sports to mass participation road races, irrespective of the city that we are in, Mitsubishi’s range of SUVs and bakkies will form an integral part of our event team. Not only has our workload been made lighter thanks to these magnificent vehicles, but we also get to do what we love doing, which is host world class events, in style.” “Focusing on lifestyle adventure events in the city and in the outdoors, Stillwater Sports and Mitsubishi Motors form a natural blend,” says Nic Campbell, General Manager of MMSA. “Encouraging active lifestyles for the whole family, Stillwater Sports’ events include road running, mountain biking, trail running and obstacle course racing. Boasting folding seats, space, comfort, roof rails, travel on and off the road, powerful engines, state-of-the-art safety equipment and more, our range of SUVs and bakkies are the perfect fit for active people who increasingly participate in these popular outdoor events.” Look out for Mitsubishi’s range of SUVs and bakkies at the following Stillwater Sports events: FNB Run Your City Series, IMPI Challenge, Origin of Trails MTB Experience, Totalsports Women’s Race and Fedhealth MTB Challenge.

Photo: Christine Collins, founder of the BikeBox Company

The founder of the BikeBox Company, Christine Collins faced some challenges while travelling with bikes. Christine found that bike cases are huge, expensive and when you’re not actually travelling, they take up a tremendous amount of space. Christine came up with a different solution and started the Bike Box project which was launched in March 2019 at the Cape Town Cycle Tour. For more information visit www.bikebox.company

PROVINCE’S BEST SPORTS ATHLETES HONOURED AT WC SPORT AWARDS

On 14 September 2019, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) honoured the Western Cape’s top achieving sportspeople at the annual Provincial Sport Awards at Old Mutual in Pinelands. These awards are the culmination of a process of regional awards ceremonies, where winners in the categories from all six regions went through to compete for top honours as the province’s best.

in aid of

and

12 - 13 October 2019 Cycle 500 km | 24-hours | Spinning Marathon

Some of the winners of the evening included West Coast Netball (Federation of the Year), Charlize Murphy (Newcomer of the Year), Desiree Ellis (Coach of the Year), Anneke Snyman (Sportswoman of the Year), Chad le Clos (Sportsman of the Year), and Peter Daniels (Journalist of the year). “Sport can equip the future and present generations with the ability to empathize. It gives youth the opportunity to join ‘good gangs’. Together we are all in the business of rebuilding a broken nation,” said Minister Anroux Marais. She also congratulated all the nominees and expressed her gratitude for the roles they play in their communities. She ended her speech with a quote from the late Chester Williams, reminding the audience of the importance of hard work and determination. The provincial winners will now go through to compete at the National Sport Awards later this year. Charlize Murphy (16) from Oudtshoorn representing Eden Cycling, won the award for the Newcomer of the year. In December 2018 Charlize took part in her first ever Track Championship in the Bellville Velodrome. After she won a Gold medal amongst others, she secured a place in the Under 19 Women’s Track Team. Earlier this year Charlize won 2 bronze and 1 silver medal at the Africa Continental Track Championships that was held in Pietermaritzburg.

For registrations and donations, go to www.d4dsa.co.za Contact Tacia Roux @ 082 415 5595 | or Ada Buys @ 084 491 3326

PAGE 10

“Charlize has come so far in cycling in June 2018 as a 15 cumstances are not great as community. Her dad is blind and for her husband. As her coach, I says Lee Aries.

such a short period of time. She started year old and she just excelled. Her cirshe comes from a rather disadvantaged her Mom is home based and needs to care am so proud of her and her achievements,”

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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. Contact us for a confidential meeting to discuss how we can help you realise your and you family’s Plan B in Europe.

