Cyclingnews April 2014

VOL 15 NO 3 APRIL 2014

For the latest news visit www.cyclingnews.co.za

FREE

JUANITA HITS HIGH NOTESON AND OFF THE BIKE

HOW TO REPLENISHWHAT YOU’VE USED

REFILL THE TANK

BESTMED TOUR DE BOLANDNIC CLIMBS TO SECOND WIN

CAPE ARGUS PICK N PAY MOMENTUM CYCLE TOURNOLAN SLAYS THE DEMON

EMPERORS PALACE CLASSIC MAREE EYES BACK-TO-BACK WIN

THE BESTMED JOCK SIMPLY INCOMPARABLE

MTN-QHUBEKA HIT HIGHNUMBERS IN LANGKAWI

ROADTRIPPING

CONTENTS

01Cyclingnews April 2014

EditorWynand de Villiers [email protected]

Consulting editorGerhard Burger

ContributorsPhil Liggett, Coetzee Gouws, AndrewMclean

PicturesPhotosport International, Michelle Cound,Frank Bodenmueller, My Picture

DesignCinnamon Graphix C.C.Chris Dawson – [email protected]

PrinterColorpress Pty (Ltd) Ryan Lotter – 011 493 8622/3/4/5

Advertising email [email protected] or phone 083 269 7659

Published by ASG Events 116B, Glen Avenue, Willow Glen, Pretoria. Tel no: 012 751 4130/31/32/33Fax: 086 730 3099

REGULARS

2 From the Editor: On the road again – and in superb style

8 In the Bunch: Memories of the marine

20 Pulse pages: Polar V650 knows it all – and tells you everything

22 Product Feature: Refill the tank – How to replenish what you’ve used

FEATURES

24 Nolan slays the demon

33 Bestmed ASG Team – An experience to treasure

36 Juanita hits high notes on and off the bike

38 Cycle Boys on the move – virtually

RACE REVIEWS

5 Nic climbs to second Tour de Boland win

11 Nolan ‘over the moon’ after ‘out of this world’ victory

18 MTN-Qhubeka hit high numbers in Langkawi

RACE PREVIEWS

14 The Jock – simply incomparable

19 Emperors Palace Classic: Maree eyes back-to-back win

28 Entries open for new-look Berg & Bush

40 Barden Tyres 24-hour MTB challenge: Have fun in the dark – and in daylight too

PAGE 5:

BESTMEDTOUR DE BOLAND

FROM THE EDITOR

02 Cyclingnews April 2014

LAST MONTH’S Bestmed Tour de Boland received much acclaim andmarked the return of solid road stage racing in the Western Cape.The race was held in pristine conditions and constituted the reunion of

a host of former roadies who were dicing it up against each other asthey had done in the “old” days.Darren Lill, Waylon Woolcock, Neil Macdonald and Frantisek Rabon

were among the former road riders who had migrated to mountain bik-ing but were back on thin wheels again. It was a wonderful sight!Woolcock snatched a win on the 120km stage from Franschhoek to

Tulbagh, riding into Tulbagh solo and in fine style. Lill won the queenstage to the top of the Franschhoek Pass.Mountain-bike events are still sprouting up everywhere, but the stature

of SA road cycling is as high as it has ever been. And the standard ofevent presentation is higher than ever. The Tour de Boland and next month’s Mzanzi Tour are excellent

examples but the drawing power of road cycling was also illustrated bythe ever-increasing numbers in all the big pre-Argus events in Gautengas well as the 99er in the Western Cape.Importantly, we are also seeing the return of criterium racing, a

much-needed form of the sport that shows the wonderful skill andagility of our pro riders to the public.The upcoming Emperors Palace Classic criterium attracts thousands of

spectators every year and now the Western Cape is also getting in on theact, courtesy of Lights by Linea sponsoring a series of exciting events tobe held in bustling centres all over the Western Cape this year.

Wynand de Villiers

On the road again –and in superb style

Cyclingnews Magazine is availablefrom these fine Cycling stores:

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SUBSCRIBEIf you’d like to join our ever-increasing sub-scriber base, there is no better time than now. Simply log onto www.asgevents.co.za and

click on the subscribe buttonThe magazine remains free of charge at

major bike shops and races throughout thecountry, but because our print run is limited weinevitably get readers that miss out on some of the issues. If you would like to ensure thatyou don’t miss an issue, a subscription chargeof R85 for ten issues will secure a copy of Cyclingnews Magazine in your postbox everymonth.

For further enquiries phone the race office on 076 621 1807 or email [email protected]

With every Jock medal worn,again a cyclist is born!

DATE: 19 July 2014VENUE: Mbombela Stadium in NelspruitTIMED BY: RaceTec

STAGE DISTANCES:Stage 1: Nelspruit – White River: 43kmStage 2: White River – Sabie (via Spitskop): 45kmStage 3: Sabie – Nelspruit (via Long Tom Pass): 63km

ENTRY FEES:3-stage event: R7202 stages: R4501 stage: R180Spectator Package: R400R10 of every entry is donated to the Cancer Association of South Africa

STARTING TIMES:Stage 1: 06:30Stage 2: 09:30Stage 3: 12:30

ENTER ONLINE:www.asgevents.co.za

ENTRIES CLOSE:8 July 2014

presents

SPECTATOR PACKAGES

Spectators can book a packagewhich will enable them to follow the race in one of the spectator busses and also eat breakfast and lunch with their loved ones taking part in the race. The spectator packages are R400 each (kidsunder 7 can come along andeat and ride for free with

their parent/s)

ENTRIES FO

R

THE 3-STAG

E

EVENT ARE

LIMITED TO

1500

CYCLISTS

RACE REVIEW


THE DEFENDING CHAMPION Dougallwon the yellow jersey for the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team in the individualtime-trial to the top of Helshoogte onday one and never relinquished it.He claimed overall honours in 9 hours

53 minutes and 3 seconds, a comfortable45 seconds clear of Namibia’s Till Drobisch of WCC Africa.

