Into Cycling - April 2017

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ISSUE # 5 April 2017

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ABSA CAPE EPIC 2017 PAGE 6

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JOOST’S LEGACY LIVES ON WITH J9 FOUNDATION LIBERTY WINELANDS ENCOUNTER

The memory of Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen will hover over the Liberty Winelands Encounter next month when the J9 Foundation cycling team take part in the event for the first time. Presented by ASG Events in partnership with STANLIB, the three-stage mountain bike race starting on April 21 will take riders through spectacular trails in the Western Cape towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Wellington, just over two months after Van der Westhuizen passed away from motor neurone disease (MND). The team of Cape Town lawyer Dirk Kotze and Namgear cycling equipment company boss Marius Bronkhorst will represent the foundation at the race, with raising awareness of MND their chief priority. “Most people, of course, know of Joost, and when they see our kit with the J9 Foundation logo there is always a lot of talk about what we are trying to do. It provides us with a chance to inform them what it is all about,” said 35-yearold Kotze from Bellville.

Photo: J9 Cycling Team Members Dirk Kotze (left) & Brendan Snyman - Photo Credit: Craig Kolesky

ENTRIES SOLD OUT FOR THE 36ONE MTB CHALLENGE

Kotze explained that the J9 Foundation was formed by the 1995 World Cup-winning star after he was diagnosed with MND in early 2011. He added that the foundation have 29 beneficiaries and care for over 40 families who are affected by the disease and helped with MND research.

Growth in demand for The 36ONE MTB Challenge entries has exceeded all expectations to the point that Dryland Event Management have decided to close entries early for the 2017 event. Not only are there over 1 000 riders already registered to take part, but over half of that number are set to undertake the full 361 kilometre race as solo competitors. In addition to the 530 registered solo riders for the full route there are another 136 riders registered to ride the long route with a teammate. The remaining entrants are either racing The 36ONE in relay teams of two or four, or racing the ‘short’ distance 180 kilometre option either on their own or as a team of two. The 361 kilometre route, it is clear, is no longer the daunting challenge it once was. When 36ONE Asset Management and Dryland Event Management conceived the event in 2011 – the first event took place in 2012 – they fully expect the relay options to remain the most popular entry options.

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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

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NEWS Entries Sold Out for The 36ONE MTB Challenge

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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 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

www.maserati.co.za

MASERATI CAPE TOWN 67 JAN SMUTS STREET, CAPE TOWN, 8001 Phone: 0800 0600 78 | E-mail: info@maseraticpt.co.za

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The event organisers decided to close the entries earlier this year though “ultimately we could take this event to 1 500 riders this year, but we will never compromise the quality we offer – we feel that we need to limit entries annually. Entries have actually been full for a while, with additional registered riders being added to a waiting list,” Henco Rademeyer, of Dryland Event Management explained. “This year riders will see an increase in our water point offerings, as well as a new window period whereby spectators can only get to checkpoint one during a certain time. This is to ensure that riders are safer and do not have to ride in the dust while following vehicles. It is hard to better our water points, but with Biogen on board for The 36ONE MTB Challenge in 2017 riders can expect an increase in the offerings, both at the water points and at the finish line,” Rademeyer concluded. The racing at The 36ONE MTB Challenge promises to be more tightly contested than ever before for the 2017 edition too. Course record holder Jean Biermans, is set to return after a disappointing outing in 2016 where illness forced him to withdraw. Last year’s champion, Tom Wetton will also be lining up to defend the title with the dark horse for this year’s race being the Dutch rider Ramses Bekkenk. Overcoming the Odds to Take on The 36ONE MTB Challenge For many entrants to The 36ONE MTB Challenge the race is a personal trial, a battle to see if they can ride the 361 kilometres. But for Jonathan Odendaal, and his family, it carries far more significance. When he undertakes the final leg of the 2017 36ONE MTB Challenge for his family’s relay team he will be overcoming the odds, disproving doctors’ predictions and taking another crucial step on the path towards recovery. Just two and a half years ago Odendaal was a tremendous athlete. He had completed four Absa Cape Epics and raced to victory in the amateur men’s category at the Cape Pioneer Trek in 2014, but just a week after his successful Cape Pioneer Trek – he was involved in a terrible motor vehicle accident. Odendaal sustained a traumatic brain injury, his lungs collapsed and he broke his femur. Two months in the intensive care unit followed, after which he was transferred to a normal ward and then into a specialist rehabilitation facility. The doctors’ initial prognosis was not positive, they told his family that Odendaal would likely never walk again, or be able to perform the basic daily tasks which we take for granted every day but allow us our independence.

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No two traumatic brain injuries are alike though an individual’s recoveries can vary tremendously. Odendaal’s mother refused to accept her son would be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and his family pulled together to ensure he would beat the odds. On the 16th of January 2015 he spoke his first words. A year of intensive rehab followed and a friend, Jared Tilley, built Odendaal a set of parallel bars to support himself while relearning the mechanics of walking, strengthening his legs and regaining his balance. On the 18th of December 2015 he took his first step on his own. By the 31st of January he was able to walk a few steps. Odendaal used a walker to aid his unsteady balance, but he was determined to leave it behind. Gradually his balance improved and on the 31st of March 2016 he got back on the bike for the first time. Though unable to mount or dismount unassisted the milestones were stacking up and Odendaal’s progress towards his goal of being able to once again enter a mountain bike race were being realised. Currently his daily routine entails waking up at five every morning to cycling and then walk four kilometres, and then in the evenings he spends another thirty minutes on the treadmill. His next goal is to up the pace to a jog. The 36ONE MTB Challenge will be Jonathan Odendaal’s first major mountain bike race since his accident. He will be riding the final eighty one kilometres from Calitzdorp to Oudshoorn alongside his brother, and old stage race partner, Bertus. Though Dryland Event Management and 36ONE Asset Management are exceptionally honoured that Odendaal has chosen The 36ONE MTB Challenge as the event to mark this key step on his road to recovery, his ability to spend time with his wife, Cherise, and children is far more important.

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NEWS

Roadcover’s Kent Main Joins Dimension Data Continental “We are a close-knit team and all of us are very happy for Kent,” says the RoadCover Cycling Team Manager, Nic White. “Kent Main is a potential player in the international cycling arena with the physical abilities and mental attributes to play there. He is a great team player, a gentleman and a talented cyclist,” says the Team Manager, whose strategic leadership and guidance has created one of South Africa’s top cycling teams. “RoadCover is honoured to play an instrumental role in developing our South African athletes. We are proud of the RoadCover Team, and look forward to our team continuing their strong start to the year,” comments the RoadCover CEO. “We wish Kent the very best in his future career and look forward to RoadCover continuing to play a key role in growing South African cyclists that can be received by international teams,” concludes Beck. Main completes the Continental Team roster of 12 riders just ahead of the European season opening event, the 69th Trofeo Piva which takes place in Italy on 2nd April. Other South Africans that form part of the Dimension Data Continental Team are: Stefan de Bod, Nickolas Dlamini and Louis Visser. As Dimension Data Continental Team prepare to relocate to their European base in Lucca, Italy, the squad has received a boost with the addition of Kent Main. Kent Main’s steady rise to prominence was crowned with his exciting win in the Tour of Good Hope, showing his mettle in a close finish which saw the 21-year-old cyclist snatching the title by a single second. “We set up The RoadCover Cycling Team as a stepping stone and platform to grow young and exciting talent and help these athletes progress closer towards the ultimate goal of the European roads. Having said that, we are very sad to see Kent move on,” says Eugene Beck, CEO of RoadCover.