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PAGE 11

ROAD

MCLEAN BELIEVES IN BESTMED TSHWANE CLASSIC WINNING FORMULA “The growth of the race is simply inspiring. Against the backdrop of the economic slump over the past ten years, the growth of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic is unheard of. It’s unequalled in mass participation cycling events in South Africa,” said McLean, who manages Cycle Lab Megastores. The third edition of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic, presented in association with Jacaranda FM and Office National, takes place on 3 November 2019 at the Voortrekker Monument and a field of more than 10 000 cyclists are expected to take part this year. “It’s so important for Pretoria as one of the country’s capitals to have a signature mass participation event to showcase the city as a hosting and tourist destination.” “It’s clear from the response to the event that Pretoria cyclists have been hungry for their own event for quite some time. They have always had to travel great distances to get the feel of riding in a mass participation ride. Now, at last, they too can open the garage and ride to the start line, so to speak.” McLean believes the event has every chance to keep growing steadily in the coming years. “I have no doubt the event, which is already a huge success, will go from strength to strength. “The capital city now has a signature mass participation event with an operational plan which allows it’s scale. With evident support it’s easy to see why this race is so popular.” “The Bestmed Tshwane Classic organisational team boasts some of the finest race organisers in South Africa. Their attention to detail is well documented over many, many years. Add road closure, a well-balanced route and an affordable entry fee to the mix and it’s a recipe for success.” Cycle Lab have a Megastore in Lynwood and McLean says sales figures at the store show that cycling in Pretoria is healthy.

“A great feature of the race is that they have again managed to keep the entry fee affordable. It’s great value for money. We need to make the sport of cycling as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. Keeping entry fees low is a wonderful way to do this.” The Bestmed Tshwane Classic takes cyclists past several historical landmarks in Pretoria and presents distance options over 95km, 50km and 20km. Child participants are also catered for with two different rides inside the Monument’s grounds and a professional kermesse that is staged following the main race.

DEVELOPMENT RIDERS GET A SHOVA The Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic is a key event on the national and international cycling calendar and is fast becoming a breeding ground for budding development cyclists. Cyclists from disadvantaged areas across South Africa are increasingly taking up the opportunity to compete and the organisers of the Tsogo Sun Amashova are continuing to show their support in a bid to grow the number of cyclists within the sport.

South Africa’s oldest classic cycle race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban will once again take place on 20 October 2019. With four routes to choose from elite and social riders can choose between the gruelling 160km, the 106km, 65km and 35km routes. Amashova race organiser, Annie Batchelder says: “We are very serious about cycling development and believe that it not only benefits up and coming disadvantaged riders, but also helps with strengthening the sport countrywide. With four route options to choose from we cater for all abilities giving our underprivileged riders a wonderful platform to compete.” Calvin Mono of Boni4Kasi says: “Competing in last year’s Amashova opened doors for our riders to gain more experience in the race environment, realise their talents, meet people in the cycling fraternity and see how far cycling can take them. We are so grateful for the support as the Amashova was the platform we needed to enable us to also compete in other big cycling events.” Calvin and his team have already made huge strides in their sport by recently competing in races such as the 94.7, the Absa Cape Epic and the Joburg2C.” In addition to accommodating development riders, the Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic also offers a powerful way to raise funds for charity. Riders such as Mdumiseni Khumalo from non-profit organisation, the Pretoria South Lions Club, is a talented development rider who raises funds on the rides he does. He says: “The Pretoria South Lions Club focusses on making a difference by uplifting small communities. Our initiatives include Operation Bright Sight and Bikes for All where we arrange for bikes to be donated to the needy. We’re also involved in the Safe Cycling Campaign where we hand out reflective bibs to cyclists on the road.” The Tsogo Sun Amashova race organisers collaborate with KZN and SA Cycling to ensure the sport continues to grow from strength to strength. For more information visit www.shova.co.za

20 AFRICAN NATIONS COMPETING IN THE AFRICA CUP The 4-day African Cup cycling event will see 20 African nations competing in races in Nelson Mandela Bay that will offer UCI points towards qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The event is part of a three-year partnership between Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and Cycling South Africa. Locations for the four days of racing includes, Marine Drive, New Brighton, Lorraine Primary School and Park Drive and the CBD area. The races will be passing various attractions in Nelson Mandela Bay that visitors can look forward to. The Donkin Heritage Trail, 7 Castle Hill Museum, Donkin Reserve and Pyramid and Route 67 are just some of the attractions. The Donkin Heritage Trail is a 5km trail which links 51 places of historical interest in the old Hill area of central Port Elizabeth. 7 Castle Hill Museum is one of the oldest surviving Settler cottages in Port Elizabeth. The Donkin Reserve includes a stone pyramid monument with a touching inscription erected by Sir Rufane Donkin in memory of his late wife, Elizabeth, after whom the city was named. The Lighthouse, which was built in 1861, also houses Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, the official Visitor Information Centre. Route 67 consists of 67 Public Art Works symbolising Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of work dedicated to the Freedom of South Africa and includes 67 steps leading up the second largest flag in Africa. The racing details are as follows: Day 1 - October 10 (Mixed Relay), Day 2 October 11, (Individual Time Trial), Day 3 - October 12, (Criterium Race), and Day 4 - October 13, (Road Races).