Former Tour of Egypt winner WaylonWoolcock of Cannondale-Blend wasthird in 9:54:14.Woolcock’s teammate Darren Lill

and Kevin Evans of FedGroup-Itec split the peloton to pieces when theylaunched an attack at the base of the 7km climb to the mountain-top finish.

Lill then shook off Evans to take aspectacular win in 2:52:30 on the113km stage from Riebeek-Kasteel.James Tennant of Giant hung on

tenaciously to finish eight seconds behind the former national road champion, with Jayde Julius (Bonitas) a further eight seconds adrift. >

NIC CLIMBS TOsecond Tour de Boland winNic Dougall stayed the course up the winding Franschhoek Pass to finish among theleaders and seal his second straight victory in the four-day Bestmed Tour de Boland at the end of a challenging week’s racing in the winelands.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Capcha

Lill, who also claimed the king of themountains jersey, said it had been agood, challenging tour for his team.“Unfortunately I missed the move in the pen-ultimate stage so we couldn’t takethe overall, but I don’t think we can beunhappy with two out of four stage winsand a second place in the time-trial.”Dougall said the opening stage, in

which he established a 39-second lead,had suited his strengths and that his teamhad protected him and helped extend hisadvantage on the hillier road stages.“I started the final climb on third wheel;

all thanks to my team who kept me out of trouble for the preceding 20km.We always knew Darren would be sostrong. He’s an incredible rider, so wewere lucky we didn’t have to chase him.”Former Franschhoek resident and

international track star Nolan Hoffman(Abantu) dominated the sprint hotspotsto claim the green jersey.In the women’s race Juanita Venter of

Bestmed-ASG was in the lead when heshe was dropped on the climb. It resultedin her losing the yellow jersey and apodium spot after an impressive three days.

Swiss dark horse Ariane Kleinhans ofRE:CM initiated a series of attacks at thebottom of the pass to finish second onthe day and grab a surprise three-secondoverall victory in 9:42:01. She crossed theline in 3:19:58, a mere 18 seconds behindstage winner and overall runner-up LiseOlivier of VeloLife.An-Li Kachelhoffer (Esmero-Activate

Drinks) was third on the day in 3:20:32 tocomplete the overall podium in 9:43:25.Kleinhans, who won the Cape Argus

Pick n Pay Momentum mountain-bike challenge recently, said she had found

RACE REVIEW


RACE REVIEW


it much more difficult to get away on the road. “I knew I had to attack early to make as much time on Juanita as possible.“I attacked in Franschhoek but then

Lisa responded; she’s got that kick that Ijust couldn’t match. So I just gave it myabsolute all to get up the climb.”She said her victory had come as

somewhat of a surprise, considering thatshe had not taken any outright stagewins. “That’s probably what a mountainbiker’s got – a little bit of consistency – so I just kept on going.” •CN

RESULTS

ELITE MEN

1 Nic Dougall MTN-Qhubeka Feeder team 9.53'03"

2 Till Drobisch WCCA 45"

3 Waylon Woolcock Cannondale-Blend 1'11"

4 Kevin Evans 1'22"

5 Johannes Christoffel Nel 2'26"

ELITE WOMEN

1 Ariane Kleinhans RECM 9.42'01"

2 Lise Olivier Velo Life 3"

3 An-Li Kachelhoffer Esmero-Activate 1'24"

JERSEY WINNERS

Overall Yellow Jersey: Nic Dougall (WCCA MTN Qhubeka Feeder)

Green Points: Nolan Hoffman (Abantu)

Polka Dot King of Mountains: Darren Lill (Cannondale Blend)

SOME OF THESE were about MartinNefdt, Willie Marx and Carl Mulderwhose exploits packed out the Westbourne Oval in Port Elizabeth every weekend.He explained that Nefdt and Marx had

no equals in a short sprint and that awily Mulder, who also had a good roadpedigree, would often start the sprint atthe bell because what he lacked inspeed, he made up for in stamina.In the sixties, the Oval was pure theatre

and the riders were the actors. Althoughthey played to the crowd, it was notmake-believe like The Bold and Beautiful;they were reality stars à la Survivor.The newspapers would play up the

various rivalries during the week and onrace day the public would stream in tosee the battles unfold. These riders wereundoubtedly the celebs of their time.Although my dad would possibly be

best remembered for his performanceson the badminton courts around the Bay,he also dabbled in track cycling as a contemporary of these superstars.He didn’t come from a privileged

background and was forced to makeends meet by working as a crane driveron the harbour at odd hours, which ultimately cut his racing career short.A journalist once wrote, he told me,

that Neft, Marx, Mulder and he were future provincial stars (in the years whenit still meant something).

He stopped shortly afterwards, andthey became Springboks.Another story I found interesting was

that they would train at the Oval beforedawn and – if they had arrived separately – often only became aware of each other when one of them caughtup to the other.There was also a tale of butter being

used instead of Vaseline or grease tolube the bearings in the bottom bracket.Apparently it was smooth as silk, butonly good for one race meeting (I suspect that excluded the 25k).My dad sold his DHC for a Ford

Corsair and opted for extra shifts at theharbour to start building a better futurefor himself, which included meeting hissoon-to-be wife at a badminton do.Apart from being introduced to each

other through sport, my mom was neverreally into it. My dad, on the other hand,didn’t really care for much else.This rubbed off on me and my early

years were spent on cricket fields andtennis courts or, on Saturday afternoons,on the couch watching Sport ‘79, Sport‘80 and so forth.However, it was always my dad’s

cycling stories that intrigued me most.One of their staple rides on their track

bikes was around “the Marine”, a wind-swept, flattish circular course ofaround 40 kilometres that we oftendrove as a family on Sunday afternoons.

I always wanted to live that memoryand so, in standard six, I rounded up afriend one Saturday morning and we setout to do it on our school transporters,including padkos on the carriers.That signalled the end of what could

have been a fine tennis or cricket careerand the start of my cycling journey.Although I can honestly say I hated the

stress of racing, I simply loved riding mybike. I rose through the ranks to a pointwhere I too had to make a decision between fun and future. Like many schoolboys, I had

envisioned myself turning pro one day, but without much “old money”floating around the family, my sense of responsibility prevailed and I opted for the books while earningpocket money as a freelance cycling journalist.