Joost’s Legacy Lives on

With J9 Foundation Liberty Winelands Encounter

Cape Town Cycle Tour Update David Bellairs, Media, Marketing and Sponsorship Director Of The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust said in his media statement after the cancellation on the Cape Town Cycle Tour on 12 March 2017 that it is with great regret that they were forced to make the difficult decision to stop the 40th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. “The excessive wind speeds combined with a large fire that broke out in Hout Bay, and the risk of protest action en route, were all contributing factors to the decision made in our Joint Operation Centre by the VOC Commander to stop the event. Their priority first and foremost will always be the safety of all our participants and the risk of injury and potential fatality at the start, at the finish and on Chapman’s Peak warranted this extremely difficult decision.”

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Having entered a number of races including the Cape Epic in the last three years, Kotze said their main priority was creating awareness of MND rather than raising funds. Following a year of competing in various events with regular partner Brendan Snyman, the pair decided they wanted to ride for more than the love of the sport when they gained an entry into the 2014 Cape Epic. They wanted to do something more meaningful and support a foundation or organisation, and when Kotze saw an interview with Joost on Carte Blanche he decided to contact the J9 Foundation. Kotze said the J9 Foundation were enthusiastic about his idea and they formed the J9 cycling team to assist with the work of raising awareness. Since then Kotze, in partnership with Snyman and Jaco Geldenhuys, has done the Wines2Whales three times, along with several other three-day and marathon races. Kotze will experience the Liberty Winelands Encounter for the first time and said he was looking forward to the challenge after taking up mountain biking in 2013. Kotze concluded saying that he had linked up with Bronkhorst for the Winelands Encounter because they had planned the weekend away together with their families and because one of Bronkhorst’s good friends suffers from MND.” Photo Credit: Craig Kolesky

For more information visit www.winelandsencounter.co.za

Photo: Cape Town Cycle Tour - Photo Credit Double ST

What about the medals? The Cape Town Cycle Tour wish to advise that the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour will now be held on 11 March 2018 and as such, no finisher’s medals will be issued for the 2017 event. What about the prize money? The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust will donate the 2017 prize fund of R220 000 to the relief efforts of those affected by the fires in Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. They are also donating water bottles to the Domestic Animal Rescue Group who are saving and caring for animals from those affected areas. What about entries for next year? Cape Town Cycle Tour will be offering all participants who registered and collected their race numbers at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo between 9 and 11 March 2017 a preferential entry for the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour, before entries are made available to the general public.

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NEWS

Postponement of L’Etape SA

International Road Cycling

Cycling South Africa has met with the L’Etape South Africa’s event organisers, Buyu Sport & Entertainment. Having assessed the conditions of the roads, which have been under a road rehabilitation programme, and some of the compliance issues required, it was concluded that the road surface for the proposed route will not be in a satisfactory state for riders by the race date, 2 April 2017. Both parties agree that the safety of riders is of utmost importance and cannot be compromised and have therefore come to a mutual agreement to postpone the event to a future date to be agreed upon by both parties. Although not an easy decision to make, in view of riders travel and accommodation commitments, the risk of rider injury was deemed too high. Cycling South Africa welcomes the decision, after having to withdraw sanctioning earlier due to safety concerns. Cycling South Africa, along with KwaZulu-Natal Cycling, will work closely with the organisers and local authorities to develop this exciting event in the near future. L’Etape by Le Tour de France is an international brand that will serve a great purpose in promoting cycling within South Africa and indeed The Midlands, in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region. L’Etape du Tour (French for ‘a stage of the tour’) was established in 1993 by ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) to allow cyclists to experience a stage of Le Tour de France first-hand and are committed to ensuring that the race meets all of the cycling standards.

Cycling South Africa is pleased to announce that they have signed an accord with SweetSpot to create an Elite International Road Cycling Stage Race to be held in South Africa in the first quarter of 2018.The event will attract the world’s top professional teams to what is initially planned to be a six-day multi-stage race.

by Le Tour de France

First Formal Qualification For Bicycle Mechanics Registered

The registration of the first national training standard for bicycle mechanics was announced by Torq Zone Academy. The qualification is in answer to the rapid advances in bicycle technology and the need for structured training and standards in the profession. The Occupational Certificate: Bicycle Mechanic, NQF Level 4 makes South Africa one of only a few countries to offer a formal training standard in this field. Torq Zone, the industry leader in bicycle repairs and maintenance, in conjunction with key industry role players, initiated the development of this national qualification 3 years ago. “Cycling has become the fastest growing sport in the country and has over the past few years created growth opportunities for the economy.” However, trained and qualified bicycle mechanics are in short supply due to ever increasing demands for the professional repair and maintenance of bicycles. ” says Graeme Stickells, managing director of the Torq Zone Academy. “This much needed qualification benefits the industry in that it not only formalises the profession, but establishes much needed standards, improves safety, and recognises formal training. It also assesses the skill of bicycle mechanics, and provides much needed professional recognition,” Stickells adds. The Academy will shortly offer the national qualification in conjunction with its UK based and internationally recognised Cytech training scheme, ensuring dual certification for successful learners.

Stage Race set for South Africa

One of the intentions of the event is to create investment into cycling through an overriding Non-Profit Organisation that will govern the event, and oversee the distribution of benefits generated by it.

Photo Credit: Stuart Pickering/Cycling Direct

“This is a significant milestone for Cycling South Africa as it fills a huge void on our racing calendar. Having this event will allow our very own Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka and our other International riders to participate on home soil, allowing the South African public to really see how good they are. The event will also allow our local riders the opportunity to participate against the best riders in the world,” said William Newman, President of Cycling South Africa. “This will further encourage and motivate the youth to take up cycling as a sport, which is one of the key objectives of Cycling South Africa – to grow our sport and create opportunities for all. With Cycling South Africa’s commitment to the development of women’s cycling, work will happen simultaneously on the presentation of a women’s event in the future. Having a renowned company like SweetSpot on board with their extensive experience in presenting the Tour of Britain amongst other events, will ensure that we have a high quality event.” Douglas Ryder, Team Principal: Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka concludes: “An official cycle tour in South Africa is long overdue. SweetSpot is known as an organisation that always goes out of its way to look after the teams and deliver in terms of quality and professionalism. We are proud to support them and Cycling South Africa to ensure that the race is sustainable for years to come. This cycle tour will undoubtedly showcase to the world what South Africa has to offer with our beautiful landscapes, talented local riders and cycling fans who love and support the sport of cycling.” South Africa’s Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (pictured here at the SA National Road Championships) and other International riders relish the opportunity to compete in an Elite International Road Cycling Stage Race on South African soil. The cycle tour, created by Cycling South Africa and SweetSpot, is scheduled to be held in the first quarter of 2018. In addition to the UK the Cytech programme is also offered in Australia and Canada thereby offering learners access to overseas work opportunities. Since November 2014 the Academy has offered a range of training solutions from home mechanic courses for cycling enthusiasts, to internationally certified courses for prospective bicycle mechanics. “With today’s high unemployment rate, this qualification offers businesses an ideal CSI opportunity to create training and job opportunities for previously disadvantaged individuals,” Stickells adds.

021 880 0799 33 Canterbury Lane info.stellenbosch@specialized.com Paradyskloof www.specialized-stellenbosch.com Stellenbosch

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CYCLING LIFESTYLE

Name: An-Li Kachelhoffer Position: Club coordinator Formal qualification: BSportSci, University of Pretoria.

An-Li does not only bring international experience to the ASG club, but also a spirit of giving back. She is driven to create a family feel within the ASG bike club and passionate about women’s cycling. An-Li’s experience in cycling extends far beyond her 2016 National road race and Cape Town Cycle Tour titles, which includes:

Expect to be pampered In addition to all the perks associated with being a club member, people can expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere where they can relax and develop their skills at their own pace or train for an upcoming event with various weekly rides leaving from the ASG store. Joining the ASGclub will give you the following:

• • • • •

2005 Junior Biathle world champion 2007 Duathlon Age group 20-24 world champion 2016 Represented South Africa at the Rio Olympics She has re-signed with International women’s cycling team Lotto Soudal in 2017 She started cycling in 2007 (age 20) and has progressed to international level in just 5 years

Club “My goal for the ASG bike club is to grow it to be the biggest and best cycling club in the country. Currently our club is based in Paarl, although the main aim long term is to roll it out nationwide. Official club rides are on Saturdays but through our interactive Whatsapp group we create a strictly club related, yet informal platform for riders to invite fellow cyclists for rides on non-official days. The club is run by its members and creates an informal family vibe where everyone’s input is valuable.” Passion for ladies cycling “I want cycling to empower women in every aspect of their lives and not just in sport. Within the ASG club we have a growing ladies ride which takes place on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 8am from the ASG Store in Paarl and is open to non-club members. This ride is suitable for everyone from beginner to pro and is an easy 20km ride for beginners. This is where it starts; a happy, healthy environment for ladies of all ages and backgrounds to get together, enjoy the outdoors and each other’s company.”