PAGE 12

Photo Credit: Andrew McFadden

THROWBACK

LANGEBERG LINK MTB

DR EVIL CLASSIC

“Pure magic,” these are the words riders used to described the 3-day Langeberg Link MTB 2019 challenge which took place from 20-22 September 2019 on the farm Oudewerf just outside Swellendam. The first challenge was the 2.4km Night Race on Friday evening. The night riders had to charged through the barn to finish as many laps as they could within one hour. The winner of the Night Race, Daniel Fritz, managed to complete 6 laps within the hour and just ran out of time to finish the seventh lap. Day 2 saw riders take on the longer 61km route in almost perfect weather. The front riders set the pace, while the weekend warriors stopped occasionally to capture nature’s beauty on camera. Day 3 was ushered in with early morning rain creating some challenges on the route. The exhilaration was almost tangible as the riders lined up to face the Langeberg mountain range and much anticipated ‘Hill challenge’. Paul Gleed cycled furthest up the ‘hill’ making him the winner of a weekend at the luxurious Fonteinskloof Antelope Game Farm sponsored by the owner, Mr William O’Grady. The front riders were very competitive and Mark Barnard from Ashton finished in first place with a combined time of 3.58.14, followed by Daniel Fritz in second place in 04.00.11, and Ashley Shaw taking position in 04.01.23. Hendrik Botes, a local rider, took the forth position in a time of 04.01.23. In the women’s category the local

Photo Credit: Oakpics.com

The final stage of the 2019 BUCO Dr Evil Classic concluded three fantastic days of mountain biking with a singletrack packed stage around the Cairnbrogie and Harkerville trails on Saturday, 21 September. Matthew Leppan sprinted to his second stage victory of the race, holding off Martin Schuttertt who wrapped-up the overall title. In the solo women’s race Nicky Giliomee completed the perfect hattrick of wins to comprehensively secure general classification honours. Leppan, returning to the trails where he raced in the Spur School’s League event just a few weeks ago, was again too quick in the final for Schuttertt. The young rider from Plettenberg Bay led into the final singletrack; after the men’s team stage winners had done much of the work throughout the first 45 kilometres. Utilising the knowledge of the trails Leppan was able to get the jump on the rest of the lead group and sprint unimpeded to stage victory. After receiving a high five in congratulations from Leppan, the overall victor at the 2019 BUCO Dr Evil Classic, Schuttertt said: “The general classification was the most important. I didn’t take any risks today. I had a safe ride and it feels great to take the victory back to the Netherlands.”

rider Nickey Botes finished first in a time of 04.09.37 followed by Lenetia Mundie second, and Charlene Curlewis finished in the third position. In the lucky draw competition, Charline Curlewis won a BMX Bike sponsered by Bicycling Empowerment Network (BEN), which she donated to one of the marshals. The Langeberg MTB celebrity rider, and the oldest rider in the ABSA 2019 MTB Event, Dr Gustav Joyce was plagued by a shoulder injury, and watched while his ABSA Epic 2019 partner and son Retief enjoyed every minute of participating in this stunning event,” says Riana Rosseau.

“To be honest this last stage was awesome” the KMC Mountain Bike Team manager added. “Really great trails and really great views. I really liked it!” “Overall what I enjoyed about the BUCO Dr Evil Classic is that the stages aren’t so long. You are finished quite early as a result, which gives you time to enjoy the good food and socialise with your fellow riders. Then in the afternoons you can relax and enjoy beautiful Plettenberg Bay,” the well-travelled Hollander enthused. Knysna’s women’s race winner, Nicky Giliomee has taken part in the race before and frequently rode the Harkerville trails in particular while at school in Knysna. Now working in Stellenbosch Giliomee only returns for long weekends and holidays to her parent’s Garden Route home, but she’s remains as in love with the scenery as ever.

“A successful event like this could never be attempted or achieved single-handedly and therefore, the help and support of the local emergency services, the community and farmers are greatly appreciated,” Riana concluded.