Memoriesof the Marine

IN THE BUNCH with coetzee gouws


My dad was a born storyteller and it was through his tales that I first fell in love with the sport of cycling.

“The newspapers would play up the various rivalriesduring the week and on race day the public would

stream in to see the battles unfold. These riders

were undoubtedly the celebs of their time.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow to standon the sidelines reporting on races that I knew I could have been winning, butas my working career took off I realisedthat I was indeed making a living off the sport; something very few of my contemporaries could say.If I were brutally honest, I had at

times resented my parents for not givingus better career guidance while we weregrowing up. The first time the topic wasbroached was after I had completed mymilitary service and I asked the question,“What now?”.However, it wasn’t until very recently

that I realised the role that my dad hadunwittingly played in forming my career.He planted the seed that grew into apassion, which eventually bore a business.Now I’m wondering whether this

wasn’t the best career guidance ever. •CN

What memories are made of... Willie Marx pips MartinNefdt to the line in the 1967 SA Track Championships.

DATE: 13 July 2014VENUE: Walkerville Showgrounds GPS COORDINATES: (26 24 17S and 27 57 48E)DISTANCES: 60km & 30kmSTARTING TIME: 60km: 08:30, 30km: 09:30ENTRY FEES: 60km (R190), 30km (R150)


GAUTENG’S FAVOURITE

(AND COLDEST!)WINTER

CHALLENGE

walkervillemountain bike classic

17thEDITION

ONLINE ENTRIES:

www.asgevents.co.za

ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE:

6 July 2014

RACE REVIEW


MERONE HAGOS, an Eritrean from theTeam MTN Qhubeka feeder team, wassecond, with HB Kruger from Team Bonitas third in a tough battle forpodium spots in the 37th “Argus”.After ten attempts and three podium

finishes, 28-year old Hoffman was “overthe moon” when he won this year’srace.

“Cape Town’s weather is always unpredictable and the conditions outthere were extremely tough,” he said.“My team-mates rode a perfect

tactical race and controlled it as much aspossible. Suikerbossie was a killer. I havenever had to dig so deep to conquer aclimb. I’m really happy to win thebiggest race on the cycling calendar.

To win is incredible, but to win the Cycle Tour is out of this world.”In the women’s race, Cherise Stander

from Team RECM claimed the goldmedal with a time of two hours 51 minutes, holding off stiff competitionfrom Anriëtte Schoeman of TeamBestmed Africa Silks. Team Active Drinks’An-Li Kachelhoffer came third. >

Nolan ‘over the moon’ after‘out of this world’ victoryNolan Hoffman from Team Abantu won the 2014 Cape Argus Pick n Pay MomentumCycle Tour, clocking an impressive time of two hours 39 minutes and 1 second, despite wind speeds of up to 83km/h at the start.

Pictures: Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust

DATE: 13 July 2014VENUE: Walkerville Showgrounds GPS COORDINATES: (26 24 17S and 27 57 48E)DISTANCES: 60km & 30kmSTARTING TIME: 60km: 08:30, 30km: 09:30ENTRY FEES: 60km (R190), 30km (R150)


GAUTENG’S FAVOURITE

(AND COLDEST!)WINTER

CHALLENGE

17thEDITION

ONLINE ENTRIES:

www.asgevents.co.za

ONLINE ENTRIES CLOSE:

6 July 2014

Stander, who completed her 15thCycle Tour, said the event was the highlight of her year. “It was extremelyfast-paced and aggressive, especiallywith the wind, which was a big factor. It was gusty out there so we had to bevery careful about bunch positioning andhad to dig deep on the climbs. I’m reallyhappy with my win.”A new addition to this year’s event

was the Alain Huchon Trophy, awardedto the first non-licensed internationalrider that crossed the finish line. JoachimPettersen from Norway completed theroute in 2:50:51 to become the first recipient. David Bellairs, a director of the Cape

Town Cycle Tour Trust that organises theannual event, said: “By ten past four, themedical teams, under the expert guid-ance of Mediclinic’s Dr Basil Bonner, hadresponded to 198 high-priority incidentsof which 59 were referred to hospital. “At that time, 33 had been confirmed

as fractures of various natures.” Dr Bonner said there were indications

that, with the wind keeping temperatures

down, there were fewer cases of dehydration and heat-related issues. “Interestingly, the wind was a key factorin reducing the number of overall incidents as participants opted for safety ahead of speed.”Despite the adverse weather in the

early hours, and what can only be described as testing conditions, at least

34 500 cyclists started the world’s largest timed cycling event on HertzogBoulevard.Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille,

Pick n Pay chairman Raymond Acker-man, Cape Argus editor Jermaine Craigand Momentum’s head of brand Danievan den Bergh fired the starting gun at06:15. •CN

RACE REVIEW


RESULTS

ELITE MEN

1 Nolan Hoffman Team Abantu 2:39:31

2 Meron Hagos Team MTN Qhubeka Feeder 2:39:31

3 HB Kruger Team Bonitas 2:39:31

4 Calvin Beneke Team Europcar SA 2:39:31

5 Fran Rabon Meerendal-Songo-Specialized 2:39:31

ELITE WOMEN

1 Cherise Stander Team RECM 2:51:00

2 Anriëtte Schoeman Team Bestmed Africa Silks 2:51:31

3 An-Li Kachelhoffer Team Activate Drinks 2:53:39

4 Jennie Stenerhag Team CBC 2:56:45

5 Carmen Buchacher 2:57:19

THE SECOND OLDEST cycling event inSouth Africa after The Argus “The Jock”will he held for the 31st time this year.In began in 1982 when the organisers

of the Onderberg Banana Festival inMalalane asked the Barberton CyclingClub to organise a race that would startin Barberton and end in Malalane. Thiswould form part of the festivities. The Banana Festival Tour started at

06:30. Of the 27 cyclists, 14 were members of the Barberton club. The others were from the Lowveld area andCresta Wheelers in Randburg.