• • • • • • • • • •

ASG Club card CSA Membership and Racing License Club affiliation approval. Basic training program Marshalled MTB and Road rides leaving from our ASG store in Paarl Monthly in store specials 5% in store discount on bicycles – club card essential 10% in store discount on all other products (excluding bikes) – club card essential 10% discount on entries for all ASG owned events entered through our portal Free coffee at Kikka if you are wearing your club jersey Automatic membership to ASG Cycling News Online Magazine

The re[s]pect campaign The re[s]pect logo that can be seen on ASG team kit, is a campaign that aims to hold club members accountable for their behavior on the road. We strive to be a socially responsible club with respect for ourselves, other road users, and fellow cyclists. We are dedicated to being the change we want to see in motorists, by respecting them as we need to be respected. Share the road, be courteous, and above all value your safety and that of others.

You can sign up by emailing: anli@asgsport.co.za or... APPLY ONLINE: go to our events portal: www.asgevents.co.za VISIT THE ASG STORE: Laborie Centre, Main rd. Paarl. FACEBOOK: @asgbikeclub

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ABSA CAPE EPIC 2017 OUR JOURNEY AT THE 2017 ABSA CAPE EPIC The Cape Epic 2017 journey for the Into Cycling team, Alwyn Kannemeyer & Martin Cilliers kicked off with intensive training a couple of months ago, in their quest to conquer the #untamed race. For Alwyn, the Cape Epic was a first, and a bucket list event, while Martin desired to achieve his Amabubesi – “pride of lions” status for finishing all three Epics.

TEAM

Over and above the training the last three months Alwyn competed in other cycling events, such as the Attakwas, the 99er, and Martin on the other hand participated in the Attakwas and the Ashburton Investments National MTB. On Sunday 19 March these two riders started their Epic journey with the Prologue at Meerendal. They took on the “Untamed,” from Stage 1 to the finish line at Val de Vie. Assisted by their manager Lorinda Schutz, taking care of all their daily needs, and backed by a support team of almost 40, their first day came to an end when they received many messages of encouragement.

This trend continued throughout the entire Cape Epic, and on their arrival at Val de Vie, they were welcomed home by all their supporters, family, and friends. In general, Team Into Cycling had a good day in the saddle. Notably, the team was strong on the climbs and single tracks. What motivated them tremendously, was when they passed riders that had started in earlier groups. These two riders only stopped at selected waterpoints, and only for a few minutes, as they challenged the “untamed.” Both Martin and Alwyn express their gratitude toward all those who so eagerly responded on social media, and the Into Cycling Newspaper is proud to be associated with such men of humble character.

A special thanks to all our supporters, family & friends for your support throughout our Epic journey! - Alwyn & Martin

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AFRICA’S FIRST BIKE HOTEL

Trail’s End - This is Where The Journey Starts As you step inside the doors of Trail’s End bike hotel in Grabouw, you would struggle to comprehend that this time last year it was a fully functioning factory for master house-builders, Rustic Homes. The building, in the heart of some our country’s most spectacular mountain trails, has done away with its machines and sawdust and been tastefully transformed into a contemporary space for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike and it’s just what we’ve all been waiting for. Background The hotel was the brain-child of Pieter Silberbauer and his partner Johannes Matthewson. They had both spent over 25 successful years in the house building business and were looking for a dramatic change that allowed them to work closer to home. Pieter, himself a mountain biking enthusiast, saw that their factory was ideally situated for outdoor and fitness buffs who want to explore the Overberg and, inspired by bike hotels he’d seen in Holland and Japan, decided that it was exactly what the community needed.

If you are not in the mood for exploring, during your stay you can 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. The restaurant also offers bespoke menu options for those with specific dietary requirements. 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. The venue has a professionally built skills training area where various hurdles and obstacles can be tackled safely before heading out on the trails as well as a pump track which is great fun for all. There is also the added bonus of safe indoor bike storage for mountain bikes within the hotel itself. The hotel loves to encourage health and fitness at any level and welcomes cyclists and runners of all abilities.

Although he and Johannes were experienced house builders and could easily tackle the renovation work, Pieter quickly realised that he needed help to ensure that the hotel delivered exactly what athletes, both pro and amateur, would expect. Cue his neighbour, Dr Chad Gordon. Chad, A chiropractor by trade, has been part of the multi sport since the age of 19.

It regularly hosts skills workshops and clinics and it also has a conference room which opens out into the lounge and dining area.

After many successful triathlons, he has re-focussed on trail running over the past few years and he is still winning races. He has a passion for health and nutrition and was an ideal candidate to advise Pieter and Johannes as to how to cater for those who love the adventure sport scene. With Chad on board the vision for Trail’s End was able to be truly realised.

A perfect spot for a team building weekend away. Trail’s End is geared up for families too and children are extremely welcome. There is a particularly awesome climbing wall for kids big and small to scramble up as well as a jungle gym to expend any extra energy on.

The Hotel This radical hotel has an industrial flavour to it. It boasts sixteen rooms in total and can accommodate up to sixty people. The mezzanine rooms have private bathrooms and all the rooms below have shared ablutions. Many of the rooms have a choice of layout options.

Future Goals Pieter has big dreams for Trail’s End. He sees the hotel becoming a global destination for adventure enthusiasts, and beyond that, a place where local meets world, ideas are shared and solutions are found. Being an active member of the Grabouw community, he is fully aware of the challenges his town - like so many in South Africa - faces and he is excited to think that Trail’s End could play a significant part uniting the local community through sport as well as providing much needed jobs as it contributes to building the local tourism industry.

This allows maximum flexibility within the accommodation, enabling it to be suitable for families, pro-athletes, teams or individuals. The hotel is perfectly positioned at the foot of the Wines2Whales A-Z trail with both Oak Valley and Paul Cluver cycle trails nearby too. There are miles of stunning trails to explore through vineyards, forests and mountains. Activities & Facilities Once you’ve exhausted the trails you can explore the rest of the beautiful Elgin Valley which also has an amazing array of wine farms and restaurants to experience as well as the top tourist attraction, the Cape Canopy Tour zipline which is just ten minutes drive away.