“It was such a beautiful race,” the Seattle Coffee Co rider smiled after receiving her finishers’ medal. “In the last singletrack along the coast I completely backed off and took it all in. It was the most amazing trail I think I’ve ever ridden,” she praised the Cairnbrogie singletrack, built by Andrew Hill.

SAPS NATIONAL MTB CHAMPS

KAROO TO THE COAST

The Western Cape Police sent 18 riders 16 males and 2 females to the SAPS National MTB Championships that took place in Pretoria from 26-30 August 2019. Going into the event the Western Cape was confident that they will be a force to be reckoned with as they have been the winning team for the past 2 years. The event consisted of four days of racing, a prologue, cross country Olympic (XCO), marathon and a hill climb. The routes were challenging with the racing taking place at the Rosemary Hill farm and Tierpoort trails and proved a lot more technical than previous years. The team performed extremely well and was able to collect 26 medals, of which 13 was gold, in their respective age categories as well as a the best performing female of the competition was Capt Lindsay Wegner from the Cape Town Airwing. The second best male for the competition was WO Wynand Mulder from the Oudtshoorn Training institution. Western Cape was also crowned the winning team, team spirit award and has 10 riders in the top 20 ranking. The National Team that was selected after the event with 12 Western Cape riders represented. Capt Johan Pentz is the SAPS Western Cape MTB Chairperson and was the team leader during the event.

Sebastian Stark and Nicky Giliomee prevailed against the elements, on a day when the heavens opened over the Prince Alfred’s Pass, to win the 2019 BUCO Karoo to Coast. The 96-kilometre-long, ultra-marathon, mountain bike race started in Uniondale as a few drops of rain began to fall, but by the time the riders reached Knysna the precipitation was torrential. Sunday, the 22nd of September, will thus live long in the memories of every one of the 4 500 riders who undertook the journey from the Karoo to the Coast. Stark’s time was 8 minutes and 51 seconds faster than that of the second-place finisher, Waylon Woolcock, and third place on the day came down to a sprint between Craig Boyes and Dusty Day. The women’s race was won by Giliomee, the pre-race favourite and a Knysna local. She was followed across the line by Odette Guy and Annerie van Velden. Making Giliomee’s victory even more popular was the fact that she was riding in support of the South African Guide-Dogs Association. Photo Credit: Oakpics.com Last year the BUCO Karoo to Coast’s founders, the Lions Clubs of Knysna and Uniondale, donated R100 000 to the association. Unfortunately, the cold and wet weather meant that the custom designed guide-dog inspired cycling jersey Giliomee wore for the race did not get much opportunity to be seen. Further down the field the real heroes of the race were the riders who soldiered on, through the torrential rain and block headwinds, to complete their BUCO Karoo to Coast adventures. Each and every one of them will no doubt remember the experience for years to come. Among the 21 editions of the famous race this will surely rank as one of the most memorable.

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EVENTS

SURPRISES IN STORE AT JAVA MTB CHALLENGE 2019 Routes: The 6km MTB route is an easy, non-technical fun ride suitable for small children (parents welcome to ride with), while the 20km route is ideal for beginners. The 45km route is suitable for intermediate riders with an elevation of about 850m and the 65km is a gruelling route for the adrenalin seekers. It includes many sections of the 2018 ABSA Cape Epic route as well as virgin territory and custom-built single tracks. The 1400m elevation will excite even the most seasoned rider and is perfect training for the upcoming Wines2Whales and To Hell and Back MTB events. The 10km vineyard trail run with a 200m elevation, takes place over rugged, yet scenic terrain, crossing the confluence of two rivers, while the 15km Xtreme Trail Run is a brand new “crazy” trail for the thrill-seeking runners, full of action and accompanied by stunning scenery with an elevation of about 350m. Schools from the Western Cape are invited to join the brand new Java Interschool Challenge in partnership with Spur. Cash prizes (sponsored by Spur) to the total value of R15 000 is up for grabs to schools with the highest points tallied (R10 000 1st position, R3 000 2nd position, R2 000 3rd position). The 7th annual Java MTB Challenge takes place at Van Loveren Family Vineyards in the Robertson valley on 12 October 2019. This family-friendly event, showcasing the unique beauty of the winelands, is recognised for its great vibe as well as top routes & trails which come highly recommended by riders. The Java MTB Challenge will thrill with a brand new 65km MTB route, replacing the 80km and a brand new additional Xtreme Trail Run of 15km for the adventure-loving runner.