The first leg ended at Lowveld Motorsin Nelspruit. The participants rode toWhite River for lunch before adding atime trial to Karino. From there they weretaken taken by truck to Kaapmuiden Primary School, where they started thelast leg of the race to the festival groundsin Malalane. In July 1984, the same route was used

and 57 cyclists took part. Croxons Garagesponsored five Barberton participants. In 1985 the name of the race was

changed to The Jock 150km Tour.The route was changed accordingly to

five stages: Barberton to Nelspruit, on toWhite River and then by truck to Karino.From there to Kaapmuiden and Noordkaap, and the last stage back to Barberton. A total of 108 riders took part. In 1986 there were 212 riders and in

1987 the number shot up to 408. In 1988 the entries hit the 600 mark,

making it hard to transport so many riders from one point to the other, so the route was changed to four stages. For the next three years the route

stayed the same and the number of par-ticipants increased to more than 1 000. >

THE JOCK – simply incomparable

RACE PREVIEW


Words: Wynand de Villiers • Picture: Wayne Hayward

After 30 memorable years, the Bestmed Jock Cycle Classique is one of the pillars of the sport in South Africa.

RACE PREVIEW


Former South African champion Jay Thomson (right) added his name to the Jock winner's list in2006 and still regards the event as the truest test of single day road riding form in South Africa.

“The Jock is known as true test of cycling ability through some of the most

spectacular riding terrain in the world.”

The format changed again in 1992when the race was reduced to threestages. Timekeeping became omportantas it had changed from a fun ride to amore competitive race, attracting all thebig names in SA cycling. In 2001 the Jock Cycle Tour changed

its status. It became a Classic on the calendar and more than 1 300 cycliststook part in a well-organised event.In 2003 it was changed to one of only

five Super Classics in the country andthere were about 1 800 riders. The Jock is known as true test of

cycling ability through some of the mostspectacular riding terrain in the world. Cyclists delight in the scenery and the

atmosphere of camaraderie among theriders and those alongside the road, and

at the breakfast and lunch stops inWhite River and Sabie, makes it a memorable event, year after year. It now starts and finishes at the

impressive Mbombela Stadium, built for the 2010 football World Cup tournament, which adds to the experience.Many riders return each year and try

to improve their best time, but just tofinish the race remains a special achievement. That's why the race mottois: “With every Jock medal worn, again acyclist is born.” The names of riders who have won

the race seem to come from the Who’sWho of SA cycling. Among them areRodney Fowler, Ross Grant, Alan VanHeerden, Mark Beneke, Gary Beneke,

Willie Engelbrecht, Robbie McIntosh,Anton Oberholzer, Jannie de Beer, JockGreen, Andrew Mclean, Morne Bester,Malcolm Lange, Robert Hunter, JacquesFullard, Jay Thomson, Kosie Loubser,Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg and IanMcLeod. Among the names of the women who

have won are Ronel van Wyk, AnnetteLoubser, Elsa Karsten, Anriette Schoeman and Anke Erlank.Twenty lead-out vehicles, 16

motorcycles and more than 150 metropolice officials and marshals combine toensure the safety of riders. Entries can be done on-line on the

state-of-the-art ASG Events entry page. For updates, find the race on

Facebook or follow @jockcycle. •CN

RACE PREVIEW


THE 2014 ROUTE – 151 km, THREE STAGES, ONE DAY

The 43km first stage starts at 06:00 at theMbombela Stadium near Nelspruit and includes 20km of hard pedalling on gradi-ents of between two and six per cent.The major obstacle is the challenging Heidel Eggs climb, which is 2 km long.The stage finishes along the White

River Road with breakfast at Rob FerreiraHigh School.At 09:00, the 45km second stage

begins. The riders head out towardsSabie, over the 7km Spitskop climb. For those who make it over the top, awelcome lunch break awaits at Sabie Primary School.After lunch, at 12:30, the 63km final

stage takes the riders back to Nelspruitvia Long Tom Pass. The last stage beginswith 10 km of tough climbing up thepass. After that, it is mostly downhill andthe joys of cycling accompany the ridersinto Nelspruit.

Distance (km)

Elevation (m)

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

S1 S2 S3

SABIEWITRIVIER

MTN-Qhubeka hithigh numbers in Langkawi

RACE REVIEW


Picture: Photosport International

Nine top-ten stage places, a second and sixth place overall on general classification,and winners of the team classification title. That is what Team MTN-Qhubeka, powered by Samsung, achieved at the recent Tour de Langkawi.

DIRECTEUR SPORTIF Kevin Campbell was understandably proud of the success of Africa’sfirst continental professional cycling team.“I’m very pleased with the way the team raced.

Finishing as the first team, and second and sixthon GC, is a great result for this young team. “Our goal was to win the tour and we came

really close. Racing nine flattish stages with a teamof young climbers, with only Youcef being a fastfinisher, was never going to be easy but we werein the mix every day,” said Campbell.Young Eritrean Merhawi Kudus held on to his

second place on GC from stage 4, and with rela-tive ease. “I’m very happy to have finished second.I think I was the best on the Genting climb, and Iknow I can win that stage next time,” he said. “For the rest of the race I just stayed out of

trouble. I must thank my team for their support.We rode really well together.”Leaving Malaysia, Campbell and Kudus already

had their sights set on their next objectives. “We have a full European programme ahead

now and the experience and confidence gainedhere are sure to be good for the riders,” saidCampbell.Kudus added: “I am happy to go to Italy now.