Photo L- R: Louis Slabbert (2017 Cape Epic Training Camp) & Erica Green (Daisyway Coaching Systems)

Trail’s End opened its doors in October 2016, successfully hosting the Apple Blossom MTB Classic and has not looked back since. They have hosted training weekends for teams racing from Specialized and Spur and numerous pros have visited it already and given it the thumbs up. Check out the hotel for yourselves. Whether you go alone, with friends or as a family and whether you stay for a night or for a week, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience. Visit the website, www.trailsend.bike, call +27 21 859 5193 or email info@trailsend.bike for more information Follow Trail’s End on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @trailsendza

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DEVELOPMENT

GREEN, RED & PROTEA COLOURS FOR JESSICA GERBER On the 5th of March I started my first ever Cape Rouleur Road Cycling Tour, a four stage tour in and around Franchhoek in the Western Cape that stretches over 4 days and covering approximately 600km. One of the goals from this tour is to develop young riders into Europe style racing. Hot Chiliee Cycling gave a rider like myself the opportunity to race against riders from around the world and mainly to experience the European racing feeling, which was an unbelievable experience for me. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet a bunch of good and experienced cyclist from other countries, but also had the opportunity to compete against some top woman. The race started with a Prologue of 7.5km Time Trail, - it was something different than what I am use to, but still lots of fun. Stage one started at La Cotta Farm in Franschhoek and included Helshoogte Pass. For 152km to the finish of the first day, I was still figuring out how everything works competing for the yellow, green and red jersey. Stage two covering 140km and started with the Franshhoek Pass and finishing at Steenbras Dam in Gordon’s Bay where I won the green sprinters jersey. Stage three covered a total of 130km which led over the Four Passes - Helshoogte, Sir Lowry’s, Viljoens and once again the Franschhoek Pass. At this stage I was very eager to win the Red Queen of the mountains jersey as I missed it with 1 second the previous day. I was very determined to succeed and won the Red jersey after dragging myself up the Viljoens Pass in very warm weather conditions. Not only did I win the Red jersey, but I was very pleased with my second day of retaining the Green jersey. Stage four was the most fun of all, although my legs were not there anymore and

the wind was very strong, I still enjoyed it. Stage four was a Champaign celebration ride witch stretched over 111km and ended with a glass of Champaign at the Tsogo Sun Cullinan Hotel in Cape Town. At the end of the tour I was the overall Green and Red jersey winner. The Cape Rouleur tour was an unbelievable experience that I will never forget. From the Race Captains to the traffic and organisation of the whole tour was perfect from start to finish. I wish to thank Sven, the main brain and originator of the tour and Hot Chillee for the opportunity. Not only did I race, but also Photo from L-R: Jessica Gerber and Corné Bence gained a lot of experience that Photo Credit: Christo Vermaak opened my eyes for European racing. I appreciate it very much, and hope that this was the first of many more Hot Chillee events. I also was privileged to ride alongside ex pro cyclist and Tour de France stage winner, Magnus Backstedt. I was very excited to race against top Elite ladies at the Cape Town Cycle Tour, but no one can control nature and I am thankful for the organisers decision on cancelling the event for our safety as riders. Currently I am preparing myself for the European racing season and in gaining as much experience as I can and come back not only a stronger but also a wiser rider. I can only thank Barry Austin for everything he has done for me and how he developed me into the rider I am becoming. My goal is to make him as proud in every event I participate in, and show off his great coaching skills. Also a huge thank you to Corne Bence who manages all of these cycling events which I am involved in ,and the support he gives me. On Wednesday afternoon 22 March I received my Protea Colours from the Western Cape Cycling Chairperson Corné Bence. It was a great honour to represent my country and now I can wear the Protea badge with pride. Article- by Jessica Gerber

INTERNATIONAL STARS INSPIRE KIDS IN AND AROUND THEIR HOME TOWN

The festival of mountain biking which is the MTO Champions Race took place in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch a few days before the Cape Epic. The closely contested racing saw Xterra and ITC Cross-Tri World Champion Flora Duffy claim the win in the Elite Women’s race, while Swiss star Nicola Rohrbach won the Elite Men’s race. Speaking during the event, songo.info General Manager Kathy Crabbe said: “The MTO Champions Race is so important because we bring the world’s best riders to Kayamandi and it’s an opportunity to inspire the kids in and around their home town.” While inspiring the children of Kayamandi is a vital aim of the MTO Champions Race, the exposure which having such high profile riders taking part garners for songo.info is also key. Without raising awareness of the programme it would be impossible for songo.info to continue expanding their sports and education programmes. Aside from the MTO Group’s headline sponsorship of the MTO Champions Race they are also key supporters of songo.info’s education programme. But with the excitement of the wheel-to-wheel racing still palpable in the atmosphere Lawrence Polkinghorne, MTO Group CEO, was keen to focus on the success of the event rather. “We are so stoked. Such an amazing race with fantastic racing by the pros. But more importantly this is a special community with an amazing vibe, it seems almost like the whole of Kayamandi is out here supporting the event and that is the beauty of songo and why we are proud as MTO to support the charity and the event,” Polkinghorne concluded. The action got underway with the Future Champions Races, where the boys and girls competed in under fourteen and under eighteen age groups. Both age group categories were dominated by the Penfold brothers with older brother Jamie taking the under eighteen race win over Michard Meets while his younger sibling Aiden held off Krige van der Vyfer for the under fourteen category win. In the girls categories the two young ladies brave enough to race wheel-to-wheel alongside the age group boys, Danielle Barnard and Mia de Villiers, were rewarded with prizes from Specialized as Barnard won the under fourteen girls race and de Villiers the under eighteen girls. Though they were the only female riders in their races, both out raced many of the boys and were worthy prize winners.

Following hot on the heels of the age group cross-country races, for the first time at the MTO Champions Race, were the BMX races. The field was limited to a girls’ final, and two boys’ qualifiers and a final. Each race saw four riders go head-to-head with BMX World Cup commentator Max Cluer at his animated best announcing the action. In the girls’ race Milani Dingana took the win while in the boys’ race Zizo slowed on the final roller allowing Lakanya to sneak past and claim victory.

PAGE 8

Photo Credit: Ewald Sadie.

With the age group racing out the way it was the turn of the Elite Women to take to the course. Starting on the Kayamandi Sports Fields the MTO Champions race got underway with a lap of the bumpy grass rugby field before heading up the embankment towards the songo.info clubhouse, from there the route twisted into an urban XCO route cutting through the dusty streets of Kayamandi – either climbing or descending as the suburb is situated on the steep slopes of Pappagaaiberg. The final descent took the riders back down onto the sports fields before a series of u-turns, cordoned off by event fences, forced them to reduce speed and then accelerate again for the sprint down the start/finish straight. The women’s field was led out by Adelheid Morath, of Germany, before, part-time Stellenbosch resident, Bermudian Flora Duffy took to the front. Morath’s Absa Cape Epic and Team Spur partner Ariane Lüthi was the only rider to match Duffy’s relentless pace, Luthi crossed the line in second with Candice Lill third. The Elite Men’s race featured arguably the strongest field ever for an MTO Champions Race, with 2012 Olympic Champion Jaroslav Kulhavý and songo. info co-founder Christoph Sauser; along with their young Specialized teammates Simon Andreassen, and Sam Gaze. Nicola Rohrbach, Gaze, Kulhavý, Andreassen, Alan Hatherly and Simon Stiebjahn jockeyed for position at the front, taking turns to hurt each other by setting a ferocious pace. When the MTO Champions Race entered its final three laps. Rohrbach and Grotts were clear at the front, followed by Hatherly, Stiebjahn and Kulhavý. On the final lap disaster struck for Grotts. His tyre washed out on a dusty berm near the top of the embankment climb, but that was all Rohrbach needed – allowing the Swiss Centurion Vaude rider to ease through the final lap and take the victory in his first outing at the MTO Champions Race.


MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR

CA 2 CX MTB Tour 2017 The CA2CX is a mountain bike tour that every keen mountain biker should experience. This year will be the 12th annual tour. The Tour usually takes place each year during June/July school holidays. The six stages of the CA2CX Tour are: Stage 1: Meerendal to Worcester, Stage 2: Worcester to Montagu, Stage 3: Montagu to Ladismith, Stage 4: Ladismith to Calitzdorp, Stage 5: Calitzdorp to George Stage 6: George to Knysna. The daily route, of about 100km per stage consists of farmlands, spectacular landscapes and amazing views. There are several passes along the tour. Beulah Pass in Wellington, Ouberg Pass, Rooiberg Pass, and the Seven Passes on our way to Knysna. Participants can enter in one of the following groups: 14 – 18kph, 18-22kph or 22kph and more. The uniqueness of this tour is that it culminates in Knysna during the Oyster Festival. Participants of the CA2CX can then participate in the MTB event of the Oyster festival should they want to. Accommodation for participants during the Oyster Festival is included as part of their package. The cost for the package is R9 750 and includes: Accommodation throughout the race at 3 – 4 star guesthouses and hotels including all meals (breakfast, lunch packs and supper), medical support, transport of luggage, feed box and goodie bag, back up vehicles, cycling tour jacket, and cycling top. The package excludes: Bike Service (R850), message package (R1500), transport back to Cape Town (R450), transport from and to the Airport, liquor at supper (cash bar). The CA2CX Tour also gives back to the community. The beneficiary is Herberg Children’s Home in Robertson. The Children’s Home care for 122 abandoned children from age baby to 18 years old. The amount of R668 000.00 has been raised over the last past four years. The money has been used for the education of the children.

mountainbike adventure tours

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LIFESTYLE

Photographer Jacques Marais’s Secret To Success At least two or three times a week, the phone rings, or an email pings into his Inbox, asking Jacques Marais for ‘The Secret’ to becoming a successful extreme sports photographer. The answer is simple, and always the same: “Get off your butt, work hard at it for five years, and everything will fall into place.” “I know this sounds rather brusque, but after 20 years in the business, I have to continually work my proverbial butt off in order to get that definitive shot. Sure, you begin to develop a routine and recipe, and this makes it easier. But if you do not consistently work at redefining your signature style, copycat shooters will be all over you in no time,” says Jacques. Jacques has managed to do exactly this, in the process adding a number of global brands to his client portfolio. These include the likes of Red Bull, Land Rover, Nike, Rocky Mountain, Hi-Tec and Giant, travelling around the world to shoot events and races. The way it happened is no ordinary story though, but an early interest in cameras can be traced back to his days as a young boy growing up in the Baviaans River Valley.

Photo Credit: Peter Kirk Media

Precision Cycles Espresso Bar Rene Duiker is an ex springbok cyclist with extensive experience in racing locally and abroad. He has been involved in the cycle trade for 30 years. He started off in the cycle clothing and accessory distribution industry working for a large company in Johannesburg. He and a friend later decided to open their own Boutique cycle shop on the West Rand. Almost 11 years ago, Rene moved to Hermanus and started Precision Cycles. During the past years both he and his partner, Heidi, have been offering a specialised cycling services centre and a coffee shop attending to the every need any cyclist may encounter. Rene has maintained the Boutique style of operating a cycle shop, small but dedicated to their clients. A cycling shop set in comfortable surroundings, with an eclectic mix of bicycles and a coffee shop that has achieved high praise by its patrons as the best coffee in town! As a service provider, Precision Cycle have access to leading brands of equipment that cater for Road and MTB cycles. They also offer tour guiding for small groups as well as personalized training camps, in the majestic Overberg region. The services of Morne Bester, a specialist in cycling training, conducts these training camps. For more information call: 028 312 1754 20 visit 20, High Street, Hermanus

Photo Credit: Jacques Marais

The family’s remote farm in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province offered ample opportunity for Jacques to experiment with his mother’s old Box Brownie. Images of prize bulls and brush-cut cousins soon evolved into sport photography at school, but engineering seemed a better career choice at the time, especially as the South African Broadcasting Corporation footed the bill for his studies. However, that ‘first love’ for photography never completely faded, and freelancing for the odd travel publication eventually brought Jacques to a career crossroad. He decided to set up a small advertising agency in order to supplement the photography and photo-journalism side of things, and a decade of hard graft resulted in Jacques Marais Media, his current business. Numerous business lessons were learned during these early days, the most pertinent of these being that multiple revenue streams make for a healthy business. Writing became a valuable selling tool, with magazines keen to enlist the services of a shooter who could also write the feature for them. Jacques initially focused on travel and mainstream sport, but soon realised no-one specialised in edge or extreme sport disciplines. As an avid, adventure racer, mountain biker and trail runner (and wannabe surfer, rock climber and kayaker), he had had an inside track on other shooters as he knew the sports well enough to understand where and when the money shots would happen.

Taking you places!

Bucket list trip “ fatbike greenland! “ ABOUT THE TOUR

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

To move fast ‘inside the race’ means you need lightweight equipment, but this doesn’t have to mean a trade-off against quality. Canon’s 5D MkII offers superb quality, while opting for f4 lenses rather than the f2.8 versions shaves off valuable grams without compromising on your sharpness or image quality. Fill-in from a 580EX flash is non-negotiable, because Jacques likes to shoot close up at a slow shutter speed, and with the aperture stopped down by one stop. An image which stands out as an example of this is a photograph taken of Justin Hawkins, one of the world’s foremost bouldering climbers.

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.

Cost Dependant on Exchange rate - Excludes alcoholic beverages - Excludes int. flights - T&C’s Apply

GIVE US A CALL TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS TOUR!

T: 082 873 6711 | e: info@mojomtb.com | www.mojomtb.com

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Instead of waiting in transition areas or at designated media points, Jacques would run, paddle or ride with the athletes, getting into that zone where you capture the grit and extreme action of these edge sport events.

MOJOmtb is in the business of creating unforgeable memories.

After scouting the sea-cliffs overlooking False Bay near Cape Town, Jacques found a spot where he could relatively safely set up a shot of the young climber seemingly dangling over the abyss. In order to get the shot, it was necessary for Jacques to scramble along a narrow ledge, but it paid off big time. He entered the image into the Red Bull Illume Extreme Sports Photographic Contest and was delighted when the judges chose him a finalist from more than 10 000 entries. Together with 50 other extreme shooters from around the world, Jacques was flown to Aspen, Colorado in the USA, where the ILLUME images were exhibited before touring the world. For more information visit www.jacquesmarais.co.za


REALTY

Acquiring a 2 nd citizenship - in Europe Having dual citizenship is becoming something that many South Africans want to attain. The primary reason is to assure their family’s future by protecting against political risk and economical instability. Dual citizenship in Europe offers the unique opportunity to enjoy unlimited access to the whole of the EU & the UK – meaning you and your family have complete freedom of movement in all European countries. Cyprus, an ex-British colony, full EU member and not part of Greece, currently has the most attractive 2nd passport plan on offer: citizenship is granted in 3 months via Cyprus’ “Citizenship through investment” programme. The programme applies to the main investor, the spouse and all dependent children up to 28 years of age who will all secure their EU citizenships and passports. Protect yourself, your family and your assets from unpredicted events by taking advantage of the opportunity to secure EU citizenship before the programme closes: it is open for a very limited time. Think of getting dual citizenship as guaranteeing your family’s future. Some other attractions that having an EU passport offers:

a. Effective tax planning to safeguard your wealth; b. Increased financial and personal privacy; c. Exponential investment opportunities; d. More choice on where to live and retire; e. Visa-free travel to more than 169 countries; f. Freedom to conduct a business with no exchange control; g. Freedom of education including access to vocational & continuous training plus the right to possibly receive free compulsory education; h. Public and private health care in the EU of a high standard and available to everybody. Your EU Health Card provides insurance for emergency treatment when visiting other participating EU countries. Cyprus is a very popular choice not only because of the very quick time for the EU passports to be issued, but because of the following 7 benefits that are predominant differentiators to other citizenship programmes: 1. You are investing – not donating - your wealth! After 3 years, you can sell the entire investment as long as you retain a single property valued at min €500,000. With a conservative appreciation of 5% per annum and the same annual rental returns, you’re looking at min 75% ROI after 3 years. 2. Dependent children up to the age of 28 qualify, thus giving your adult children the ultimate access-key to travel, live and work anywhere in the world’s largest economy: in Europe. 3. Citizenship is passed on by descent, offering a real legacy to future generations. 4. You can rent out the property to earn a Euro-based income. Some properties are zero Vat-rated and some come with a rental guarantee for long-term rentals.

