ISSUE # 4 March 2017
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2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC PAGE 13 - 16
LAST LIONESS OF THE CAPE EPIC STANDING STRONG! There aren’t many women in South Africa, and in fact the world, who have clocked up over 600 000km on a bicycle. South Africa’s very own woman of pure “Steyn”less Steel, Hannele Steyn will be on the starting line of the 14th Absa Cape Epic race this year, which is also her 14th Epic in this world class event. The race will be a “playful”competition between her and 3 other men that have also completed all 13 Cape Epic races to date. Eventually, as one or another drops out or fails to finish, there will be one person left who has finished each event: The Last Lion standing, will receive the Last Lion Trophy, a much sought after artwork. Last year Absa Cape Epic CEO Lynn Naudé announced the Last Lions concept: “We decided to recognise these athletes in a special way. They have shown amazing commitment and drive, and are obviously very talented athletes.” “It is quite something to just get to the start of the Absa Cape Epic, but to finish is truly amazing.” “My bicycle sponsor Momsen Bikes has custom sprayed a bike especially for the Last Lioness of the Cape Epic, and equipped it with the SRAM Eagle,” Hannele says. Hannele’s performance in the Cape Epic includes: second mixed team (2004), winner ladies team (2005) and second ladies team (2010).
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Photo: Hannele Steyn at TransCapeMTB 2017
STEFAN DE BOD WINS 2 GOLD MEDALS IN 1 WEEK! Stefan De Bot received his first gold medal at the SA National Road Championships held in Wellington in early February when he managed to retain his U/23 Time Trial title. Those at the finish line of the Elite/U/23 road race three days later, witnessed Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg alongside teammate and U/23 Winner Stefan de Bod to claim the Elite Men’s race. The U/23 title was claimed by De Bod, with Nicholas Dlamini grabbing the silver medal, and Morne van Niekerk coming over the line in third. “It was amazing team work out there today,” said De Bod. “It was windy and it’s not exactly a route that suits me, so I’m pretty happy to have pulled it off.”
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YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AN SUV AND A MASERATI
LEVANTE. THE MASERATI OF SUVs. STARTING FROM R1 650 000 The practicality and versatility of an SUV, or the power and panache of a Maserati? Now you can enjoy both - Introducing the new Levante. The Powerful V6 Engine, Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive system, 8 speed ZF transmission and sophisticated air suspension confirm that the Levante is every inch a refined SUV. Meanwhile, its exclusive Italian styling, luxurious interior and unique exhaust note affirms its Maserati DNA. So that’s one less difficult decision to make. Discover the new Levante. LEVANTE DIESEL: V6 60 o 2,987CM - MAX POWER: 275 HP AT 4,000 - MAX TORQUE: 600NM AT 2000-2600 RPM - MAX SPEED: 230 KM/H 0-100KM/ ACCELERATION: 6,9 SECS - FUEL CONSUMPTION (COMBINED CYCLE): 7,2 l/100KM - CO 2 EMISSIONS (COMBINED CYCLE): 189 G/KM THE DATA MAY NOT REFER TO THE MODEL REPRESENTED
MASERATI CAPE TOWN 67 JAN SMUTS STREET, CAPE TOWN, 8001 Phone: 0800 0600 78 | E-mail: info@maseraticpt.co.za
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Willie Smit - Never Gives up!
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PRINTED ISSUE # 3
February 2017
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GET READY FOR CYCLE MONTH IN THE WC
Photo: Pro men at the start of stage 6 of the 2016 Absa Cape Epic from Boschendal in Stellenbosch, South Africa - Photo Credit: Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
World-class cycling events like the Cape Rouleur, The Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Absa Cape Epic showcase the diversity of the Western Cape as a cycling destination, and will play a key role in our cycling offering. “These events drive interest in cycling in the province, which has led to an upsurge in hobby cycling by road and mountain bike. This is generating additional economic opportunities,” said Minister Winde. The cycling economy also adds jobs in the tourism industry, in rural spaces and in the cycling goods supply industry. Riders, organizers, sponsors, and spectators are gearing up for cycling month in the Western Cape.
South African National Elite Men’s Champion, Jaco Venter is looking forward to defending his title in his own backyard at the 2017 SA National Road Championships in the Western Cape from 7-12 February. The Team Dimension Data rider said, “It would be great to defend my title at nationals this year, but if I can’t, as long as it’s someone from our team I’ll be happy.” The Cape Town local says that it’s something special to have the National Championships in the region. “I regularly train out to the Wellington side, so it’s like a home nationals, which I haven’t had in a really long time,” he said. Reflecting on 2016, Venter feels that what he has learnt most about himself in the year is his ability to forget the suffering endured, and how excited and motivated he becomes for each new season.
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JACO VENTER TO DEFEND NATIONAL TITLE AT SA CHAMPS
YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AN SUV AND A MASERATI
LEVANTE. THE MASERATI OF SUVs. STARTING FROM R1 650 000 The practicality and versatility of an SUV, or the power and panache of a Maserati? Now you can enjoy both - Introducing the new Levante. The Powerful V6 Engine, Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive system, 8 speed ZF transmission and sophisticated air suspension confirm that the Levante is every inch a refined SUV. Meanwhile, its exclusive Italian styling, luxurious interior and unique exhaust note affirms its Maserati DNA. So that’s one less difficult decision to make. Discover the new Levante. LEVANTE DIESEL: V6 60o 2,987CM - MAX POWER: 275 HP AT 4,000 - MAX TORQUE: 600NM AT 2000-2600 RPM - MAX SPEED: 230 KM/H 0-100KM/ ACCELERATION: 6,9 SECS - FUEL CONSUMPTION (COMBINED CYCLE): 7,2 l/100KM - CO2 EMISSIONS (COMBINED CYCLE): 189 G/KM THE DATA MAY NOT REFER TO THE MODEL REPRESENTED
“From 2013 to 2016 I have really had some good results. Yes, plagued with disease and injury, yet, things like that will never make me stop, it just delays the inevitable,” says Willie. 2016 was a great year for Willie with many new experiences. He met coach John Wakefield in 2016, and admits after working with John for just a few months, it is probably one of the best decisions he has ever made. Earlier this year Willie won the Mpumalanga Tour. In February, he came second in the Individual Time Trial, and took third place to claim the bronze medal at the SA Road Championships in Wellington. He formed part of the initial breakaway group of six riders, had two mechanicals, and at the end he was outsmarted by Stefan de Bod and Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg from Team Dimension Data, yet, throughout this race he never gave up until he crossed the finish line.
The night before the race, his South African team mate, Brendon Davids had fallen ill, and withdrew. On the start line,
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Willie discovered sport, and in particular golf at an early age, and later turned to cycling. During his cycling career when ever he started training excessively, he became prone to illness quite easily - Willie has since overcome this challenge.
A week later Willie, encumbered yet another mechanical, but triumphed in the Elite Men’s race at the 2017 African Continental Road Race in Luxor, Egypt claiming a gold medal for Team South Africa.
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Willie Smit, one of South Africa’s elite road cyclists, a member of Team RoadCover, is presently in great form and achieving impressive results. He has through the years shown great strength through tough challenges he had to endure from early childhood.
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Stefan de Bod wasn’t feeling great; nevertheless, he tried his utmost to remain in the race, but after three laps realised that he was too ill to continue, not to mention that Nic Dlamini, within the first hundred metres of the race, suffered a technical problem, forcing him also to withdraw. Nolan Hofman and Clint Hendricks managed to score a break for a while, and excelled to over a minute lead ahead of the chasers. Willie also punctured three laps before the finish, but the back-up car support provided the required assistance, and off he went. He managed to stay in the lead group until the end of the race, and at the last corner Willie began his sprint – and won! Undoubtedly, he is surely an example to us all, focused on the task at hand - no matter what he has to endure to achieve his goal.
Stefan de Bod Wins 2 Gold Medals in 1 Week! (CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1) At the 2017 African Continental Road Championships in Luxor, Egypt a few days later, the newly crowned U/23 Time Trial National Champion clocked the second fastest time overall along the 43-kilometre course, 26 seconds behind Elite winner Teshome Meron (Eritrea) who claimed the gold medal in a time of 53 minutes 16 seconds. De Bod’s second overall in the Elite category as an U/23 rider meant that he was awarded the gold medal for the U/23 category and the silver medal in the Elite Men’s category. Stefan de Bod wasn’t feeling well going into the U/23 men’s race at the 2017 African Continental Road Race; nevertheless, he tried his utmost to remain in the race, but after three laps realised that he was too ill to continue. We wish Stefan de Bod and the Dimension Data Continental Team all the best with their preparation for the European season!
Photo Credit: CyclingSA/DoubleST
Taking you places!
Bucket list trip “ fatbike greenland! “ ABOUT THE TOUR
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We ride the full 200km of the Arctic Circle Trail from inland ice to coast, traversing some of the most beautiful scenery of Greenland. The journey takes us over virgin terrain from Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut. A trip for true explorers and adventurers. The Trip - After flying from Copenhagen to Greenland, our adventure starts as we bus to the Russell Glacier. Blue ice, tingling cold: prepare to have your breath taken away. We then wheel the first 40km of our journey, arriving in the 400-strong village of Kangerlussuaq, home to some of Greenland’s most diverse fauna. In Kangerlussuaq, we meet our crew: a sled driven by 15 to 16 dogs, and snowmobiles for our luggage and food. The next five days we are travelling the Arctic Circle Trail: flat, frozen lakes with two challenging climbs. Starting with the 60km “pinnacle” leg, we progress slowly on the frozen fjord before the track becomes slightly hilly. The subsequent legs at 19 to 37km (per day) are relatively short and easy. We will spend our nights in heated cottages, surrounded by incredible nature and if we’re lucky, the Northern Lights. After 5 days, we journey back to the modern world, arriving in Sisimiut to a warm shower, a winter safari and a boat trip through floating ice. Read more about the tour on www.fatbike-greenland.com
How long is the Tour? 10 Days WHEN does the tour take place? 11 - 21 March 2018 What’s included? Domestic FLIGHTS + ACCOMMODATION + Meals + GUIDES + TRANSFERS & EXCURSIONS + GUIDES + Documents + EMERGENCY PLANS
WHO WE ARE MOJOmtb is all about taking you to places that you would have never reached, except on a mountain bike. We connect with the specialist Adventure Travel Operators from Southern Africa, as well as abroad to craft exclusive and individualized Adventure Travel Packages. There is absolutely nothing standard about our packages, and to the end every Tour is customized to the target group’s unique demographics and desires.