I can’t wait for the next races and in particular I’m looking forward to Giro del Trentino and theTour of Austria.” •CN

RESULTS

OVERALL

1 Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour (IRI) Tabriz Petrochemical Team 35:07:16 2 Merhawi Kudus (Eri) MTN - Qhubeka 0:00:08 3 Isaac Bolivar Hernandez (Col) UnitedHealthcare 0:00:11 4 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdge 0:00:20 5 Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:36 11 Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka 0:01:41

TEAM

1 MTN - Qhubeka 105:24:35 2 Tabriz Petrochemical Team 0:01:38 3 Androni Giocatolli - Venezuela 0:08:52 4 Colombia 0:09:59 5 CCN Cycling Team 0:11:14

RACE PREVIEW


THE SEVENTH EDITION of the late autumn event, presented by ASG,promises top-flight racing as many ofthe country’s pro teams will have completed the five-stage Mzansi Tourthe previous day.“My legs will surely be sore after the

tour, which isn’t ideal,” conceded TeamAbantu’s Maree, when asked about thepossibility of back-to-back titles in theone-day classic.“But the tour also gives you a mental

advantage, having raced the previousfew days and having been in that frameof mind.”The Bryanston-based all-rounder said

he would definitely be targeting a sec-ond victory in the 102km feature race,which starts and finishes at the casinoresort.“There are a few good hills on the

route that play to my strengths and willgive me the opportunity to gain sometime over the bunch.“If the race is in our favour and I

manage to stay away with a few strongriders, then there’s a good chance forme to win.”Should it come down to a bunch

sprint, he said a fast man like teammateNolan Hoffman – who has already wonthe green jersey in the Bestmed Tour deBoland and the Argus title this season –would be more likely to take it.“Apart from the sprinters, guys like

HB Kruger (Bonitas) and Calvin Beneke(Europcar SA) might get away. Evensomeone like Tyler Day might try to slipinto the move.”Maree has been something of a dark

horse this season, not appearing on the podium but helping his teammatesto some high-profile results.Most notable was his powerhouse

display over Suikerbossie that helped setup Hoffman’s maiden victory in theArgus last month.“I had a very good ride at Argus and

I’m very happy that we won the race,”said the 24-year-old.“We’ve just come back from a training camp in Nelspruit and I’m

feeling confident about my form.”Although Maree has been going well

since the start of the season, he has hadsome bad luck along the way, includingpuncturing out of the break at the Carnival City Macsteel Classic in February.That will not deter him however from

his focus on retaining the king of themountains jersey at Mzansi Tour.“I’m setting my sights on a top five in

the GC. Last year I was second on stagetwo, so as a bonus I would like to winone this time.”The Emperors Palace Classic will finish

off with a European-style criterium as aspecial treat for spectators.More than 6 000 cyclists are expected

to turn out for the weekend festival thatstarts with the mountain bike races onthe Saturday and concludes with theroad and criterium races on the Sunday.For more information, contact ASG

Events on 076 621 1807 or [email protected] to www.facebook.com/

emperorsclassic or @emperorsclassic forupdates. •CN

Maree eyes back-to-backwin at EmperorsAfter an early season of working towards team goals, David Maree will be hoping todefend his title at the Emperors Palace Classic in Johannesburg on Sunday, April 13.

Team Abantu’s David Maree will be aimingto defend his title at this year event.

POLAR V650 KNOWS IT ALL – AND TELLS YOU EVERYTHINGPolar rolled out its new Polar V650 earlier this year and for cyclists who value heart-rate training it is simply a must-have.

PULSE PAGES Picture: Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS


THE STATE-OF-THE-ART bike computerhas been designed for devoted cyclistswho want to analyse every aspect oftheir riding. Its integrated GPS lets them follow

their ride on the large 2.8-inch colourtouch screen and track their speed, distance and route. It also offers easy-to-use route tracking guidance as well asthe most accurate altitude data with thebuilt-in barometric pressure sensor.Powered by Polar’s advanced sports

technology, the Polar V650 has an innovative, functional and modern product design. Streamlined and weighing only 120 gram, it is easy to attach with the new bike mount.

On the big colour display, cyclists cansee at a glance how they are doing. Theycan switch between views even at highspeed with a touch of the screen or byswiping the screen. One can also arrange the information

on display as you like and choose whichdetails to be shown during the ride. Moreover, the front-mounted smart-

visibility LED light turns on automaticallyin low-light conditions, enhancing visibility and allowing the rider to beseen in the dark.Besides its versatile GPS functions, the

V650 is packed with Polar Smart Coaching features that meet the needsof the most advanced professionals.

When used with the Polar H6 or H7 Bluetooth Smart heart-rate sensor,cyclists can see the health and fitnessbenefits of training at different intensities, find out how it affects their body and see how long it takes forthem to recover and be ready to trainagain. The Polar V650 is also fully compatible

with Bluetooth Smart cycling speed, cadence and power sensors.It can be used together with the free

Polar Flow web service, where riders can plan and analyse all the details of theirtraining. The Polar Flow mobile app will be updated later this year so that it willalso be compatible with the Polar V650,

PULSE PAGES

allowing users to sync wirelessly and seeall their cycling data on the go.Polar are calling the V650 their most

advanced bike computer to date. It ex-pands their top product line-up and ismuch more than just a great device: it isan updatable platform that is part of awhole new connected training system. The combination of the V650, the

Polar Flow web service and smart-phoneconnectivity ensures a great experience. One can always learn more about the

rides you have completed, see feedbackabout training load and recovery, andshare ride data and information onroutes.Polar V650 has been engineered and

designed to make it the highest-qualityproduct of its kind. •CN

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Altitude (barometer)

Ascent/descent

Inclinometer

Temperature

Real-time VAM and altitude compensated kcal

Heart rate

Bike speed and cadence

Future-proof software that is easy to update or upgrade at home via the internet to make sure it always contains thelatest improvements

10-hour battery life in training mode

Charging and data transfer with standard micro USB cable

Display view customisation and creation of bike profiles

Free use of the Polar Flow web service and

Seamless connectivity with Bluetooth Smart to cycling sensors and the Polar Flow mobile app.

MOST CYCLISTS know that if one drainsyour carbohydrate reserves in one day, itis almost impossible to fully re-fuel beforethe next day and you will start with apartly empty tank. You must try hard to focus on fuelling

your carbohydrate reserves during andafter each day’s riding. This is critical toconsistent performance in multi-dayevents.High 5 have emerged as market leaders

in endurance supplementation, and weasked them for their suggested replenish-ment plan during multi-day stage events.