An astute offshore property investment that works for you in the short, medium and long term is the achievement of a lifetime. In Cyprus investing in the “Citizenship through Investment” programme not only makes financial sense, but it will tangibly benefit your family for generations to come. Can you afford not to take advantage of this while the programme is still open? Cypriot Realty – a proudly South African company in operation for nearly 9 years – can assist you. We are recognised and respected as Southern Africa’s authoritative offshore investment specialists, promoting Cyprus as an ideal destination for acquiring EU citizenship or permanent residency, property investment, immigration or retirement and starting an EU-based business - we understand investor’s needs.

5. No need to ever stay/live in Cyprus! 6. Secure immunity against future changes in immigration rules. With the legal right to own assets you are guaranteed a safe environment for you and your family. 7. No inheritance tax: on your death you can dispose of your assets to your loved ones without having to pay the Cypriot government any tax. This is advantageous for legacy planning. LOGO

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

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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MTB

The Greyt Escape

Ride for the University of your choice!

The Cape has a new offering on the winter mountain biking menu: The Greyt Escape 3-Day MTB Stage Race taking place from 16-18 June in the Overberg town of Greyton with the beautiful, quaint country village at the foot of the majestic Riviersonderend Mountains, with it’s old-style, warm country hospitality. The mountains bring to the discerning mountain biker the terrain that challenges, rewards, and finally releases the rider to reminisce about a day out there that won’t be forgotten.

After a successful inaugural race in 2016, the Varsity MTB Challenge is back for an exciting second edition. Sporting an updated logo, this year’s race will take place on 30 September and 1 October 2017 in Paarl and Franschhoek. “Professional and casual riders were blown away by how well the first race was organised,” says Gina Woodburn, Varsity MTB Challenge Organiser. “The unique route, shower facilities, face cloths at the finish line, and well-marshalled route were just some of the elements that took riders by surprise. For the second edition of the race, riders can expect more from this young MTB brand and we invite all MTB enthusiasts to join us in Paarl and Franschhoek at the end of September.” Varsity MTB Challenge is the only mountain bike race in South Africa with a unique university twist, whereby each participant (and team) rides for the university of his or her choice. This does not mean that riders need to be students. This race is for everyone. “MTB is the sports platform of choice for executives wanting to connect with friends and business partners,” adds Woodburn.

Photo Credit: Peter Kirk Media

Riders can choose between the following distances: 55km, 63km or 45km. The routes and trails offer spectacular riding, known to most in the Cape’s mountain bike fraternity, and was also used to a great extent by this year’s Absa Cape Epic. Riders can look forward to an adventure whilst riding each day’s route, which has been crafted and designed to help you focus on one thing: enjoying yourself whilst discovering all the new places that the route will show you, whilst also enjoying what you are strongest at, whether it be climbing, open road, or single track. Activities for the family include The Greyt (Trail) Run in the town on the Saturday, fantastic hikes up the pristine Nature Reserve, mountain biking in and around the easy trails around the town, lots of eateries, coffee shops, art galleries, horse riding and many more. For more information visit www.thegreytescape.com

“With Varsity MTB we’re creating an opportunity for alumni to do just that, while competing with the young MTB stars for their university of choice.” Teams of two will compete in two major categories: general entries and student entries, with prizes up for grabs for Men’s, Women’s and Mixed teams. A special student entry fee will apply to registered students. The race weekend promises to be lots of fun for everyone, including spectators. Expect a vibrant race village with a beer garden, wine tasting and food stalls. Live entertainment will be on offer. For spectators wanting to follow the action on the trails, special spectator spots will be created on the route. For more information visit www.varsitymtbchallenge.co.za

Experience the Autumn Splendor of the Hex River Valley The Hex River Valley, with thousands of hectares of vineyards stretched along the foot of the majestic Matroosberg, is a unique and breathtaking site. Autumn’s cool breath paints the leaves a festive orange, red, gold, copper and yellow and people come from far and wide to witness nature showing off. The best way to experience this phenomenon, which is just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, is on your bike or on foot. The Autumn Splendor Festival is an annual mountain bike event for the whole family and takes place on the 27th of May this year. The event is known not only for the scenic views of the Valley and mountain, but also for the beautiful succulent Karoo veld through which it runs as well as the well-groomed and well-marked routes. “We are excited about the 10 km trail run that’s been added this year as well as our new venue at the historic Arbeid Adelt Cape Dutch Homestead just outside De Doorns.” You can challenge yourself on the 55 km route, test your skill and fitness on the 35 km route, enjoy a relaxing 15 km ride and introduce the youngsters to the joy of cycling on the 5 km fun ride. The 10km Trail run offers something special, starting at the slopes of the Matroosberg Mountain. The route will involve some small challenges that are suitable for novice to experienced runners.

Photo Credit: Jacques Marais

Live music, food stalls, kids’ entertainment, craft beer, wine from the region, freshly brewed coffee and a lucky draw at 12h will make sure you come back next year! For more information call: 083 632 5004 or visit www.pedalpower.org.za for online entries

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


ROAD

2 wins in 1 week for Devin

Think Bike - Keeping Riders Safe

Devin Shortt, junior cyclist from Cape Town and a rider for Team Leadout Aspire had two wins in one week taking the best young rider jersey at the Tour of Good Hope, as well as winning the junior men’s category in the Prologue at the Cape Rouleur the previous day.

A bike marshal is not just a “guy on a bike,” leading a procession at a cycling event, not to mention a motorcycle event - they keep the riders safe within the rider’s side en route. The Think Bike Motorbikes are the safety link and marshalling arm of Think Bike South Africa’s biggest two-wheel safety campaign. Think Bike Marshals have been in operation for approximately 10 years, and provide services at events nation-wide by drawing marshals from their pool in Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape.

Devin Shortt is 18 years of age, and is currently riding for Team Leadout Aspire - an up and coming team of young riders which all have the ambition of going Pro in Europe. The team is racing together in South Africa to benefit from each other in terms of logistical reasons and to better their performance with the goal of competing at a higher level in Europe.

Think Bike is constantly fine tuning their marshalling program to stay with the times, and to be as safe as the profession allows. Planning requires immense input, and team effort to organize safety on routes, as well as obtain road permission in conjunction with Wendy Cole of the Pedal Power Association for events in the Western Cape like the Hotchillee Cape Rouleur.

In the past two years some of Devin’s most memorable achievements included racing at the World Road Championships Photo Credit: Rob Ward last year in Doha, winning the SA National Road Championship as a first year junior defending his title from 2014, 16th place in his first UCI race in France, as well as taking 4 top 10 positions the previous year in Belgium.

AZ from Think Bike says it involves a great team effort to expedite an event like the Cape Rouleur, an event which they have been involved with since the inaugural event 6 years ago. During the 2017 Cape Rouleur, each of the three groups of riders were accompanied by 6 motorbikes, and on the final stage, the fun-ride to Cape Town, 18 motorbikes worked alongside local traffic authorities to keep cyclists within the rider’s side en route.

Think Bike Motorbikes recently marshalled the 5 day Hotchillee Cape Rouleur Cycle Tour taking cyclists through Franschhoek, Villiersdorp, Elgin, Kleinmond, Gordon’s Bay, Somerset West, Stellenbosch and over 4 Western Cape passes, and finished the tour in Cape Town.

This year Devin will be based in Europe for much longer than before. The past 3 years he was able to stay in Europe for up to 6 weeks, while still attending school. This year he will be based in Europe for 4-5 months - racing in countries such as Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal. “My main goal for the rest of the season will be to once again race World Road Champs in Norway, and to be able to win races in Europe this year. I would like to thank Science In Sport for the continued support they have given me as well as Barry Austin for the world class mentorship and support he provides,” says Devin Shortt.