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NEWS
Last Lioness of the
A Dream Come True
Cape Epic Standing Strong!
for Louis Visser
(CONTINUE FROM PAGE 1)
Steyn, is a former South African mountain biking champion, provincial and Springbok colour holder in five sporting disciplines including triathlon, biathlon, duathlon, road biking and mountain biking. Steyn has also finished and won many other national and international competitions, including the Drifter series, the Knysna Oyster Race, Transbaviaans, Sani2C, Karoo2Coast, 36ONE, TransCapeMTB, the Transalp in Europe, La Ruta in South America, and she achieved a massive feat when she completed the third annual Trans Hajar Mountain Bike race in Oman - among an extensive list of many others races. In 2014 Steyn crossed the finish line of the Trans Afrika mountain bike challenge (3000km from Beitbridge to Cape Town, in first place along with a fellow competitor. The Trans Afrika is arguably one of the toughest and longest, unsupported nonstage cycle races on the South African mountain biking calendar. The Munga inaugural race 2016 and the Freedom challenge, a 2600km adventure orienteering race in 2007 was also part of the endurance races she successfully completed. In January 2017 I joined Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Continental for the 2017 season. I am super exited for this opportunity – in my wildest dreams I would never have imagined riding a bicycle would become my job. There are not many people that can say that their job is their passion, mine is. Yes, it was a dream, and it is a dream come true based on hard work and sacrifice. #bicycleschangelives has become a reality for me as it has changed my life. It has given me the opportunity to race my bicycle and to become competitive – it being my ultimate goal. Over the past two years I have seen the world, made friends, experienced life, not excluding the challenges I had to face. Cycling has taught me many lessons, and one thing I have learned is that you need to be patient. My cycling career has only started, yet, I have experienced many setbacks. I soon realized I needed to work harder, and surround myself with people who can support me. I am proud to say that I come from a rural area where the opportunities to excel was not always available. I was fortunate enough to meet up with coach Barry Austen, who provided me with the opportunity to spread my wings by racing in Europe as a junior. In the first of two races this season I managed to secure a 5th position in the time trial, and a 6th position in the road race at the 2017 National Cycling Championships held in Wellington. As a first-year U/23 rider I feel satisfied with the result. Finishing the road race is also somewhat of a victory as only 33 riders of the 121 participants were able to finish.
According to Steyn, in order to prepare her body for these long rides, she trains for up to four hours on weekdays and over five hours on weekends, burning on average about 12 000 calories a week. She hopes that these unbelievable accomplishments of human endurance will inspire other women to take up mountain biking, which is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. “I want to be a role model to women in South Africa and encourage more women to get involved in mountain biking,” she says.
Preparation for the European cycling season commencing at the end of March is well under way, with two local races, the Tour of Good Hope and Cape Town Cycle Tour still to come. I want to thank everyone for their support and involvement in my cycling career – you are all part of my dream come true as a cyclist! Article by Louis Visser
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NEWS
Some Cobblestones Make Their Return to Paris-Roubaix On 9 April, for the 115th edition of the “Queen of the Classics”, the route the peloton will race on will comprise 55km of cobblestones (vs 52.8km in 2016), on the total distance of 257km between Compiègne and the Roubaix velodrome. The favourites are expected to stand out on the tranchée d’Arenberg, in Mons-enPévèle or at the Carrefour de l’Arbre… but early in the race they will also discover the Briastre (112.5km) and Solesmes (116km) cobbled sections, which haven’t been used since 1987! The opening weeks of the year have given the best riders in the world the opportunity to gradually get back in action, under summer skies in Australia or in the Middle East for example. All riders come into the season with their individual perspectives and some of them rack up the kilometres with the sole goal of starring in the Spring Classics. Scenarios do not necessarily follow the prediction logic on Paris-Roubaix, as was the case last year with Matthew Hayman winning at the conclusion of an early-race break away.
Photo Credit: ASO/P.Perreve
While the key sections of the route are detected and carefully identified, from the first cobblestone sector at Troisvilles to that of the Carrefour de l’Arbre, by passing through the famous sections at Arenberg and Mons-enPévèle, arrangements have been made to visit or revisit some places that are likely to reshuffle the cards.
Photo Credit: ASO/E.Garnier
This year, immediately after the first stretches of cobblestones a change of direction will lead the peloton to the Briastre and Solesmes sectors (numbers 26 and 25), which haven’t been used in the race for 30 years. Route designer, Thierry Gouvenou details the characteristics. “The first is three kilometres long, it is actually being renovated but it is one of the difficult sectors. The next is a lot shorter, however it is uphill! It is not our wish to make the race harder at this stage, but to find more diversity between the cobblestone sectors and make sure these areas continue to feed the legend.” In total, the cycling acrobats will have an added 2.2 kilometres of cobblestones to ride over compared to last year, before reaching the finish at the Roubaix Velodrome.
Top SA Races Honour Voice of Cycling Following the Bestmed Phil Liggett Tribute Tour in December, two of South Africa’s premier road cycling stage races will be honouring the legendary British cycling commentator by naming their winners’ trophies after him. ASG Events announced that the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope in the Cape Winelands and Bestmed Jock Tour in Mpumalanga will pay homage to the Voice of Cycling – as he is known worldwide – in this unique way. Following a conversation last year between ASG chief executive Wynand de Villiers and Bestmed marketing and sales chief Chris Luyt, the inaugural tribute ride was initiated and took place from Pretoria to Hoedspruit. “Chris is a big fan of Phil and he was keen to do something to acknowledge him, so this ride was put together,” said De Villiers. Now they had decided to take it a step further by honouring Liggett at two of South Africa’s top races. “This development has received the endorsement of Phil,” he said. De Villiers said the elite men’s and women’s trophies at both events would be inducted this year as the Phil Liggett Tribute trophies. A former amateur cyclist, Liggett, now 73, was offered a contract to turn professional in 1967. Instead, he turned to journalism, launching a career which has seen him become the world’s premier cycling commentator. Honoured in 2005 as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the sport, De Villiers said Liggett had long been a staunch supporter of South African cycling. “During the tribute ride in December, we discussed with him at length the futures of the two events and agreed to work on putting measures in place over the next two years to evolve the events into fully fledged international tours.” “It’s an honour for the two events to be associated with Phil. He is world cycling’s most recognisable figure and it’s going to do wonders for the events to have him spread their message across the globe.”
Luyt said he felt the move would add much value to the tours.“We feel the Tour of Good Hope and the Jock Tour have the potential to attract international calibre cyclists and I’m sure, in years to come, these could become highly coveted trophies.” He added that Liggett graciously accepted the tribute in typical understated fashion. “He is a wonderful guy and very humble. He joked in his distinctive English manner that he thought it was not good to ‘honour a guy before he’s dead’.” What’s more, according to Luyt, Liggett said he hadn’t even retired yet. “But he has been a great ambassador for the sport and relates strongly with Bestmed’s objectives in pursuing wellness. “For us it’s a dual purpose because we want to promote the potential of our brand, while having it linked to the renowned Voice of Cycling.”
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CYCLING LIFESTYLE STORE
As with mountain biking, correct frame size and setup can make a significant difference to your ride quality.” The most common DIY mistake people make, is while doing their own tubeless conversions. “Converting to tubeless is probably one of the best upgrades you can make to your MTB, but the biggest mistake most people make is choosing the wrong tyres. Make sure you choose tubeless or tubeless ready tyres. You can have the best tubeless rims and tape, but when you use the wrong tyre you’ll be pushing more than you’ll be pedalling.”
N
Servicing your bike “It is so much better for your bike to service it regularly, prevention is better AND CHEAPER than cure. The more expensive your bike, the better it is to keep a close eye on maintenance, a (neglected) worn-out XTR / XX1 drivetrain is not something you want on your service bill.” Leon recommends keeping an eye on your suspension too, manufacturers all have recommended service intervals. “Don’t wait for your suspension to collapse completely before you have it checked out.” Booking your service Name: Position: Servicing:
Leon Nel Head Technician / Workshop Manager MTB / Road / TT
In addition to his impressive amount of experience as a technician, he is also an avid cyclist. Cycling for over 32 years, Leon has finished 4 ABSA Cape Epic’s, and 24 Cape Town Cycle Tours. He shares some tips on choosing and ultimately looking after your bike.
“a Stage race is stressful enough, do not trip yourself up over an ill-timed service. Booking a service ahead of that big race lets you sleep soundly, knowing that your bike will be ready in time for you to just get up, pitch up and ride your best race. If you’re planning one of the big stage races such as the Cape Epic or Wines 2 Whales, ensure that your bike is booked for a major service at least 3 weeks ahead. This gives you enough time to ride your bike and sort out any minor problems that may rear their ugly heads. 1 Week before your race, come in for a pre-race check up to top-up sealant, re-tension cables and make 100% sure that your bike is in prefect running condition. Weeks running up to major races are always busy times for bike technicians, do not book your bike 3 days before, in doing this you risk not having your bike ready on time.”
When buying a new MTB
Lastly… get to know your technician
“Firstly, you’ll need to determine what kind of riding you will be doing (Marathon, XC, Stage races etc.) South African terrain is perfectly suited for dual suspension bikes, yet you will need to decide on either a hardtail or dual suspension depending on your budget, and the kind of riding you want to do. Choose a bike with a decent fork such as RockShox or Fox. Make sure your frame size is correct, this can be done by having your bike set up specifically for you. ASG uses the SmartFit system that captures your data with a body/bike scanner for the perfect fit.”
Bike preparation is as important as training, after all, it is your bike you’re relying on to carry you across the line. Your relationship with your bike technician is as important as your relationship with your physio or massage therapist, take some time to get to know the face behind your equipment.
Leon Nel has been working in the cycling industry for 23 years and has extensive knowledge on a variety of bikes from entry level to Pro.
For more information and to book your bike service contact the ASG Store on 021 879 0281 or email leon@asgsport.co.za.
If you want an economical and reliable option, Leon recommends a Dual suspension with Fox shock and Shimano Deore XT components. This combination will enable you to race competitively and comfortably without breaking the bank. When buying a new road bike “Decide whether you want carbon or alloy. People usually ask: ‘How much does this bike weigh?’ If you want to spend a little more, going for carbon will reduce the weight dramatically. If you choose a carbon frame, do you want a mechanical or electronic group-set? Each has its advantages and disadvantages but will ultimately depend on your budget.
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ROAD
Barry Austin Taking CANYON//SRAM Womens Cycling Team to New Heights! Barry Austin well-credentialed coach from South Africa is the newly appointed director sportif at CANYON//SRAM Womens Team based in Germany. CANYON// SRAM Racing is a professional women’s cycling team, which compete in elite women’s road bicycle racing events, such as the UCI Women’s World Tour, and started the season at the spring classic in Ghent, Belgium. Barry Austin will guide the team in the spring classics. Austin, is not new to guiding developing riders nor women’s cycling after heading the South African’s women’s national road program in the four-year cycle before the London Summer Olympics in 2012.
Photo: Barry Austin Photo Credit: Rapha
Barry Austin had a huge impact on the development of the BIG names in South African road cycling. Coaching and developing young riders has always been first and foremost to Barry. “I have enough experience and knowledge to help develop Junior and U23 riders. From there the international teams should be able to take it further.” LEADout is a cycling academy run by Barry Austin, previously known as ACI that managed several current professional cyclists during their junior and U23 careers and also remained involved as mentors of several athletes like Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg, Jaco Venter, Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Louis Meintjes and Johann van Zyl, to name a few. Louis Visser, coached by Barry as a junior, is the latest addition to Barry’s success list as he was signed to ride for Dimension Data’s Continental Team at the end of 2016.