To date, the Java MTB Challenge has raised over R660 000 for its local community. Beneficiaries include Robertson High School, Robertson Primary School, Robertson Preparatory School, Wakkerstroom-Wes Rural School, Jakes Gerwel Educational Trust, Herberg Children’s Home and Bonnievale Vryburgers. The annual Wine on the River festival, on the banks of the Breede River in Robertson, takes place over the same weekend this year (11 -13 October). For more information visit www.javamtb.co.za

CAPE CLASSIC 380 – A CLASSY EXPERIENCE The sixth edition of the Cape Classic 380, a Montagu based 3-day road event is scheduled to be held over 8-10 November 2019. Under Cape Cycle Tours’ new ownership, the 2018 event was successfully re-engineered and was roundly praised by participants for both its organisation and its unique vibe. Largely and predominantly social, but incorporating some fun competitive sections for those who wish, the event has become popular with the fairer sex as the organisers boasted a 52% female entry in 2018. For 2019, Melkbos Cycles come on board, joining existing sponsors. The RBS Time Trial record, set by the sponsor himself at an average of 52kph, is the target to beat on Stage 1, whilst the King (and Queen) of the Mountains and Points jerseys are up for grabs over the full 3 days of the event. However, all participants will be faced with a challenge which Tim Brink describes as “tough, but manageable”. 100km with 1500m climbing on Day 1, 160km and 1870m of climbing on Day 2’s Queen stage and 105km with 830m of climbing on the final stage. Days 2 and 3 cover the whole (and more) of the Coronation Double Century route making the event an ideal preparation, albeit in a slightly more relaxed manner. As Tim reported: “The organisation is slick, with a fully protected peleton, enjoying motor traffic, Think Bike, medical and mechanical support, luxurious lunch stops, friendly Ride Captains marshalling the front and rear of the various ability groups and occasionally more socialising than is healthy for the following morning”.

Photo: Cape Classic 380 - Photo credit - Craig Kolseky

For 2019, and in line with the event’s female friendly ethos, the organisers are pleased to announce their recruitment of Lara Tennent to join the crew as a lady Ride Captain. For more information visit www.capeclassic.info

CRANKCHAOS - TOP TIPS FOR RIDING AT ALTITUDE Want to know what it is like at the top? The real top. 3,222 meters to be exact. Then CrankChaos is the place to be. CrankChaos is mountain biking festival extraordinaire that takes place at the majestic Afriski Mountain Resort, situated in the heart of the Drakensberg-Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, from the 31 October - 3 November 2019.

CrankChaos, one of the unique biking events on the continent, is quickly establishing itself as the ultimate test for enduro and gravity riding featuring some of the biggest and most experienced names on the Southern African riding scene. What is it like at the top? As all previous riders of CrankChaos will tell you, once you start approaching the peaks of the majestic Maluti mountains, things start to feel a little bit different. The altitude has always been a part and parcel of the CrankChaos challenge and is just one of the things that makes it so enthralling. Here are some tips on riding at altitude, so you can avoid the worst and maximise the fun: Drink Up - Your H2O requirements can actually be a bit higher at high altitude than they are at sea level. The reason? Super low humidity. This means you lose more water out of your skin, your breath, and your sweat than usual. Make sure you get in those 8 glasses plus a day - even if you don’t feel thirsty! Fuel Your Adventure - Make sure you are loading up on the delicious selection of carbs. You need more carbohydrates at altitude, because your metabolism is working faster. A little extra salt, to combat dehydration and extra iron rich foods to keep that blood and adrenaline pumping. Take it Easy - With lower oxygen levels your physical abilities may get a little strained, a little earlier than usual. If you’ve done 20 runs and you’re feeling a little flat, take that break at the Gondola Cafe before heading back up. Enjoy the View - If you find yourself pedalling uphill you’ll work really hard to ride really slowly! You should just take your time and marvel at the awesome scenery you’re riding in. The rewards at the top are well worth the effort. Altitude is no playground, unless of course you are at CrankChaos. Those beautiful, Maluti mountains are the perfect backdrop for what is fast becoming a staple of the SA MTB calendar.

Photo: CrankChaos - Photo credit - Dom Barnarnt

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For more information visit www.crankchaos.com

CYCLING EVENTS

EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019 EVENT

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