Before the racingBreakfast should be light, and high in car-bohydrates. Cereals, toast and porridgeare good examples. To start your caffeineloading, drink one 750ml bottle of Ener-gySourceX’treme during the period 60 to90 minutes before the start. At the sametime take EnergyGel PLUS, which containa moderate caffeine content.

Depending on your weight, take• 50 to 60kg: 1 x EnergyGel Plus• 60 to 70kg: 2 x EnergyGel Plus• 70 to 90kg: 3 x EnergyGel Plus

During the eventTo maximise your carbohydrate intake,you should focus on drinking as much EnergySource 4:1 as possible. Dependingon how much you are able to drink, youmay need to also take gel to boost yourcarbohydrate intake. If you drink theseamounts of EnergySource 4:1 each hour,you should also take the number of gelsshown:• 800 to 1200 ml: no gel• 600 ml: 1 x EnergyGel Plus• 400 ml: 2 x Gels• 200 ml: 3 x GelsThe first gel, to be taken every hour,

should be EnergyGel Plus (with caffeine).Any remaining gels taken in that hourshould be standard EnergyGel (no caffeine).

Sensitive to caffeine?If you have a medical condition or do not wish to use caffeine for any reason,simply substitute each of the above products with the non-caffeine equivalentfrom High5 and ignore the section oncaffeine loading before your event.

Anti-cramp strategyMuscle cramps are associated with dehydration and electrolyte deficits andmuscle fatigue. Adding Zero Neutral Tabsto your drink boosts the electrolyte con-tent and provides magnesium. This couldbe particularly useful in hot conditions.

After the racingDrink 750ml of Protein Recovery as soonas you finish. Eat a balanced meal one totwo hours later. In the late evening, drink750ml Protein Recovery. When mixedwith milk, Protein Recovery is absorbedmore slowly and provides a long-lastingfeed while you sleep.

Notes:• You may substitute IsoGel for EnergyGelif you wish.

• These guidelines should provide yourbody with the maximum amount of carbohydrate it can absorb. Try not toeat anything else, as normal solid foodwill slow the absorption of the 2:1 Fructose formulation.

• If you do feel the urge to eat solid food,stick to rapidly absorbed carbohydratesuch as white bread, with just a littlespread to help it go down, pasta or theHigh 5 Energy Bar. Try to stay awayfrom meat and high-fat items such aschocolate.Carbo-loading before an event can

increase the amount of carbohydrate youhave stored by 30 per cent.Some riders who suffer from cramps

may also find that caffeine can make it worse. They could substitute the caffeine products with their non-caffeineequivalents. •CN

How to replenish what you’ve used

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FEATURE


Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust

“We controlled the race going over

Chapman’s Peak and that saved me a lot

because it neutralised some of the

attacks by the other riders.”

FEATURE


“IT’S A BIG RELIEF to put this demon to restbecause I’ve tried so long to win this race,”Hoffman said after his victory. “I’ve been second twice, third, fifth, seventh and eighth,so it’s been a bit frustrating all these years.”The 29-year-old sprinter carried the hopes

of Team Abantu on his shoulders when helined up at the start of the world’s largesttimed cycle race in March.“I’d just come back from the track world

champs and my condition was good. For methere’s always a lot of pressure for the bigraces but this time I was more relaxed and

it worked out pretty well.”The team’s tactics were to get him over the

Suikerbossie climb with the least amount ofenergy spent.“Chapman’s Peak was my biggest concern.

If you get dropped there, your job is harder to get back before Suikerbossie and still getpositioned up in front for the climb,” he explained“We controlled the race going over

Chapman’s Peak and that saved me a lot because it neutralised some of the attacks by the other riders.” >

NOLAN slays the demonAfter a decade of near misses, Nolan Hoffman finally clinched the big one: the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour.

Knowing that Suikerbossie was wherethe decisive battle often happens, Hoffman did his best to stay with theclimbers but dropped about 15 secondsoff the first group.“You can only afford to lose between

15 and 20 seconds there; if you losemore than that, it’s race over.“But I still had David Maree who

stayed with me and chased like hellgoing down the descent. I never saw a small guy go so fast on a downhill!”After winning 60 per cent of the

races he entered last year, Hoffman has certainly carved his name in SouthAfrica’s cycling history books. But TheHoff, as he is affectionately known, is farfrom done.“While the Argus is definitely one of

the biggest results of my career, I stillwant to win the national elite road titletoo,” he says.The former U23 road champion is

probably better known for his exploitson the track, having claimed numerousnational titles.In February, at the UCI track world

championships in Colombia, Hoffmancame fifth in his goal event, the scratchrace, after claiming silver in 2012.Averaging 54km an hour, Hoffman

says it is the fastest race he has everdone. “I can’t really remember much because it was flat-out the whole way.”About 20 laps in, four riders broke

away from the peloton and managed totake a lap, effectively ending any chanceof a podium.

“Fifth is still a respectable result and itputs me back in with a chance of winningagain. Now I have renewed confidenceand can build on bettering the result.”On his return to our shores, Hoffman’s

first stop was the four-day Bestmed Tourde Boland. “Coming from the trackworlds, it was important to get someroad competition in the legs again aheadof Argus.“This year was a really good field and

it puts the tour back up there again.”Now based on the West Rand, the

former Franschhoek resident says ridingthe familiar roads felt like coming home.