“My biggest passion is helping others realise their goals. I have done so successfully with many young riders from a limited pool
and I think I can add what I have learnt in that field to CANYON//SRAM Racing. I can add a fresh approach to racing and create platforms that athletes are drawn to as well as understand from which to achieve success for the team and for themselves. I would like to empower each athlete to stand tall, stand their ground confidently, be brave and race smart,” said Austin. Austin is looking forward to the challenges of guiding a new team and says: “Confidence breeds winning.” “Most important for me is that the riders believe just as much as we as management do, they are potential winners in the highest category of racing. Embracing this belief from the team and in themselves they really tune in to the energy of a bike race and make what they do an extension thereof. From my side, that will be the primary input and assessment as I get to know my new team better.” Barry will remain with Team CANYON//SRAM racing until the end of 2017.
Photo: CANYON// SRAM Womens Team - Photo Credit: Tino Pohlmann
L’Étape South Africa - Feel like a Tour de France Legend! Beginning on the 2nd of April 2017, South Africa will join the nine other countries in hosting its own version of L’Étape du Tour in Midlands, KwaZulu Natal. Every year, L’Étape South Africa will provide the closest experience an amateur rider can get to competing in Le Tour de France.
The challenging route will be endorsed by Le Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme, and will traverse a varied topography through the beautiful South African countryside. The event will be held under race conditions meaning, just like on Le Tour de France, the route is dedicated to the rider on fully-closed roads. L’Étape South Africa by Le Tour de France will provide a new, unique dimension to the South African cycling calendar not only in replicating L’Étape du Tour in format, look and feel but also in that the route and event location will change each year. L’Étape South Africa is firstly an immense sporting challenge, but it is also a tourist adventure that will enable you to ride and discover some of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. Each edition of L’Étape South Africa will present participating cyclists with a new challenge to test their skills and will aim to entrench the event as the most demanding of all L’Étape events, after all the event is billed as “L’Étape. Le Tough!” L’Étape gives cyclists the opportunity to experience an equivalent stage of the Tour de France. And for the first time ever it’s coming to South Africa. Entries close on the 19 March, 2017. Grand prize of an all-expenses paid trip to compete in the 2017 L’Étape du Tour in France for the overall male and female winners. Participants will be provided the unique opportunity of competing for the authentic Le Tour de France jerseys: the Yellow; the Green; the Polka Dot and the White Jersey. For more information visit www.letapesouthafrica.com
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- Photographer Ewald Sadie I NSPI RE D TO R IDE
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DEVELOPMENT
Improving The Lives of Children with Significant Emphasis on Cycling
Young WC Riders Invited to Compete For Places On Team Bäcksted Hotchillee
16 young riders were selected at the Cape Rouleur Prologue to take part in the HotChillee Development Cycling Programme in 2016. The riders underwent Wattbike performance testing at Velokhaya, attended a young rider summit with Team Dimension Data, rode with European pro-riders including Team SKY, came 2nd at the Coronation Double as part of the mixed HotChillee racing team and have the opportunity to ride for Team Bäckstedt HotChillee in SA and Europe. Now it’s your turn to qualify for the international programme! There are up to 150 places for riders from PPA development clubs and initiatives to race the Cape Rouleur 2017 7km ITT Prologue. Riders will need to aged between 14 years (turning 15yrs this year) and 18 years to enter. The 16 best age related performances will be selected to join this year’s programme. Out of these 16 the best four male riders and the best female (and their coaches) will be invited to train one on one with the support and guidance of Paris-Roubaix winner and cycling legend Magnus Bäckstedt. Christoph Sauser is a legend in mountain biking for his many achievements over the years, including five Absa Cape Epic wins. But in the dusty streets of the impoverished Stellenbosch township of Khayamandi he is revered for something entirely different: the time and effort he has taken to develop the songo.info academy with local community leader Songo Fipaza, a fellow cyclist with a passion for improving the lives of children in the township. The academy was essentially designed to provide a channel for children to improve themselves and create opportunities for life advancement. Khayamandi is a place where alcohol and drug abuse is widespread, crime is rampant, and teenage pregnancy a major problem. Besides helping with education and job-seeking, songo.info naturally has a significant emphasis on cycling: some top riders have been nurtured from the township.
The rest of the group will be invited for quarterly UCI Wattbike performance testing at Velokhaya which will also be monitored by the programme alongside results at PPA events. These riders will also be offered advice and guidance by Magnus Bäcksted and invited to join local monthly group rides in Cape Town with the HotChillee Ride Captains. HotChillee will select riders from the programme to represent Team Bäckstedt HotChillee at rides in SA including the Coronation Double Century 2017 and Cape Rouleur 2018 as well as HotChillee events in Europe in 2018.
Three of the four songo.info riders who will take on the Absa Cape Epic were introduced to the local media at the clubhouse built by songo.info recently. One of them, Theophillus Ngubane, told journalists songo.info had “changed my life dramatically”. Pointing to the nearby dwellings, Ngubane says: “Nobody tells these kids how to make something of their lives … how to live. But if you live your life surrounded by positive people like Christoph, Sipho (Madolo, a Khayamandi youngster who went on to represent South Africa in the marathon world championships) and Songo your life just changes.” Sauser recounted how the charity had been started in 2008 after he met Fipaza and how its scope now included helping youngsters find careers and work opportunities. Ngubane will be riding the Untamed African MTB Race with Lwazi Ntshakaza as team Songo-Investec 2. Lorenzo Leroux and Thando Klaas will be team Songo-Investec 1. Klaas has competed the Epic before - in 2011 - but the others are novices. They will be there courtesy of a decision by the Absa Cape Epic to give free entries for the Exxaro special jersey race – for riders under 26-years-old from disadvantaged backgrounds – to extra teams.
Photo: Nicholas Dlamini - Photo Credit: Nick Muzik
The programme will be supported by the PPA, CSA, Wattbike, the Western Cape Government, Velokhaya and BIORACER. The Prologue will take place on Sunday 5th March at La Cotte Farm, Franschhoek. For more information visit www.hotchillee.com
Look Out for the New Blade System Along The City’s Iconic Seafront Path With breath-taking ocean and mountain views and proximity to an abundance of Atlantic seaboard eateries and attractions, it’s not surprising that the Sea Point promenade is one of Cape Town’s best-loved cycling spots. Urban property developer, Blok, in partnership with future Cape Town and the City of Cape Town, has now enhanced the promenade cycling experience with the installation of the blade bicycle parking system. Resembling blades of grass reaching up from the ground, blade was conceived and produced by multi-disciplined agency North Ltd and local capetonian designer Rotem Shachar.
They set out to develop a unique bike rack that complimented the natural beauty of Cape Town whilst adding to the urban landscape. Cast in concrete with 16 stainless steel cables coated in green polyurethane and fitted with a flexible nib, blade is engineered to respond to the demands of the exposed marine environment of the promenade and caters for bikes of all types and sizes. To use it, cyclists simply secure the frame of their bikes to one of the blades with a lock. The prototype of the blade bicycle parking system were introduced to the public on Thursday the 16th of February 2017 and will be monitored to establish whether improvements are needed. This will inform the roll out of more systems in convenient locations along the promenade’s 11km length. Jacques van Embden, managing director of Blok says: “Setting up blade on the Sea Point promenade forms part of our ongoing strategy of investing back into the communities in which we develop through urban intervention projects.” “We are particularly passionate about this project as we are strong supporters of ecomobility and want to contribute to making environmentally friendly city exploration that is much easier.” North Ltd creative director Mike Bond adds: “The City of Cape Town encourages bicycle use as a viable mode of transport. Bicycle parking is a key component of creating a successful city-wide bicycle system. The blade bike rack, with its ground-breaking design, will not only provide a functional parking facility but also generate talk-ability - inspiring further bicycle use.” “We are passionate about public spaces and non-motorised transport and how this shapes the future of our cities. The Sea Point promenade is arguably the most exciting, inclusive and diverse spaces in the city and the addition of the blade bicycle parking will further cement this. It is our hope that this important public-private-people collaboration contributes to the City of Cape Town’s draft cycling strategy which includes the goal of having 8% of capetonians cycling by 2030,” concludes Rashiq Fataar, founder and director of future cape town.
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FITNESS
Electro Muscle Stimulation – the future of fitness Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is the elicitation of musclecontraction using electric impulses that mimic the natural principles of the central nervous system.
c. Strengthening of core and abdominal muscles, d. Improvement in posture and body toning, e. Significantly reducing body fat and cellulite. EMS has become the fastest growing trend in the health and EMS FutureFit has the same techfitness industry, with studios in nology at our disposal as used by Usain some areas of Europe outnumber- Bolt. ing conventional gyms. We have worked with top WP biathletes and swimmers, as well as Protea The main reasons for this are Ten Pin Bowling Champions. numerous, but include the following: We have National level Ball Room Photo: Hans & Michelle Eichhorn dancers in our growing list of sport spe- A session lasts for 20 minutes - this suits many customers who have time cific Customers, as well as a WBA Pan constraints, but the intensity of the workout equates to 4 - 6 hours’ worth of African Boxing Champion. conventional gym. - The results obtained from EMS are many times greater than conventional gym, as shown in various research studies; - EMS is used for muscle rehabilitation to speed up injury recovery; - EMS has a cellulite breakdown function that has excellent results for reducing “orange peel” effect; - EMS provides excellent results for muscle toning and general fitness; - It provides huge gains for athletes of all levels, for all sport types; - There are no known side effects, with little or no risk to bone, ligament or tendon injury; - Reduction of cardiovascular load whilst training; - Reduction of mental fatigue whilst training.
Internationally, in excess of 100 NFL Football teams and an increasing list of European Soccer teams like Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Arsenal are joining the trend, as are Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. EMS is even being used by the Force India Formula 1 Team. In terms of cyclists, six times Tour de France Green Jersey winner Erik Zabel and three times Tour de France Winner Joane Somarriba have both incorporated electro muscle stimulation as part of their training routine. We currently work with many cyclists of varying skills and fitness levels, from the “weekend warrior” to top South African Cycling Champions – one of whom won the SA Track Madison titles in 2016 and 2017, and was chosen to represent South Africa at the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Masters Championship. The other is a Ladies SA Ladies Track Champion, and was placed 2nd in her category at the SA Road Championships. Each person is different in terms of size, muscle density, body shape, fitness levels and ability to build maximum muscle efficiency. Technology is the way forward!