PROTEA COLOURS for Louis Visser In January 2017 Louis Visser joined Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka Continental and on 22 March 2017 he received his official Protea Colours for representing South Africa in the European Junior tour in 2016. Corné Bence, the Western Cape Cycling Chairperson handed over the official colour badge, after receiving it from Cycling South Africa. Louis departed from South Africa on 29 March for the European season opening event, the 69th Trofeo Piva which takes place in Italy on 2nd April 2017. Photo from L-R: Louis Visser and Corné Bence - Photo Credit: Christo Vermaak

For more information visit www.louisvisser.co.za

Their stressful responsibility is not on the same level of a regular cycle race competition, but rather, their greatest stress is dealing with the impatient motorists, and selfish road users who simply do not wish to share the roads with cyclists. “The guys and gals of the Think Bike Moto’s love the Cape Rouleur, there is an awesome atmosphere amongst the crew and riders alike. It’s the HotChillee highlight on our calendar,” AZ adds. The Think Bike Motorbikes are also involved in other events. They assist with charity motorcycle mass rides, triathlons, and marathons such as the KFM Gun Run, and events like the Sasol Solar Challenge where they escort the cars from Pretoria to the Cape. There are opportunities for motorcyclists to join their team, but be advised that training is not a quick and simple process and can take anywhere from 6 months onwards. Think Bike needs to be sure that a prospective applicant has what it takes to be an effective marshal – it is not just “a guy on a bike.” For more information visit www.thinkbike.co.za

PRECISION ENGINEERED

CYCLING APPAREL

Ciovita’s boutique core range seamlessly integrates the latest fabric technology with design advancements from around the world. Each item in this range is the culmination of months of planning, design and rigorous testing by us, and our team of professional riders. That’s why we say our apparel wasn’t sewn or stitched, instead it was precision engineered. It is the only way to describe the meticulous planning, design and refinement that goes into each and every item. Visit www.ciovita.com or call 021 461 3931 to discover precision engineered apparel.

- Photographer Ewald Sadie I NSPI RE D TO R IDE

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CYCLING EVENTS

Redstone MTB &Trail Run 2017

Karoo Battle of The Bikes

The annual Redstone MTB and Trail Running Weekend, a CSA sanctioned event, is around the corner and will take place on Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 May at Buffelskloof, Kruisrivier near Calitzdorp. Although the main attraction of Redstone is to spend quality time with your family in a spectacular setting, it also offers a chance to do some competitive riding and running. Through the years there were some serious battles for the honours and in 2011 Vickus Boshoff and Marcel Deacon shared first place in the 60km in a record time. Some two time 60km winners through the years were Matthys Beukes, Ischen Stopforth, Yolande de Villiers, Fienie Barnard and Aiden van Niekerk. Hannelie Booyens, Louis Visser and Robyn de Groot are also some of the Redstone alumni. We have invited some of them to join us again. This year three unique floating trophies, designed and made by local artist Roger Young, will be jointly awarded to the male and female winners. The Hennie, Margaret and Manie Potgieter trophies will be awarded for the 60km MTB race, the 43km MTB race and 20km Trail run respectively. According to Corne Botha of Jakhals Events, who is the new race organiser, “this race is part of the Eden marathon series and is one of eight races in the series. Jakhals Events will sponsor ten development riders to participate and will cover the entry fee, bicycle and helmet. Identification of new talent is crucial to expose as many kids to cycling. There are development programmes but we need to find the talent first.” Come and join us for a combination of Klein Karoo hospitality, great racing and a fun filled family weekend. For more information visit www.redstonehills.co.za

99er MTB Challenge The 99er MTB Challenge takes place in the picturesque Durbanville Winelands and provide a fantastic ride through many of the beautiful wine farms in the area. There are 5 routes this year: 60km (for the extreme rider who loves challenging himself on both fitness and skills level), 45km (for the more serious rider who is looking for a challenge on fitness and skills level), 25km (will test the legs on several sections and a good fitness level is required), 12km (perfect for those who want to test their fitness as a novice or young rider), and 5km (a family friendly ride that takes place on the racecourse grounds.)

The Karoo has a new race on the calendar – Karoo Battle of the Bikes. The event forms part of the Laingsburg Karoo Fees taking place over the weekend 21 - 23 April 2017, with the event scheduled for 22 April. This race caters for road, mountain bike and the newcomer on the block, gravel bikes, where you choose your machine to tackle the Karoo roads, the choice of bike is entirely up to you. The 3 route categories include: 56km, 90km Light Battle and the 144km Epic Battle. The route will take riders from Laingsburg on the R323 towards Seweweekspoort and back to the Sports Grounds. All the routes start on the tar road, while the 56km race is entirely tar. The two longer distances start and finish with a 29km tar section. Even though the Karoo is considered flat, an accent of 2 500m can be expected in the Epic battle. Prize money will be assigned to the first 3 overall riders on the road race, Light Battle and Epic Battle, as well as for the king and queen of the mountain on the Epic Battle. All podium winners will also receive a special bottle of Pinotage from Oaksrest Vineyards while all finishers receive a special medal. Online entries will be open until 10 April 2017 on www.cycleevents.co.za/mtbevents/karoo-battle-bikes-2017/ For more information contact Corne on 073 194 2948 or Stephanie on 073 659 7980

Houw Hoek MTB Tour

There will be food stalls to enjoy while waiting for loved ones to finish. All finishers in the various events will receive a medal. Fantastic lucky draw prizes include a 2017 Anthem XC29ER valued at R38 000 from Giant Durbanville and gym contracts from Go Health!

The Houw Hoek (HH) MTB Tour is one of the most popular MTB events on the Western Cape cycling calendar taking place from 4-7 May, attracting a line-up of 740 riders. The event offers an opportunity for a family-and-friends breakaway weekend, with some of the best MTB Routes in and around one the oldest and most beautiful venues, the Houw Hoek Inn.

Photo Credit: Carol Beckmann

Online entries remain open until 18 April, but no seeding. Late entry at registration according to availability. For more information visit www.99er.co.za

Tour De Farm 2017 Tour de Farm is a brand new event that will be hosted in the beautiful surroundings of the Geelhoutboom and Blanco area near George on 6 May 2017. The unique concept of the race will make sure that riders experience something different from your normal MTB race. As the name says it all – the race will cross over 6 farms giving riders the opportunity to experience the farm by crossing over dam walls, riding through a working dairy farm where calves are being hand fed, starting and finishing in the 4 Brothers potato packing shed.

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The event will celebrate the 9th edition of the Tour, which was originally known as the Wines2Whales Pre-Ride. Six years ago it was renamed the Houw Hoek Tour, when the Start & Finish line was moved to the Houw Hoek Inn. A key objective of the weekend Tour is to offer MTB riders a cost effective, interesting and do-able multi-stage event on some of the most famous MTB Trails. Stage 1 includes the Paul Cluver, Thandi and Houw Hoek trails, purposely build by Cape Trails. A new and interesting change on the route is the discontinuation of Kili Hill 1 on the Paul Cluver Wine Estate. The Cluver’s increased the height of the Rietvlei dam wall by 5 meters, creating a new and stunning contour route, eliminating an unnecessary drop and climb. Stage 2 will start at the Houw Hoek Inn, and go via Botriver, where it narrows into the Wildekrans Winery and Hermanus trails, finishing at Hermanuspietersfontein Winery in Hermanus. Both stages are approximately 50km with a maximum of 800m climbing, making it the perfect multi-stage entry level event. For more information visit www.wines2whales.co.za/other-events/houw-hoek-tour/ The riders will also be cycling through mielie fields, past a horse stud, through hops fields and through an old barn or two! The water points will be stocked with fresh produce from of the farming community in the area including fresh milk, strawberries, and blueberries. For more information contact Corne on 073 194 2948 or Stephanie on 073 659 7980