“Tour de Boland was perfect preparationbut the stage finishes weren’t reallysprinter friendly.”Nevertheless, he still walked away

with the green jersey, ultimately settinghimself up as a serious contender for theone-day classic the following weekend.“The green jersey was important for

me because a lot of people were lookingout for me to do well. I’m from theBoland so it was nice to get it for thefans.”Hoffman will be looking to repeat

the feat at the UCI-graded Mzansi Tourin April. •CN

FEATURE


THE EIGHTH EDITION of the popularstage race, which is fully subscribed yearafter year, takes place near Winterton in the Central Drakensberg in October.Race director Gary Green said the

three-day Descent and Great Trek routeswould feature brand-new trails comingdown off the escarpment into the TugelaValley bushveld around Spioenkop.“New farms with great new single-

track have been discovered and we’realso looking at innovative ways to crossSpioenkop Dam.“Our tunnel of floating JoJo tanks that

we used to cross the Tugela River washedaway in the recent floods, so we’re alsoinvestigating new possibilities there.”Green said would-be participants could

enter either the three-day races or theoriginal two-day event.“A few riders enter all three and stay

for 11 days as they think the riding is thatgood!”He said the field had been marginally

increased to allow cyclists on the waitinglist a chance to enter.

“The event is mainly for two-manteams but we do allow solo entries in theGreat Trek.”Green said those riders who took part

last year would be guaranteed an entry ifthey signed up and paid in full by April 4.“We really do value their support.”Once the events were fully subscribed,

he said additional entrants would beplaced on a waiting list and notified via e-mail should spaces become availabledue to cancellations.While anyone could enter any of the

three events, Green said the Descentwould be the official prize money race for the men’s and mixed teams.“This year, prize money in the women’s

racing category will be awarded only inthe Great Trek, while only medals will begiven to the first five ladies’ teams in theDescent.“We believe that this option suits

the ladies as the Great Trek field issmaller, you get your own tent, greatfood and roving mechanics to help withmechanicals along the way.” >

Entries open fornew-look Berg & Bush

RACE PREVIEW


Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Kelvin Trautman

Mountain bikers who signed up from April 1 for this year’sFedGroup Berg & Bush can look forward to some radicalroute changes, organisers have announced.

“Our tunnel of floating JoJo tanks that we used to cross the Tugela River washed

away in the recent floods, so we’re also

investigating new possibilities there.”

RACE PREVIEW


Entries for the eighth edition of the FedGroup Berg & Bush mountain bike stage raceopened on April 1. The event rolls out in the Central Drakensberg in mid-October.

Green said riders would also have theopportunity to get involved in the event’srural library project and donate to thecause during the entry process.The race organisers aim to hand over

basic library furniture and new books tofour junior farm schools situated near theEmseni Camp race village.“For the children at these schools,

reading will be as much a journey of discovery as the race is for our riders.”He said the beneficiary schools would

be Schietsdrift Primary near Winterton,Middledale and Ekhukhanyeni schools inthe vicinity of Ladysmith and EkajesuCrèche adjacent to Spioenkop Nature Reserve.Some 500 learners between the ages of

three and 13 will benefit from the project.“The book hand-outs will be managed

by local farmers’ wives, most of whomare former teachers. If the venture is successful this year, we’ll expand to thesenior school in the township where theneed is also great.”Green said the idea for the initiative

first arose when his son Wesley lent a

local matric pupil a copy of Ian Player’sZululand Wilderness, as he was desperateto improve his English.“Wes found out that the boy’s teacher

subsequently used the book as a classreader as there were no books at all inthe school.”Horrified at the situation, Green

contacted Lynette Heron who had starteda library initiative at Schietsdrift.“Lynette, an ex-teacher, organises

students from overseas to help teach anddo volunteer work. They have convertedan old room, redone the floor, put insome shelves and started a small library.“The school has been taught a filing

system but now needs carpets and suitable reading books.”He said many of the children’s parents

worked on the mountain bike event asroute builders and marshals; therefore itwas important to give back to the community wherever possible.“It’s imperative as these people are

lacking in basic facilities such as runningwater, transport, electricity and a goodeducation.

“These things we take for granted butfor many locals it just doesn’t exist.”In previous years, the race has been

able to donate solar panels and rainwater tanks to local communities, aswell as repair 5km of game fence alongthe boundary of Spioenkop Nature Reserve. Last year, sponsor JoJo Tanks matched

riders’ donations and the funds wereused to purchase 25 tanks and gutters for households along the route.The FedGroup Berg & Bush kicks off

with the Descent on October 10, fol-lowed by the Great Trek from October 14and wraps up with the two-day race fromOctober 18. The three-day routes start near

Sterkfontein Dam in the Free State andfeature a spectacular drop off the escarpment into KZN, while the two-dayevent is more suited to first-time stageracers and crosses the picturesqueSpioenkop Dam and Game Reserve.Enter at www.bergandbush.co.za. Find

the race on Facebook or follow @bergand-bush and @FarmerGaryGreen. •CN

RACE PREVIEW


DATE: 28 and 29 June 2014 TIMES: Saturday – 40km: 8:00; 20km: 11:00. Sunday – 60km: 9:00

Kiddies Rides: Saturday from 13:00 DISTANCES: 60km, 40km 20km, kiddie’s rides (500m 3-5 year-olds; 5km 6-8 year-olds)

ENTRY FEES: 60km: R190, 40km: R170, 20km: R130, Kiddies rides: R50COMBINED ENTRIES: 20km and 60km: R280; 40km and 60km: R320

Entries and further information on www.asgevents.co.zaFor bookings at Sondela on 014 736 8900 or email [email protected]. Further info on Sondela and directions www.sondela.com

THE BUSHVELD’S BIG MTB BASH

IS BACK!

MOUNTAIN BIKEClassic




ONLINE

ENTRIES:

www.asgevent

s.co.za

ONLINE ENTRIES

CLOSE:

22 June 2014

FEATURE


MEMBERS OF the Bestmed ASG teamshared wonderful moments and earnedinvaluable knowledge in these eventsthis year. The Tour de Boland is really something

special – a multi-stage event that catersfor elite men, elite women, veterans andfun riders. This year, it began with a bang for the

Bestmed ASG team. Juanita Venter setthe best time in the 20km individualtime trial. Second and third were RECMteammates Cherise Stander and ArianeKleinhans.