In conventional training, when you activate a muscle approximately only 30% of all your muscle fibres are in a state of contraction. The remaining 70% are dormant and awaiting recruitment when the contracting fibres fatigue. EMS training is able to provide stronger and more intense muscle activation than could be achieved with voluntary exertion alone, and to experience muscle recruitment that is unattainable by any other means. This provides better intra- and inter-muscular contraction, and a 20 minute session is comparable to several hours of conventional weight training – but without the risk of using heavy weights. EMS also provides an improvement in muscle activation rates. It takes approximately 10000 repetitions for your brain to learn how to quickly send a message to your muscles via the most efficient nerve pathways. This contraction pattern becomes your “muscle memory”. Thus, with EMS activating far more intense muscle recruitment, and using muscles that were previously mostly dormant, your potential available muscle increases dramatically, and new muscle memory pathways are established. Simply put, EMS training makes the muscles more efficient! Sports that require immense exertion, such as cycling, require athletes to spend many hours in the gym to increase muscle strength, often with mixed results. Each sport type requires different muscle groups for maximum performance – for example, a road cyclist needs to concentrate on the body’s lower half for power, and have minimal upper body or arm mass, whereas a mountain biker needs upper body strength as well to power up hills and provide downhill stability. EMS FutureFit allows the cyclist to improve the quality and quantity of training sessions. EMS FutureFit beneficial effects: a. Increased power, endurance, dynamic and explosive strength; Specialized Venge Courtesy: Helderberg Cycle World
b. Speed, agility, and increased performance due to direct stimulation of “fast twitch” muscle fibres;
We begin the process with a Body Composition Analysis that provides detailed information about muscle mass, fat, water, protein, mineral, and left / right balance of the muscular and fat structure. Next, we use our Wahoo KICKR to perform an FTP (Functional Threshold Power) test to gauge the cyclist’s present levels of fitness and power output. The KICKR is used by Team Sky for their training, and is the latest available technology in smart trainers. The biggest advantage of the indoor trainer is the fact that you can train effectively and efficiently in our studio instead of on the road – no dangerous traffic, weather, potholes, criminals or wear on your bicycle. This, with the cyclist’s personal requirements and goals, is used to determine a specific program in order to achieve maximum results, which can be monitored, and measured. This is not a “one fits all” approach, but an individually tailored strategic plan to ensure you get the quickest, safest, and most effective, efficient and beneficial results, using the latest technology! We have a Studio in Somerset West, and a mobile unit which can provide training at any venue or facility. We will offer excellent rates for individual, Club or Group – each session is with a personal trainer who will work with the cyclist to measure, monitor and motivate their progress. EMS FutureFit do not have joining fees like most fitness facilities, and we do not believe in long term contracts – we are confident that you will enjoy great individual service AND get results that will make you want to return! Book an appointment to qualify for a COMPLIMENTARY introductory EMS session AND body analysis, T&C’s Apply Start YOUR Fitness Evolution! For more information visit Shop 10 Fountain Square, Caledon Street, Somerset West, Contact Hans 082 579 1746, Michelle 083 293 5480 email: studio@emsfuturefit.co.za or visit www.emsfuturefit.co.za
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MTB
TransCape pays tribute to Sharon Laws TransCape mountain bike race recently paid tribute to former British road champion Sharon Laws, who took part in the TransCape MTB in 2016. The organisers ASG Events dubbed the 5th Stage on top of the day’s major climb, Rusty Gate, (the 6km climb was included in the 68km route from Greyton to Villiersdorp) as the Sharon Laws Summit to honour the 42-year-old double Cape Epic champion, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. According to the organisers, Sharon Laws performed very well on this segment last year. At the end of 2015 Laws decided to retire from professional sport, but was persuaded to continue, signing with Podium Ambition for this season. The team allowed her to mix her passion for mountain biking with road commitments. She began the year in South Africa at the Cape Epic and finished it, as well as winning the British mountain bike marathon championships in Wales.
Photo Credit: Jacques Marais/Sony
According to Cycling Weekly, Laws retired from professional cycling in August 2016. After riding the Prudential RideLondon GP, she had some lumps in her neck examined and it
was then that the cancer was discovered. “I assumed these were just due to a series of colds I seemed to have had continually during the season,” the 42-year old-explained in a statement. “I was shocked to be told they contained secondary cancer tumours.” Since then she has undergone extensive tests to locate the primary tumour and began a course of chemotherapy. “Obviously I am trying to come to terms with what is happening,” the statement continued. “Up until starting the chemotherapy I could still ride my bike and, apart from recovering from the operations I had recently, felt normal.” “As a professional cyclist I’ve had my share of setbacks, in particular the horrific crash I had in 2013, which put me in hospital for two weeks with serious injuries. I have come back each time. I hope that these experiences and my life as a professional athlete have prepared me for what will be my biggest challenge so far.” Laws won the women’s division of the Cape Epic in its inaugural year (2004) and again in 2009 with partner Hanlie Booyens.
Revised (Emp) For Cycling
Local Entrepreneur
And Mountain Biking In Tmnp
Tackles 50K A Day Solo Fatbike Challenge
SANParks, the Table Mountain Mountain Bike (TMMTB) Forum, and SANBI (Kirstenbosch) successfully launched a revised Cycling and Mountain Biking Environmental Management Programme (EMP) for the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) towards the end of 2016. The revised EMP confirmed existing cycling routes, proposed additional routes and updated the Code of Conduct which comprised of cycling etiquette and compliance, to ensure safe, friendly and environmentally responsible cycling in TMNP. More importantly, SANParks identified additional routes in the EMP for cycling. These routes were opened to the public on 1 December 2016 on a “trail sharing” basis with other recreational users. It has proven to be incredibly popular with mountain bikers especially the routes around the Signal Hill and Lions Head, the tracks above Camps Bay and the Newlands via Kirstenbosch and Cecilia Plantation transit route to Constantia Nek. With trail sharing being introduced on these routes as elsewhere in the city (e.g. Constantia greenbelts), the Forum aimed to address some of the challenging comments from other Park users, especially from hikers and dog walkers. “The level of cooperation and appreciation displayed by the vast majority of cyclists has been overwhelming. The designated route is strictly adhered to and walkers are treated with respect and in a friendly manner,” said Philip Le Roux of SANBI. “Upper Tokai is open to cyclists on weekends and since the re-opening over 4000 mountain bikers have already used the Tokai trails. Users quickly understood and accepted the terms under which Tokai reopened and there has been a positive response to the revamped trails especially on social media,” said Gavin Bell, TMNP Area Manager.
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Entrepreneur and TV producer Dewald Visser is tackling 800 kilometres over 14 days in a daunting 50k a day mountain biking challenge to raise funds for a young sufferer of spinal muscular atrophy. Six year-old Hanno Fourie of Durbanville has beaten all the odds in staying alive despite suffering from this incurable, life-threatening disease. Hanno has managed to confound specialists, who predicted his life expectancy to be only 18 months. Despite being wheel-chair bound and permanently on a ventilator, young Hanno stole Visser’s heart with his sheer joy and love of life.
Photo: Dewald Visser & Hanno Fourie
Visser is cycling to raise funds for the Hanno Fourie Trust to assist his family in buying him a new wheelchair and adapting their home to his ever-changing needs. Visser is doing the journey from Jeffrey’s Bay to Gordon’s Bay on a fat bike, only clocking distances travelled on beaches or gravel roads. The intrepid adventurer and his production crew are also not allowed to sleep in guest houses and hotels or to buy fast food, but will have to camp and cook for themselves for the entire period. Visser, who is more adept on the golf course or behind a braai as presenter and producer of TV series such as Kom Braai and Hooked on Golf, founded the 50k a day concept in 2015. On his initial journey, he covered over 800km off the rugged West coast of South Africa from Alexander Bay to Cape Town and was so overawed by the experience that he decided to make it an annual excursion. “This year I am even more determined as I know that Hanno and his family will be cheering us on all the way. All the funds raised will go directly to his family to help them taking care of this awesome little guy,” mentions Visser. Follow Dewald’s 50kaday Fatbike Challenge on Facebook at 50kaday or watch daily updates on www.50kaday.tv
CYCLING TOURS
Cycling the EuroVelo8 in The Med Cyprus is a very popular choice not only because of the affordable investment entry-level to secure residency, but also because of the following 7 benefits: 1. Cyprus is economically stable and politically secure – the country is not flooded with refugees. 2. Three generations in the same family (including parents and in-laws) secure permanent residency status FOR LIFE in 4 – 6 weeks through the purchase of a single property.
Due to its ideal weather for cycling, especially in the months between October and April, Cyprus has taken off as a destination for cycling enthusiasts both as a place to enjoy the sport and as a means to explore the island. The third largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus combines attractive beaches with pine-clad peaks, busy modern towns and tranquil old stone villages, vineyards and olive groves and ancient monuments. Cyprus is part of the co-funded project “EUROVELO8” which develops and promotes national, regional and trans-national cycling tourism packages along the “European Mediterranean Route EuroVelo 8” – and is one of the 14 routes that connects 11 countries.
3. The whole family can get EU passports in 3 months via Cyprus’ “Citizenship through Investment” programme – and dependent children up to 28 years of age also qualify! This is the quickest way to get unlimited access to Europe for life! 4. Properties in Cyprus offer excellent value for money when compared to other European countries – especially homes right on or near to The Med. The lush & beautiful Western side of the country is similar to the Western Cape and enjoys the biggest demand and highest growth.
EuroVelo 8 Sparkling emerald seas, kilometres of golden sand, mysterious islands, wonderful food, ancient cities…it’s not hard to find convincing reasons to travel along the Mediterranean! And what better way to do it then by bike along the roughly 5,900 km long Mediterranean Route? EuroVelo 8 connects many destinations that are popular tourist attractions in their own right: Barcelona, Monaco, Venice, the Croatian Coast, Cyprus – the list goes on. It is little surprise therefore that the Mediterranean Route receives more interest than any other EuroVelo route. And whilst many of it’s destinations are already internationally famous, there are still lots of undiscovered gems to be found along the way - so what are you waiting for! Tour statistics : 5,888km long, 11 countries, 23 World Heritage Sites, 712 species of fish, Delicious cuisine, and Sublime scenery. Fore more information visit: www.eurovelo8.com YOUR PLAN B IN CYPRUS Not only does Cyprus offer a plethora of outdoor activities, but currently has THE BEST permanent residency programme on offer where THREE generations of the same family all secure permanent residency FOR LIFE through the purchase of a single property! No other country in Europe offers this! And their 2 citizenship through investment programme is acknowledged as the best on offer because it is the quickest programme in Europe (passports are issued in 3 months); and dependent children up to the age of 28 also qualify! nd
LOGO
5. The lifestyle is similar to South Africa : the golf courses are world-class, the countryside is breathtakingly beautiful and Cyprus has 57 blue-flag status beaches, the cleanest seas in the Med and a mountain-range where it snows for 3 months. 6. No inheritance tax: on your death you can dispose of your assets to your loved ones without having to pay any tax. This is advantageous for legacy planning. 7. There are no social problems in Cyprus: no car guards, shanty towns or people living below the poverty line; and because of this Cyprus has huge appeal as a destination for relocation, retirement, holiday-making and investment.
Jenny Ellinas Founder of Cypriot Realty
Some other attractions that Cyprus offers are: a. Being an ex-British colony, there is no language barrier – everyone speaks English; b. You can rent out your property to earn a Euro-based income; c. Low cost of living; d. Euro-accredited education gives your children a distinct advantage when they enter the global job market; e. Europe on your doorstep: Cyprus has 2 International Airports and several marinas; f. 1st world medical facilities & affordable healthcare with highly qualified doctors & specialists. Contact us for a confidential meeting to discuss how Europe can fit in with your offshore plans – we will assist and guide you every step of the way to realise Your Plan B.