LIFESTYLE EVENTS

Pinotage & Biltong Festival Celebrates Two SA Food Icons From kudu to grass fed beef and chilli chicken to rooibos & honey; biltong is the one food item most South Africans don’t see themselves giving up, even when they emigrate! Capetonians are invited to indulge in these SA favourites on Saturday, 22 -23 April 2017 at the third annual Pinotage & Biltong Festival, which takes place at L’Avenir Wine Estate just outside Stellenbosch from 11h00-17h00. Boschendal’s The Werf Butchery is bringing their Traditional Biltong and Droëwors to the event, with naturally produced interesting new flavours like Rooibos and Honey, Lemon Pepper and Herb Biltong and Smoked Paprika Droëwors making up their selection. Dad’s Choice Biltong and Braai is owned by Jannie Kotzé who personally visits his suppliers all over South Africa to choose the perfect products for his busy store in Somerset Mall and his mobile Biltong Bar which is a well-known sight at many big events around the Western Cape. Dad’s Choice is bringing their Lean and “Yellow Fat” Beef Biltong to the festival with Chutney Bacon, Chilli Chicken and Kudu Biltong rounding off the selection. The biltong is paired with wines from some of South Africa’s top Pinotage producers for each tasting, including red, rosé’s, bubblies, blends and even a white Pinotage! The participating wineries are: Altydgedacht Estate, Anura Vineyards, Badsberg Wine Cellar, Beyerskloof, Doolhof Wine Estate, Flagstone Winery, Kaapzicht Wine Estate, Knorhoek Wines, Lanzerac Wine Estate, L’Avenir Wine Estate, Leipzig Winery, Mellasat Vineyards, Namaqua Wines, Overhex Wines Interna-

tional, Perdeberg Wines, Simonsvlei Winery, Stellenbosch Vineyards, Vriesenhof Vineyards, Wellington Wines, and Windmeul Kelder. The event is family-friendly with live music, food trucks, light meals, and casual seating under the trees next to the dam or on the lawns in front of the cellar. The charity beneficiary is Anna Foundation who will be present to entertain the kids and raise funds for their many worthy projects. Tickets available at www.plankton.mobi or www.computicket.com

2017 South African Cheese Festival!

The Taste of Darling

Spoil yourself with a ticket to the award winning South African Cheese Festival and discover an amazing selection of the best and unique cheeses, other cheese products and delicious preserves that perfectly complements cheese as well as supreme wine and gourmet food.

Darling might well be a small town but therein lies diversity and an abundance of attractions. Come the last weekend of April, the long weekend of the 29th, the organizers are once again pulling out all the stops and presenting a Taste of Darling.

Cheese Festival goers will be treated to the sounds of the very popular Kurt Darren, exclusively on Friday, 28 April 2017 and the famous BlackByrd on Sunday, 30 April 2017. Both performances take place at the Stellenbosch Vineyards Muzik Gazebo on the festival grounds.

This is your invitation to join them for the day, or better still spend the weekend, and be spoiled with music, food, beer, wine, arts and crafts – a feast for the senses – which are all those things which reflect the variety and ingenuity of this small West Coast town.

An attractive Connoisseurs Experience is available for those who prefer exclusivity and a bit more privacy amongst the thousands of cheese lovers attending the festival. This package includes VIP parking, VIP access, an exclusive Nataniël show in the Cooking Pot and many more.

Darling is a special place, where time is still measured by the Church clock and only last week a cow was strolling the Main Street. Most special is that this town (or maybe “dorpie”) which on the surface may seem

Three theatres further enhance the entertainment value for cheese festival goers with Nataniël, Carmen Niehaus and Leon the Milkman in the Cooking Pot this year. Nic van Wyk and Reto Jagger, a master brewer, present in the Standard Bank Tasting Room and Aviv Liebenberg and Charné Loubser of the Private Hotel School cooking up delicious treats in Cape Made Kitchen.

time - warped, has not only a huge heart but a bellyful of innovation, creativity and talent, but what else would one expect with a First Lady like Evita, a theatre like the Perron, and a train which toots its way through two or three times a day? The “Taste of Darling” is an opportunity to put the spotlight on hidden talents. There will be no charge for admission to the Taste of Darling, although some music performances will require payment of a fee, as will the live shows at various venues, and of course nibbles and drinks, but the street music comes free!

“So park your car and wander the town on foot; there is so much to see, and so There will be great prizes and of course some delicious cheese to be won in the much to do, for young and old alike. Ladismith Cheese carving competition, that takes place daily at Blossom’s Gazebo. Come and treat yourself to a real taste of Darling where we promise you the The SA Cheese Festival takes place from Friday, 28 April to Sunday, 30 April 2017 warmest welcome and a generous serving of Platteland hospitality.” at Sandringham, Stellenbosch. For more information visit www.cheesefestival.co.za

For more information visit www.tasteofdarling.co.za

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The Story of the Unstoppable Jean Biermans

The following story of Dutch rider Jean Biermans sounds almost unbelievable, but is one hundred percent true. Jean will be back this year to conquer the 36ONE MTB Challenge in and around Oudtshoorn, after a disappointing outing in 2016 when illness forced him to withdraw halfway through the race. It all started way back in 1991 when Jean, on his way to work, was hit by a bus and dragged for more than 15 meters - leaving the lower part of his left leg torn off, resulting in a very close call to amputate his leg. “It took the doctors three operations in which they eventually managed to repair my leg. This was no easy task because every muscle and tendon around my knee was ripped off completely and the skin and most of the muscles were gone. The surgeons took skin from my upper legs on both sides to reconstruct new skin over my lower leg.” Following multiple rounds of reconstructive surgery, the 17-year old Jean had to learn to walk again. It took nearly two years of practice and physical therapy before he was able to walk without crutches. As part of his rehabilitation process Jean spent most of his time in the gym to strengthen his leg muscles, but then, after 4 years he desired to engage in something else. He took up mountain biking for fun, and it wasn’t long until he was cycling with a group of riders on Sundays who encouraged him to give competitive racing a try. In his first race Jean, whose nickname is Jeankie Powerrr, was lapped three times within a one hour race, but needless to say: Jean always finished that which he started, and persevered - just as he had done in his recovery from the accident.

His results continually improved in mountain bike events and after a great year with some good results he was invited to race for Bakker Racing Team. Jean did well, and finished second in the Dutch Bike Marathon Champs in 2007; thereafter, 16th in the European Master Champs, followed by a 23rd position at the World Championships. Jean started to focus more on endurance riding and 24 hour races. “Cycling gives me great satisfaction in my quest to show the world that anything is possible, despite having a disability.” Despite his clearly visible disability, Jean has been completely accepted in the European mountain bike community, and everyone holds him in the highest regard because of his incredible achievements. Jean decided to take on the 360NE challenge after a conversation with an Instagram friend, Rob Neethling. Jean seemed interested in the 36ONE Challenge as it was a 361 Km endurance race. He entered the race for the first time in 2014 and won the challenge - not knowing South Africa and its people, but with the help of the Neethling-family, who treated him like a son, it made him feel at home. In 2015 Jean was back to defend his title. It goes without saying, as the defending champion, that Jean Biermans knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he signed up to defend his 2014 crown. Jean put in as much as 12 500km of training in under 6 months leading up to the race. Jean’s motivation to succeed no matter what the challenges may be, continued his training throughout the northern hemisphere winter. He shattered his own course record to win the fourth edition of the 36ONE MTB Challenge, an ultra-distance mountain bike race, and clocked a time of 14 hours 03 minutes 57 seconds for the non-stop 361km race, slicing more than 11 minutes off his 2014 winning ascent – a new course record. Jean was back to defend his record in 2016, but had to withdrew on the 180km mark due to illness. His 2015 record is still standing, and he will be back on 21 April 2017 to conquer the course once again. Other races in which Jean participated in South Africa, includes The Cape Pioneer Trek, a race which he had to withdraw from, because of severe hypothermia. “I would like thank my South African friends - I see them as my family, Rob and his family and Gus Pauw. Also a huge thanks for the support from my South African nutrition sponsor 32GI, and thanks to all my South African fans and people that follow me from a Continent that stole my heart.” Into Cycling wishes Jean Biermans all the best for the 36ONE Challenge – Keep on motivating and inspiring your fans in South Africa!

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- Cycle Specific Workshop, Expert cycle advice, from Rene Duiker

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- Cycle Cafe The ladies offer great espresso based coffee, homebaked goodies and such.


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