In Cyprus, not only is there no inheritance tax applicable, but the cost of living and the property ownership costs are a fraction of what we pay in South Africa. Being voted THE SAFEST country in the world with a population of under 5Million – investing in Cyprus is a good option.
c ypriot y pr iot
Realty
YOUR KEY TO LIVING IN BEAUTIFUL CYPRUS
For more information contact Jenny Ellinas on +27 83 448 8734 email jenny@cypriotrealty.com Visit www.cypriotrealty.com
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WHERE TO STAY BE PREPARED
Cycle, Eat, & Sleep
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THESE AREAS CERES
CALITZDORP
Cederberg 100 Miler [ 22 - 23 April 2017 ]
Redstone MTB & Trail Running Weekend [ 12 - 30 May 2017 ]
Eselfontein MTB 3 Day Stage Race [ 13 - 15 October 2017
36ONE MTB Challenge [ 21 - 23 April 2017 ]
GRABOUW Absa Cape Epic [ 19 - 26 March 2017 ], Houw Hoek Tour [ 6 - 7 May 2017 ], FNB Wines2Whales [ 27 Oct - 5 Nov 2017]
Hamlet Country Lodge Prince Alfred Hamlet
Africa’s Bike Hotel - Grabouw
History takes us back to March 1851 when Johannes Goosen bought the farm Wagenboomsrivier from George Wolfaard for £6,000.00. During 1861, while Goosen was busy measuring out his plots, Queen Victoria’s second son, Prince Alfred visited the Cape Colony. Goosen decided to name the new town after the Prince, and so the name Prince Alfred Hamlet was born, and on 8 December 1861 the Village, Prince Alfred Hamlet was founded. The Hamlet Country Lodge is the oldest business still in operation. Part of the building was constructed in the 19th century. Today, a lifestyle of quiet luxury awaits you at the Hamlet Country Lodge. It is luxuriously, yet tastefully decorated to calm and soothe – away from the rush of the city life, making it an absolutely unique accommodation opportunity for a weekend getaway in the Hamlet.
The Into Cycling Newspaper recently paid the Hamlet Country Lodge a visit on the eve of the 2017 TankwaTrek MTB Challenge, and found their services and room facilities well-pleasing, not to mention that meals are attractively plated, and accommodation most affordable. Why not break away and discover the beauty of this small but unique town surrounded by beautiful mountains that crisps up in winter with snow. Hamlet Country Lodge is just the place for you, see you there!
If you’ve not visited Africa’s first bike hotel yet, then you are in for a treat. The hotel, originally a factory, has been converted specifically with outdoor enthusiasts in mind. You’ll find it in Grabouw, at the heart of some of the Western Cape’s most spectacular trails and it’s ideally situated for cycling and trail running buffs who want to explore the Overberg’s Elgin Valley. This radical venue has an industrial flavour to it, boasting sixteen rooms in total. The mezzanine rooms have private bathrooms and all the rooms below have shared ablutions. Most rooms have a choice of layout options enabling it to be suitable for families, pro-athletes, teams or individuals. There is also the added bonus of safe indoor bike storage for mountain bikes within the hotel itself.
with Oak Valley and Paul Cluver cycle trails nearby too.
Trail’s End is perfectly positioned at the foot of the Wines2Whales A-Z route
During your stay you can also make use of the purpose built 20m, heated outdoor pool in the courtyard as well as a restaurant which includes healthy menu choices, fresh coffee and craft beer which is brewed on site. On top of this there is a wellness centre within, the hotel offering Pilates classes on request, as well as a physiotherapist, massage therapist and chiropractor which is great for removing all the aches and pains from a day out adventuring.
For more information call 023 313 3070 or E-mail:info@thehamletlodge.co.za visit www.thehamletlodge.co.za
For more information contact +27 21 859 5193 email: info@trailsend.bike visit www.trailsend.bike, Follow Trail’s End on social media: @trailsendza
9 Queen Street, Calitzdorp, 6660 Stay at centrally located, four-star graded The Queen of Calitzdorp guest house for the Redstone Hills MTB & Trail Running Weekend 12 -13 May 2017. www.queenofcalitzdorp.co.za
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reservations 044 213 3057
info@queenofcalitzdorp.co.za
2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC
The Story of the Absa Cape Epic In 2002 South African Kevin Vermaak, living in London, set out to stage the world’s premier mountain bike stage race back in his home country. The ambitious vision for the event had come to him while taking part in the La Ruta de Conquistadores mountain bike stage race in Costa Rica. The following year he was back in Cape Town after eight years in the United Kingdom. In 2004 the first edition of the Cape Epic took place over 788km from Knysna to Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. A total of 275 teams took part in the eight-day event, including international entries from as far afield as Alaska, Brazil, Australia and Germany. The first winners were Namibian Mannie Heymans and German partner Karl Platt, who went on to win it a record-equalling five times: Platt also won in 2007, 2009 and 2010 with Stefan Sahm and in 2016 with Urs Huber. In 2005 former Olympic gold medallist Bart Brentjens of the Netherlands won with Belgian Roel Paulissen. The Dutchman immediately dubbed the event “The Tour de France of mountain biking,” a description that has stayed with the race over the years. In 2006 Christoph Sauser, already an established international mountain bike star, gave the first indication of the force he was going to become in the Absa Cape Epic when he and countryman Silvio Bundi won by an overwhelming 29 minutes. Sauser went on to become a legend of the race and the first five-time winner with victories in 2011 and 2012 with South African Burry Stander and in 2013 and 2015 with the then reigning Olympic gold medallist, Jaroslav Kulhavy.
Photo Credit: Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Photo Credit: Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
In 2012 the seven-year relationship with Adidas International, which had been involved from the inaugural event and played a key role in the race’s success, ended and a new event logo was introduced. The rebranding introduced the new trademark African cogs and a representation of the two-person team format. In 2013 the Cape Epic celebrated its 10th edition and introduced a Grand Masters category, for teams in which both riders are over 50-years-old. The year started in tragic fashion with the passing of 25-year-old Burry Stander, when a minibus taxi collided with him, while training on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast.
2006 also marked the first year of Absa’s sponsorship of the event – an unprecedented step by a South African bank at the time – and the first Route Launch Gala Dinner.
The race introduced the Amabubesi (Pride of Lions) finishers club for riders who had successfully competed three Cape Epics. In 2007 the Grand Finale venue was moved to Lourensford Estate in Somerset West and stayed there until 2014. 2007 marked a significant step forward for the Cape Epic when the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) awarded the event hors catégorie (beyond categorisation) status - the first time a mountain bike stage race had achieved this standing and upgrading it to the same ranking as the Grand Tours of road racing.
Photo Credit: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The growing scale of the race had meant a steady increase in staff numbers and in 2014 the Cape Epic moved to new offices in the Cape Town city centre - specially designed around their requirements. The year also mark a new Grand Finale venue, with Meerendal welcoming riders home for the first time after having previously been a Prologue venue. The field had now grown to a limit of 1300 riders with representation from 52 countries. Entries were over-subscribed thereafter. Later in 2016 the Cape Epic was acquired by IRONMAN and the Wanda Sports Holding Company, and Vermaak began working with the new owners on a global mountain bike qualification series. The pinnacle event of that series is the Absa Cape Epic. “If someone comes to me and says he’s done an Epic, or two or three, he’s immediately part of the club. That person is a real mountain biker. You know they can suffer. You know there’s so much behind the statement. It’s the race that measures all,” - Burry Stander. “If you look at the media, and the fans, and the support, we become like superstars, being on television every day. This is the greatest race in the whole world. It’s bigger now than the world cup and the world championships. Today we had four helicopters circling above us - at the world championships you are lucky if there is one - and the competition is so strong now,” - Christoph Sauser.
Photo Credit: Gary Perkin/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The same year daily highlights from the event were broadcast around the world, another first for a mountain bike stage race. After the longest route ever in 2008, the 2009 event introduced a new format – the point-to-point ride from Knysna to Stellenbosch/Somerset West was replaced by a prologue on Table Mountain - a route that included looped stages that started and finished at the same venue. This enabled route designers to take the race to areas where riders could spend time on local trails instead of the typical district roads of point-to-point stages. After seven years the event accumulated losses of up to R8-million. 2010 marked a remarkable turnaround - the first year the business made a profit. The following year the Cape Epic notched up another first for a mountain bike stage race when the Prologue and Grand Finale were broadcast live, with several countries from around the world being able to watch the event live.
Photo: Credit: Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
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2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC
Riders Info - Everything you need to know about the Stages! Prologue: For Starters The Prologue route includes spectacular views of some world famous landmarks – across Table Bay to the iconic Table Mountain, with Robben Island nestled in the sparkling sea, but riders on the 2017 Absa Cape Epic Prologue will not be afforded much opportunity to enjoy the scenery. The best viewing point follows a lung-busting climb up Meerendal’s notorious Stairway to Heaven to the top of the Dorstberg and is followed by a trail that dips past a neighbouring quarry and on to adjacent farmlands. All the hard work takes place in the opening sequences of the Prologue, and is followed by some testing ups and downs on Hoogekraal’s highly regarded trails, and back to Meerendal via some steep vineyards, dairy fields, and singletrack.
Photo Credit: Dominic Barnardt/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Stage 1: Whale Trails “Every Friday morning, Jan Willemse would walk over the Klein River Mountains from Tesselaarsdal to Stanford, carrying his shoes over his shoulder to save them from being worn down. He would put them back on again just before he walked into Stanford. He would sit in the front room of Oom Japie Schoonwinkel with his sheep shears which he used to cut hair, and men would line up in queues to get their hair cut and listen to his stories,” says Stanford Historian Esje du Toit. The route that Willemse used back in the 1950s is one that will live long in the minds of 2017 Absa Cape Epic competitors. The riders will confront the same tough climb – the Haarkappers Roete – when, after 60km of stage 1, they head up the rugged three-and-a-half kilometre zig-zag ascent from Tesselaarsdal. They will gain 350m in altitude on the climb, before heading down the Barber’s Cut descent. Before that memorable and testing moment the 2017 Absa Cape Epic’s opening stage will give riders a sample of the beautiful seaside town of Hermanus with the whales frolicking in its bay.
Hynek’s travails point to one of the factors that riders will need to consider in this part of the world: the trails are rugged and many a sharp rock lies in wait. Stage 4 - Ups and Downs The transition between two of the Western Cape’s most sought-after holiday getaways takes riders on many ups and downs, and a burst of singletrack. It is rolling hills from the moment you leave Greyton and riders will approach one particular climb with apprehension: it’s called Pumping Legs for good reason - as you approach it seems like the road heads up straight into the sky. There is some relief on the Lover’s Lane Descent before cutting through the Klipheuwel-Dassiefontein Wind Energy Facility near Caledon with 100m-high wind turbines standing like massive sentinels on the hill. Afterwards riders will experience the twisting trails at Wildekraans, before heading across to the old Houw Hoek Pass (constructed in 1904), and on to the Houw Hoek Inn – nearly 200 years old and reputedly the oldest country hotel in South Africa! The last stretch to follow is to Oak Valley Wine Estate for a good night’s rest. Stage 5 - On The Trails There’s always a fun day at the Absa Cape Epic. First there are a few climbs to negotiate, including a particularly nasty one that has concrete strips for traction and then the legendary Nuweberg from the east side. A couple more climbs – watch out for some washed-out sections on the descents – as the course weaves across the hills above Grabouw, riders will find themselves in singletrack heaven with the A-to-Z trail network above the Elgin/Grabouw Country Club and around the Eikenhof Dam, followed by the renowned trails on Paul Cluver Estate and Oak Valley, while heading back to the race village. Stage 6 - The Queen Stage When veterans of the Absa Cape Epic were asked about the toughest climb ever in the event their response was unanimous: Groenlandberg. In 2017 the route returns to the rugged track which rises more than 600m along nine kilometres of rocky, sandy climbing – the average gradient is seven percent but one or two sections tilt up more than 20%. That confrontation with the race’s most notorious climb comes 20km into the 2017 route’s Queen Stage and after some gentle climbs to warm up the legs.
Photo Credit: Nick Muzik/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Soon after the start the route heads up Rotary Way along the spine of the mountain, before dipping down into Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The route follows the Nine One Climb and some ups and downs along the flanks and stunning wine farms of the Hemel-en-Aarde valley to Tesselaarsdal and the Haarkappers Roete over the Klein River Mountains. From the bottom of a potentially tricky descent, the route turns back west towards Hermanus and riders will finish the day with a fun spin along the town’s urban assault mountain biking section. Stage 2: A Ridge Too Far Stage 2 of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic takes riders north to a new race village in the quaint town of Greyton, with some fierce climbs along the way. The day’s endeavours begin with another leg-warming spin up Rotary Way and part of the Nine One One climb, with many more uphills. Before long, riders will get acquainted with the day’s biggest challenge: Shaw’s Pass. It is only four kilometres long, but gains more than 220m in altitude and on one section soon after the start the gradient kicks up more than 20 percent. Later they will confront other testing climbs either side of the Caledon Kloof and in the mountains looming above Greyton. There will be relief during the day when riding stunning singletrack sections through beautiful fynbos along the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, down the Katkloof trails at the back of Shaw’s Pass and beyond Caledon. There are also some district road bits, and finally riders will cross the day’s last ridge and drop down to the race village at Elandskloof. Bird lovers will enjoy sightings of elegant blue cranes – South Africa’s national bird – along the route as it heads inland. Stage 3: UFO Sighting After two rugged days riders will get to enjoy a shorter stage and the mountain biking delights of Greyton. But be warned: it will be no picnic. After a country meander that takes riders through nearby Bereaville and Genadendal, it is straight into a series of climbs including Mad Dog Bite, Zig Zag and the UFO – the latter so named because of the strange UFO-like building perched on the hilltop … it really looks like a flying saucer hovering above the hill. But what goes up must go down, which means some thrilling descents and great, rugged singletrack. These include the Good Samaritan Descent, which got its name from 2014 when riders Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess handed over wheels to leaders Robert Mennen and Kristian Hynek after the latter had punctured, thus saving their race.
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Photo Credit: Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Next it is more rocky trail across the back of the Groenlandberg and another tough climb on an unstable surface before a sweeping descent, a bump or two and some short singletrack takes you under the N2. This is rocky terrain so be careful: punctures could ruin your day. Now it is time to explore the south side of the Grabouw district. Riders will loop through the Kogelberg Nature Reserve – one of 400 unique biosphere reserves in the world – and private farmland before heading back under the N2 via Lebanon’s flowing singletracks. The last climb from Thandi Wine Estate takes riders back to Oak Valley and another burst of singletrack sections before the finish. Stage 7 - Don’t Spare The Horses In 2017 the Absa Cape Epic finishes for the first time at Val de Vie and its renowned polo fields – the fourth host for the Grand Finale in the race’s 14 editions.
Photo Credit: Sam Clark/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
After leaving Oak Valley the finish is just 85km away and the riders have the least climbing to do on any day of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. They will, however, be well advised to keep some energy in spare for the climb up the Franschhoek Pass after about 40km. That seven kilometre haul rises nearly 400m, marking the last major climb of the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. The day begins with a neutral start through Grabouw, takes riders round the Eikenhof dam and then down Viljoen’s Pass.
They will also cut through pristine fynbos, past Theewaterskloof Dam, where they might want to keep an eye out for the herds of eland crossing the plains. Then it is over the pass, through some twists and turns around Franschhoek and some small climbs that take you past Victor Verster prison and the iconic statue of Nelson Mandela, taking his first steps to freedom. And finally - after 691kms, and 15 400m of vertical gain, the finish line awaits at Val de Vie.
2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC
Spectators - The best place to be at the Absa Cape Epic 2017! The Absa Cape Epic inevitably dishes up incredible drama: from the thrilling racing at the front to the struggles of the backmarkers as they bid to get home inside the daily cut off. And the best places to get a taste of this excitement are the spectator points on the route. In 2017 there will be 14 spectator points along the route each with an experienced announcer welcoming riders and explaining the race to the viewers. Locals inevitably flock to these points too, making for a great atmosphere as they cheer on their favourites. Most of the spectator points coincide with water points, where riders stop to refuel. These also include tech zones, where riders can repair broken bikes and which are themselves often scenes of great drama. Each spectator point has a unique offering, particularly those on the wine estates where supporters can enjoy some of the produce while watching the racing. Among the points to visit this year are the beautiful Newton Johnson Estate in the Heme-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus (Stage1), Creation Wine Estate (Stage 2) and Oom Barrie se Huisie (Stage 3). Scenic views of the spectacular Gabrielskloof estate (Stage 4) and the Paul Cluver Estate amphitheatre (Stage 5) with its amazing opportunities to watch the racing from close quarters. Stage 6 is the Queen Stage and the toughest of them all – with spectator points at the South Hills and Thandi estates. The Grand Finale – the final stage, include a stop at La Couronne. Hermanus, 20 March Stage 1 - Newton Johnson The stunning Newton Johnson Vineyards are situated on the slopes of the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley near Hermanus. The town and the valley have become popular tourist destinations, famous for some of the most spectacular land-based whale watching in the world, lush indigenous fynbos, a floral kingdom which is home to 1500 species that are exclusive to Photo Credit: Emma Hill/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS the Cape, mountain walks and mountain bike trails. Riders will reach the spectator point early in the race on a fast, flowing trail past the spectator point. Hermanus, 20 March - Stage 1: Sir Robert Stanford (Royal Oak) Wine has been produced on this spectacular Sir Robert Stanford Estate since the 1890s. All 10 000 vines were removed in 1935 by the son of the original Huguenot farmer, Isak du Toit, in an apparent bid to stop “decadent” wine and witblits (home distilled brandy) binges! Subsequent owner Jan Malan reintroduced rows of vines which have since been producing excellent noble white and red varietals. There will be lots of parking available for a quick stop before heading back to the finish line. The top riders will come past with some speed as they will be gunning for the first stage win.
Photo Credit: Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The spectator point is set in a corn field and spectators will be able to view the riders cresting over a hill. Botrivier, 23 March - Stage 4 - Gabrielskloof Gabriëlskloof is a family-owned and operated wine estate just off the N2 outside Botrivier with sweeping views of the Babylonstoren mountains and surrounding wheat fields, understated architecture and stylish, comfortable interiors. The beautiful estate nestled in the vineyards is easily accessible from the main road. It will be open for business with fine wines and food (including picnic baskets) on offer. Elgin, 23 March - Stage 4 - Houw Hoek Hotel Houw Hoek Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in South Africa and is situated in the heart of the Kogelberg Biosphere Nature Reserve. Gracious old oaks, flanked by towering poplars spread their sheltering branches over this historic hotel, once known as the Houw Hoek Inn. Elgin, 24 March - Stage 5 - Grabouw Country Club The gracious old Club is situated on the edge of the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve in the Elgin Valley, and also next to the Eikenhof Dam, with views across to the majestic Groenlandberg. The club restaurant will be open and spectators will be able to take advantage of hospitality tours after watching the racing. They will be able to view riders coming from some distance, creating an exciting experience. Elgin, 24 March - Stage 5 - Amphitheatre This just might be the most exciting spectator point on the route and big crowds are expected. Spectators will get great views of the riders as they ride through the single track and over the bridges in the famous Amphitheatre on the Paul Cluver Estate.
Hermanus, 21 March - Stage 2 - Creation Wine Estate Creation has a great reputation for rewarding the lover of fine wines by combining the rich gifts of nature, its unique terroir and the considerable skills of its dedicated team. Spectators will be able to watch riders crossing the dam wall: their legs will still be fresh so they should be strong and fast. Caledon, 21 March - Stage 2 - Caledon Botanical Gardens Spectators will be able to watch riders refuelling at the water point – and note how efficiently the pro riders manage their water bottle changes and grab some food. One might also see some drama in the tech zone if any of the riders have a troublesome mechanical issue. The spectator point is accessed easily from the main road. Greyton, 22 March - Stage 3 - Greyton Main Road outside the Church This spectator point in the beautiful setting of Greyton outside the town has been a favourite in the past. Riders will be stopping to refuel, but won’t want to linger as it is a short stage. Locals always assemble here and create a great vibe and vendors will be on site. Spectators should note that riders will be crossing the road, so please obey the traffic police!
Photo Credit: Emma Hill/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Elgin, 25 March - Stage 6 - Lebanon Village Spectators will be able to see the riders come through and refuel on the sports field. Local support will also be present and help make it a merry occasion. Elgin, 25 March - Stage 6 - South Hill The South Hill Vineyards is nestled on the eastern end of the picturesque Elgin Valley. The unique setting is surrounded by the Kogelberg Mountains, orchards, pine forests and the farm’s own vineyards. It is an old and popular favourite of the Absa Cape Epic and spectators can do some wine tasting as they watch riders racing through the vineyards. Elgin, 25 March - Stage 6 - Thandi Photo Credit: Emma Hill/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
Caledon, 22 March - Stage 3 - Oom Barrie se Huisie Oom Barrie se Huisie (Uncle Barrie’s Cabin) is normally a place of tranquility where shepherds of old would seek refuge against the elements. Sitting in rolling green hills off the Caledon-Greyton road (the R406), it is a refreshing reminder of yesteryear and a place to unwind in true Overberg country style.
The name Thandi is derived from the name of the daughter of one of the key role players in the community, Trevor Steyn, who was instrumental in bringing the estate’s dream to life. The restaurant will be open, offering awesome craft beer and wine tasting. Franschhoek, 26 March - Stage 7 - La Couronne Besides wine tasting in a beautiful scenery, La Couronne will offer tuk-tuk rides from the parking area to the spectator point. This will be the last spectator point of the race and there is bound to be a great vibe.
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2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC
Development - Exxaro special jersey for development riders This year’s Absa Cape Epic will mark the most intense racing yet for the Exxaro Special Jersey for development riders – and the winners will get to spend eight days at an elite sports performance academy in Belgium. The race has launched a number of initiatives in the past year to increase the number of entries in this category and to encourage closer racing. As a result the number of entries in the race for the distinctive green jersey has more than doubled. In 2012 the first Exxaro MTB Academy riders joined the race and became a catalyst for introducing historically disadvantaged South African’s to the sport of mountain biking. The jersey is awarded to the top historically disadvantaged South African team where both riders are under the age of 26, and each year since its launch the contest for the jersey has become more fierce. In August last year the Absa Cape Epic announced that it would be growing the category beyond its existing base – many of which came from the Exxaro MTB Academy –to include participants from academies in Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape. Cape Epic CEO Lynn Naudé announced that the race had formalised an arrangement with the Diepsloot MTB Academy in Gauteng, the Change A Life Academy in KwaZulu Natal and Songo.Info from Stellenbosch in the Western Cape and each would receive two free team entries to the 2017, 2018 and 2019 races. Another 10 entries were also made available to sponsors, charities or others who might want to enter a team in this category. The team who win the jersey get R50 000 from Exxaro to spend on education or other initiatives designed to improve their personal circumstances. In January the race announced that a deal had been struck with the elite Bakala Academy in Leuven, Belgium. The jersey winners will get to fly to Belgium and spend eight days at the academy doing testing and training. They will also get to interact and spend time with the Etixx Quick-Step professional cycling team, which is based in Belgium and uses the academy to improve its performance.
Photo: Exxaro’s Mellis Walker with Justice Makhale, a former professional rider who is now the Exxaro MTB Academy team mentor - Photo Credit: Mark Sampson
“We are thrilled to have secured this deal,” said Naudé. “EXXARO are already giving the winning team R50 000 to further their studies and this opportunity is the cherry on top of a great incentive for these young riders to do well.” “A stay at a world class academy will have massive benefit in terms of improving the cyclists’ performance as well as providing a memorable life experience for historically disadvantaged South Africans that they would otherwise not be able to experience,” said Naudé. The Bakala Academy describes itself on its website as an “athletic performance centre” and a “research and testing centre of excellence.” It has a reputation as a world-class academy for research, innovation and education in sports. The website points out that it has three main functions. “Our Department of Research and Development is the core of the Academy and the place where all the innovations are being born. Our team works on developing innovative methods to enhance sport performance. The Education Centre will attract scholars with diverse backgrounds in the fields of sport and science. It provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge that will have a direct benefit to the sport development. And last, in our Athletic Performance Centre every athlete will find the right advice for his/her personal purposes.”
Photo L-R: song.info’s Sipho Madolo and Azukile Simayile, the Change a Life Academy’s Mazwi Smimango, the Diepsloot MTB Academy’s Luke Mashiane and the Exxaro MTB Academy’s Justice Makhale and Mellis Walker - Photo Credit: Mark Sampson
Naudé added: “The Absa Cape Epic is the only race that has a category dedicated to development teams and with these initiatives we want to celebrate our next generation of star riders. We hope this will also accelerate the introduction of mountain biking into new communities.”
Olympic Star - Jenny Rissveds takes on the Absa Cape Epic Jenny Rissveds took the mountain biking world by storm in 2016, announcing her arrival at the top end of the sport with some outstanding performances and then capping it all with the Olympic gold medal. Now the 22-year-old Swedish star is taking a step into the unknown and will be competing in the 2017 Absa Cape Epic. She will be riding with her SCOTTSRAM team manager Thomas Frischknecht, 46, in the Virgin Active Mixed category. Frischknecht himself has a long and outstanding mountain biking career with three world championship titles: two in the marathon discipline and another in cross country. He is also a four time Absa Cape Epic finisher. Besides her Olympic heroics, in 2016 Rissveds won the Under-23 Cross Country World Championship and performed strongly in the World Cup series, dominating the Under-23 category and then winning the open event at Lenzerheide in Switzerland. Her decision to join the race means that both Olympic mountain biking gold medallists will be in the field. Earlier this year men’s winner Nino Schurter of Switzerland announced that he would be racing in the Men’s category with countryman Matthias Stirnemann. The Absa Cape Epic asked Rissveds a series of questions: This will be your first Absa Cape Epic - what made you decide to do it? “We have the SCOTT-SRAM team presentation in Stellenbosch the week prior to the Cape Epic. As I’m already there we figured the Cape Epic is worth a try. I have heard a lot of great things about it. Now it’s time to jump into the adventure myself.” What do you know about the race? “It’s tough – untamed and unpredictable, with a lot of surprises to be handled. It’s more difficult to prepare for it than for a cross country race.” Have you been to South Africa before, and will you be coming out before the event? “Yes, I have been to training camps in Stellenbosch a few times and I raced the World Championships in Pietermaritzburg. In 2017 I’m only coming for the team presentation and the Cape Epic. ”How are you going to approach the race: will you be racing in the Mixed Category or just enjoying the experience?
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Photo: Jenny Rissveds & Thomas Frischknecht
“I’m totally inexperienced in stage racing and have no clue how I will manage to get through the race, so I have no expectations at all. My only goal is getting through alive and getting experience for taking part in future.” Have you done many stage races before? “No – it’s my first mountain bike stage race.” Have you raced in a two-person team race before? “No, it’s also going to be a first. I hope my riding buddy and team manager Thomas Frischknecht, who has done the Cape Epic five times (finishing four times), can guide me through this adventure.” How has the training been going? “I got back in training (not long after the Olympics) and have slowly increased my training. Up here in Sweden the weather can make training difficult … which makes sure I don’t do any overtraining!”
LIFESTYLE
Up Cycles Station is Open For Business at Silo 5 V&A Waterfront!
In February Up Cycles relocated their cycle station from the Clock Tower to a more suitable and permanent position at Silo 5 at the V&A Waterfront. Some new features to the new station includes: Bike rental, retail for clients and bike repairs.
Up Cycles are advocates for a bicycle lifestyle, and desire to help brand Cape Town a bicycle-friendly city, with the goal to make ordinary people realise that bicycles can be a part of their daily lives. Up Cycles has a large fleet of rental bikes, especially made for them and imported from Europe. The bicycles don’t have any gears, or brakes on the handle bars. They have coaster hubs, which means you have to pedal backwards to slow down and stop. According to Jared Chaitowitz, co-owner of Up Cycles, the business is a drop and go bike hire company, loosely based on bike share systems overseas. Their bikes can be rented and returned between any of their stations. Up Cycles rent bikes to casual cyclists, who may or may not own their own bicycles. They have bikes for all ages and sizes, including a range of kids bikes and child carrier attachments. The company caters to both locals and tourists - anyone who wants to explore the Atlantic Seaboard and Cape Town CBD by bike. You can find them at: Pavilion on Sea Point Promenade, Breakaway Café on Waterkant Street Fan Walk, at the Bay Hotel on Victoria Road in Camps Bay, and their new location at Silo 5 the V&A Waterfront.
Your Best Performance Awaits
They say that in sport 90 percent of our performance is mental, yet we spend most of our time and money on our physical performance. As a cyclist, I am sure you are very aware of the fact that your emotions have a very significant impact on your physical ability and therefore your performance on your bike. Your emotions will ultimately determine how you perform during any race. While on your bike you experience anything from excitement, frustration, anger or disappointment. Emotions don’t come and go, they linger and can influence your performance long after you first feel them. This is especially true with negative feelings. Because our emotions and our physical reactions are so interrelated, negative emotions don’t only hurt you mentally, but physically as well.
Having negative thoughts while you are in a stressful situation is part of the experience. It is important to accept and acknowledge the negative thoughts and feelings you are having. The more you fight them, the stronger they become. One of the most important aspects in managing your emotions on your bike is BREATHING! When your emotions get the better of you...slow your breathing down. Focus on the sensation of your breathing. This increases your oxygen intake and reduces the arousal level and the intensity of the negative emotions. You can even imagine that with the exhale you are letting go of the negative thought or self-doubt. Another important step is to realize that negative thoughts are nothing more than neuron activity in the brain. Don’t allow yourself to get into the content of the negative thought or self-doubt. Don’t entertain them. Distance yourself from the thought and see it for what it is…only a thought. Step back from your thoughts and become a silent watcher. By doing this, thoughts (and emotions) start to lose their hold over you. You are now creating a state of detachment from your negative thought process. The goal is to stop the negative thought before it causes negative feelings or behavior. Rather use this negative thought as a signal to refocus on what you should be concentrating on. Focus on the task at hand and block out everything else. Mind-Body connection is a skill that you can learn. Like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. It takes time, lots of patience and practice to change an existing habit or thought pattern. The good news is that nobody or any situation you find yourself in, can influence your thoughts and feelings unless you allow them. “Our greatest power lies between stimulus and response - the power to choose!” (Stephen Covey 2004)
For example; as you experience feelings like anger and frustration your body’s muscles tense up, your breathing is challenged, your heart-rate accelerates, your blood pressure rises and this can even lead to a loss of coordination. Anxiety creates muscle tension and lower oxygen intake slows you down on your bike. Negative emotions make you doubt your ability to perform well, lose confidence and is so overwhelming they draw your attention to all the negative aspects of your performance. Our thoughts ultimately determine our emotions.
Article by Annelize Taljaard For more information contact Annelize Taljaard on 076 371 3163 or visit www.transformalife.co.za
massage • exercise • nutrition
To Book your ABSA Cape Epic Massages contact: 083 656 3770
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CYCLING EVENTS
Cape Getaway Mountain Bike Challenge Some of the most breath-taking mountain bike trails are situated in the Helderberg, and The Cape Getaway Show Mountain Bike Challenge on 1 April 2017, sponsored by Sportsmans Warehouse, is the perfect opportunity to experience it with your friends and family. You can either take part in the 40km, 20km ride or enter the whole family in the 5km ride. What’s more, if you enter the race you will receive a free ticket to the show!
Liberty Winelands Encounter The scenic and unique Cape will play host to the Liberty Winelands Encounter – a spectacular three stage event that will showcase the beautiful terrain that links Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington, over what is believed to be some of the best mountain-biking terrain in the country. The event takes place over the weekend of 21- 23 April 2017, presented by ASG Events and MTB Adventures, and 2017 will see the third edition of the event series. The 180km three-day stage encounter will afford amateur higher net-worth mountain bikers with a passion for the sport and the experience of a lifetime. All riders enter as a two-rider team. Teams register in one of three different categories that include Men, Ladies, and Mixed, where riders in a team must remain together at all times during the race.
For more information visit www.getawayshow.co.za
Cederberg 100 Miler 2017
A mountain bike trek through the heart of the Cederberg - 2017 is a year for exciting new changes to South Africa’s most breathtaking 100 Miler. The Cederberg 100 Miler has been moved to 22 - 23 April of this year, to fit in with the energetic MTB calendar this time of the year. It is also a perfect weekend for a getaway and another great reason to explore the mesmerizing mountains of the Cederberg. The Cederberg 100 Miler has been known as one of the must-do-events when it comes to one-day marathon mountain biking. The 160km and 3000m elevation over the Cederberg mountain range, treks all the way from Clanwilliam to Koue Bokkeveld on one of South Africa’s most sought after gravel roads. Surrounded by the Cederberg’s unique fynbos veld-life, towering mountain peaks and ancient Bushmen history, it’s an event that will make you feel rather small.
The Cape Winelands offers some of the best mountain-biking terrain in the world; surrounded by beautiful mountains and historical towns, vineyards, orchards, wineries, luxury accommodation and the finest culinary experiences money can buy.
Doing 160km in one day is definitely not for everybody. This year, the organisers have launched a brand-new format to an already great event. The 2017 edition of the race will now offer riders a choice between The Race (160km in one day) and The Trek (80km per day over two days).
The entry package includes an Ftech branded cycling jersey, event branded jacket and all 5 Star meals (including breakfast and lunch with dinner as an optional extra), but excludes accommodation. Sufficient accommodation is available at the various Hotels in the surrounding areas.
The Race will depart from Clanwilliam on Sunday 23 April 2017 and go all the way to the finish at Kaleo in one day. This is the original Cederberg 100 Miler. For more information visit www.cederberg100miler.co.za
2017 Gravel & Grape
Entries are now open for the 2017 Gravel & Grape, the most rugged MTB experience in the Western Cape. The event now in its third year takes place from 5 - 7 May 2017, offering two race options to experience the thrills and spills of the Breedekloof Wine Valley. There is the Gravel & Grape Extreme, a challenging three-day stage race covering approximately 207km in total, and the Gravel & Grape Adventure for the cyclist not quite ready for the step up to three days of racing. The Adventure is a
It’s a MTB Encounter where riders are treated as VIP’s and where they will have access to wonderful hospitality. Spouses will also be able to book all meals with their riding counterparts, which creates a very unique and family orientated environment at meals and presentations.
For more information visit winelandsencounter.co.za
Redstone Mountain Bike & Trail Running Weekend The 11th Redstone Mountain Bike and Trail Running Weekend is all set for Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 May at Buffelskloof, Kruisrivier near Calitzdorp in its spectacular arena of red mountains, green valleys and Karoo fynbos. The second decade will see a few exciting changes. The first major change is that Corne Botha of Jakhals Events will take over the race organising duties from Dryland who will continue their valued relationship as a major infrastructure sponsor. Other changes include the addition of a 17km MTB route to cater for the junior MTB riders in the Eden District and a 5km fun run event. The weekend kicks off on Friday with an 11km Night Ride and Night Run followed by a “potjiekos” dinner and live entertainment. The races on Saturday include MTB routes over 17, 43 and 60kms on open gravel roads and Jeep track and a 20k Trail run. There is also an 11km fun ride and fun run/walk. The winners of the three major events will be awarded the new floating trophies that were specially designed and made by local artist Roger Young.
two-day ride that follows the same trails as the Extreme, and although it only covers 65km in total, the routes are still technical and challenging. Featuring a unique route that pleases and punishes in equal measure, the Gravel & Grape Extreme is an event that takes mountain biking back to its roots. With challenging technical riding, the Extreme is best suited for riders with a sense of adventure and a well-stocked arsenal of rock-hopping, berm-bending, switchback-sizzling talent. The route has been crafted to reflect the rugged nature of the Breedekloof Wine Valley, but also to show its gentler side. Stunning views in a picturesque location and a cloverleaf format creates three days of pure mountain biking that will leave you gasping for more. The days are not long, but the terrain will put riders and their bikes to the test. While the Extreme is for teams only, the Adventure allows for solo riders. Like the Extreme, the Adventure is also a clover leaf format. Entries are for solo riders or teams of two in two different categories: junior and open. The junior category is for both team members between the ages of 16 and 18 years, while the open category can be a son/daughter, husband/wife, daughter/father team or any two adults. The routes will follow the same trail as the Gravel & Grape Extreme, so while the days and distances are shorter, participants will still be riding on the same special terrain as the main event which will afford them the opportunity to enjoy a good variety of singletrack, climbs and jeep track.
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Redstone is currently the principal fundraising event of the Redstone Hills Trust whose main object is to assist in the care and development of the less fortunate in the area. With the help of the participants and sponsors such as Wesgro, Time Freight, The Queen of Calitzdorp and many others, we hope to raise more money for community projects. This is a magical family weekend, where each and all are invited to experience the unique food and hospitality of the farmers and people of the Klein Karoo and enjoy a typical “plaasbasaar”. For more information and to enter online visit www.redstonehills.co.za
LIFESTYLE EVENTS
Hands On Harvest
Cape Argus SportShow
Taste The Lifestyle
Returns For Its Sophomore Showing
Experience the harvest in the heart of autumn with the 9th annual Hands on Harvest festival from 10-12 March 2017 in the beautiful Robertson Wine Valley.
The Cape Argus SportShow returns for its sophomore showing this year in the heart of the Cape Winelands. From 24-26 March, Sandringham will play host to a three-day sporting showpiece that encompasses live shows, sporting celebs, clinics, exhibitors and games for young and old alike.
This down-to-earth country celebration offers families a chance to experience the magic of harvest while enjoying country hospitality. Indulge in country cuisine and enjoy delicious local wines from more than 40 wine estates, boutique wineries and tourism establishments from the Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson region.
According to event organizer Stephan Jooste, the SportShow promises fun for the entire family. “Too many sporting events exclude moms and dads and daughters,” says Jooste. “But the SportShow is wholly inclusive, and pleases casual fans and hardcore sports fanatics alike.” He holds dear a quote by Richard Branson, which posits that sporting shows should be more like concerts: “Fun for everybody.” Last year’s highlights included the world-famous slam-dunk team Lords of Gravity, Nick de Wit and his freestyle motocross riders, triathlete Conrad Stoltz, as well as good food, craft beer and areas for kids. From tag rugby, cricket, golf, netball, paintball, watersports, BMX biking, obstacle courses and even drone racing, the SportShow promises to be bigger than ever. Team players and individuals are welcome to sign up for fixtures on the day of the event or simply soak in the action on offer.
See the grape’s journey from vine to barrel by participating with hands on experiences from grape picking and stomping to wine tasting and blending your own creation. Enjoy authentic vineyard safaris, food and wine pairings and riverside lunches. The adventure lover can get their fix of excitement with a host of outdoor activities including skydiving, 4x4 routes, golfing, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking and river cruises. The first Hands on Harvest market will showcase country living at its best with local treats, country cuisine, delicious wines and kids’ activities. Hop onto the boat for a cruise down the river, or listen to live music on Sunday, 12 March from 10h00 till 14h00 at Viljoensdrift Fine Wines and River Cruises. For more information visit www.handsonharvest.com
Cluver Family Harvest Day
Clinics and seminars will help players hone their game, while the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy will be in town to dispense invaluable advice. Inside two sprawling halls, sporting exhibitors will be on hand with gear and technology for sale. The main halls serve another purpose: host of the third SA Schools’ Sports Summit, where more than 120 schools and 350 delegates will be in town to discuss the future of school sport in South Africa, from 24-25 March. Flanking the halls, an action sport and tag rugby arena sits beside a paintball court, where the Western Cape Provincial Cup will be contested. In the middle of Sandringham, a freestyle stunt arena is sure to draw crowds, while South African freediver Hanli Prinsloo will demonstrate the tips for holding one’s breath underwater. Eastwards, a food truck and beer tent, will be busy all weekend, alongside a fives football arena and kiddies’ area. Finally, watersports action takes place at the nearby dam. “South Africans live and breathe sport and it’s fantastic to be able to put together an event that champions the fun of competition,” Jooste says. “Whether you’re after the craft beer and grub or want to get active, there’s something for everyone.” Sport is a way for families to come together, Jooste adds. “A language everyone can understand.” For more information visit www.sportshow.co.za
Cape Getaway Show 2017 Escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a wholesome family friendly festival at the Cluver Family Harvest Day, which takes place on Saturday, 1 April (11am to 4pm). The venue is the picturesque family-owned Paul Cluver Wines, which is set in the heart of the tranquil Elgin Wine Valley. The valley is well known for its cool climate wines and fruit. Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town this promises to be a fun day out for young and old. Choose to self-drive or, even better, embark on a scenic train trip from Cape Town to Elgin. The train departs from Cape Town Station at 9am, with a second collection point in Somerset West. The journey should last no more than two hours, and a few treats along the way will make for a fun and memorable journey. Upon arrival in Elgin you’ll be met by a fleet of John Deere tractors ready to transport you to your final destination. The train will then depart for Cape Town at 4pm. While the adults sample the superb cider and wines on offer, the kids will be in their element as they get stuck into the myriad of old school fun and games (think bobbing for apples, sack race, egg and spoon race to name but a few). This is the perfect opportunity for mom and dad to unwind a bit as the young ones are kept entertained in the supervised kids’ area. Keep hunger at bay with the selection of artisanal gourmet fare on offer. Freshly home baked apple crumble, a selection of fine cheeses, charcuterie and gourmet sandwiches are guaranteed to add to the fun and festivities of the day. Live music adds the final touches to what promises to be the ultimate outing. For more information visit www.cluver.com
The Western Cape’s largest travel, outdoor and adventure event, The Cape Getaway Show, returns to Lourensford Wine Estate from 31 March to 2 April 2017. Promising to be bigger and better than before - the show offers mountain bike races for all ages on 1 April 2017. Unlock your travel dreams at the Cape Getaway Show with over 200 interactive travel, outdoor and adventure exhibits, Kiddies’ activities, Great music lineups on Saturday and Sunday, Loads of prizes to be won at the event plus a grand prize of an international getaway. Transport your taste buds at the Taste of Travel Theatre and discover unique flavours of local food, wine and beer. Enjoy talks from awesome South Africans who have conquered extraordinary feats around the world. This is a jam-packed weekend you won’t want to miss. The Cape Getaway Show has special events happening each day with loads of adventures for the whole family and a few special treats for the outdoor sports fanatics.
Tickets available at www.ticketpros.co.za
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INTO N E W S PA P E R ISSUE # 4
March 2017
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Gear Up For 40Th Edition of SA’s Iconic Cycling Event
Photo: Cape Town Cycle Tour - Photo Credit: Greg Beadle
The Cape Town Cycle Tour is turning 40 on Sunday, 12 March 2017 and we are so excited to commemorate this massive milestone of SA’s most iconic cycling event. Grown from humble beginnings in 1978 when just 525 riders took part, 2017’s 40th event will see 35 000 cyclists line up in Hertzog Boulevard to tackle the spectacular 109-kilometre loop of the Cape’s peninsula. In so doing, they will not only participate in the world’s largest timed cycling event, but be part of a special day in the history of the event.The 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour is the fourth and final event in the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust’s annual Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Week – a weeklong celebration of cycling, healthy lifestyles and outdoor sporting fun in one of the world’s most scenic destinations. Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo The Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo is a cycling megastore, info hub and gathering place all under one roof. The event once again takes place at the Cape Town Stadium, in the heart of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Precinct, between Thursday, 9 March and Saturday, 11 March ahead of the 40th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday. The Expo is the largest of its kind in Africa, with roughly 70 000 visitors making their way through the Cape Town Cycle Tour Registration area and Expo hall over the three-day period. This year, thanks to input from exhibitors and visitors, the layout has been redesigned, resulting in shorter walking distances and an all-round improved experience for all. Visitors can also look forward to an upgraded Pick n Pay food hall area. With over 300 stands showcasing the latest and greatest in cycling gear and paraphernalia, there is something for everyone. From the Momemtum Wellness medical testing to top road and mountain bikes, the refreshed event is a must-see for all sport enthusiasts and spectators.
All Cape Town Cycle Tour entrants must visit the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo to collect their race packs and goodie bags. Participants will gain a once-off Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo entry with a scan of their RaceTec chip. Please note that very limited parking is available around the Cape Town Stadium Precinct. Rather make use of the MyCiti buses, order an Uber or cycle to the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo and leave your bike safely in the Thule Bike Park. If you are using your car, please park in the legally marked parking spaces around the Cape Town Stadium Precinct.