Venter, a time-trial specialist, was 48seconds faster than Stander and the topfive finished within 1 minute 25 seconds.This set the stage for the next three days.Stage 2, covering a demanding 126km,

started at the beautiful Solms Delta winefarm outside Franschhoek. The routetook the riders on an undulating coursevia Paarl and Paardeberg, finishing in Tulbagh.The team plan was to protect the gold

leader’s jersey; no easy task. Thewomen’s bunch was small but includedthe best SA female cyclists. The pace

was fast from the start, thanks to thewell-maintained roads. Four riders escaped 4km from the

finish – Juanita Venter, An-Li Kachelhof-fer (Active Drink), Kleinhans and LiseOlivier (Velolife). Kachelhoffer won thestage but Venter retained her lead as Kleinhans moved into second place.The 90km stage 3 started in Porterville

and the riders went via Piketberg toRiebeek Kasteel. Stander dropped out to prepare for the Argus Cycle Tour,which meant Kleinhans was without ateammate. >

An experienceto treasureTo compete in the Tour de Boland and then go on to ride in one of the world’s greatest roadraces, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour, is an unforgettable experience.

Words: Owen Botha, team manager – Bestmed ASG • Pictures: Capcha

It was a hot and windy day but thepeloton’s pace remained steady until theriders reached Piketberg. Team Velolifethen started launching numerous attacksoff the front and with their numericaladvantage Candice Neethling opened asizeable gap. At one stage she was more than 3 minutes ahead.The task to close the gap rested on

the shoulders of Team Bestmed ASG,who managed to cut into Neethling’slead. She won the stage but was only 36 seconds ahead at the end. Venter retained the leader’s jersey.Stage 4, the final one of the tour,

turned into a memorable 113km finale.It started in Riebeek Kasteel and wentvia Paarl to finish at the top of the Franschhoek Pass.As a resident of Stellenbosch,

Kleinhans was the favourite to win thestage because the roads were her training grounds. She is also the Swissmountain-bike marathon champion and deserved all the respect. A few early attacks came to naught

but the peloton’s pace increased as riders jostled for position before reachingthe famous Franschhoek Pass above thebeautiful town.Kleinhans, as expected, attacked at

the foot of the pass. Her move wasquickly covered by Olivier, Kachelhofferand Venter. A counter-attack by Olivierthen split the four front riders. First todrop was Venter whose hard work during the first three days took its toll on her legs. She was simply unable to keep up with the three youngerchargers. Olivier went solo to finish first but

Kleinhans was first on general classification, a mere 3 seconds ahead of Olivier, with Kachelhoffer third. Venter finished in fourth place.

The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle TourWith more than 37 000 participants, the world-renowned event posed many challenges, especially to fit them all intoone road.

Team Bestmed fielded five riders; three of them newcomers to the event. The top veteran riders and women

were in one start group of 200 cyclists.This resulted in an extremely fast-pacedrace. A strong southeaster made conditions even harder and there werecrashes almost everywhere.Because of the size of the bunch, it

was difficult for riders to determine theirposition in the race.Cherise Stander won the women’s

race, followed by Anriëtte Schoeman(Africa Silks Bestmed). Monique Gerber (Bestmed ASG) won

the race for junior women and the teamhad two riders in the top ten overall.Gerber finished eighth and Juanita Venter ninth.The Tour de Boland had clearly taken

its toll and the team’s tactics will be reviewed well before the 2015 races. To defend the gold leader’s jersey for the last three stages was too tall anorder for the young Bestmed ASG team. •CN

FEATURE


Juanita hits high noteson and off the bike

FEATURE



When Juanita Venter retained her national time-trial title and then made it a double in the road race, the veteran showed she was just getting started on the SA racing scene.

“I’VE WON THE TIME TRIAL a couple oftimes before but the road was the ever-elusive title I wanted to win,” says the 37-year-old.The Bestmed-ASG rider not only

achieved the personal goal but also sether course for the UCI amateur roadworld championships in Slovenia at theend of August. “I’m not sure whether I’ve reached my

peak yet. I’d like to compete in the elitecategory next year but I had to race as avet to qualify for world champs,” shesays.“That said, we have an exceptionally

strong field in the veteran category.Odelle Joubert and Greer Wynn arestrong competitors who can easily win anelite race.”Venter is looking forward to making

her international debut for South Africa. “My main aim will be to podiumin the time-trial but I’m also taking part inthe road race and I want to do reallywell.”She certainly seemed to be in top form

at the Bestmed Tour de Boland in March,where she took the yellow jersey in theopening time-trial and relinquished it onlyon the fourth and final road stage.“I believe I have the endurance for

tours and I prefer them to the one-dayraces. Sometimes the classics can be agamble; in South Africa it mostly comesdown to a sprint finish.

“In a tour there are all the different disciplines and it’s never over until you’vereached the last stage’s finish.”This certainly proved true during the

Western Cape tour when mountain bikerAriane Kleinhans of Team RE:CM claimeda surprise overall victory without winninga single stage.“Tour de Boland was a big learning

curve for our team,” says Venter. “Wemade a crucial mistake on day three to leta break get away, but that’s racing, I sup-pose. Spending energy to chase back threeminutes cost us the jersey on day four.”She praised her younger teammates for

their passion and dedication to a sport inwhich women’s racing is often under-supported. “We have a team with greatpotential and my goal for them is to become the stars of cycling. They wentout and rode like superstars.”Venter, a textile designer who lives in

Pretoria, has made big strides since takingup social cycling in 2006. “I started teaching spinning classes at the local gymand became more involved in cycling. My results kept on improving and Igained more confidence,” she recalls.Over the past seven years, she has gone

from strength to strength, winning theMTN Panorama Tour alongside AndreaSteyn last year. She also won titles in theveterans’ category of the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and Dome2Domeraces.

“I think women gain endurance

and wisdom as they get older.

It all depends on how much you

want something in life.”

FEATURE


She was third overall in the BestmedJacaranda Satellite Classic and the ActionFord Krugersdorp Classic last season.“There’s definitely longevity in cycling.

I’m very fortunate to have flexible workinghours. It makes it easy for me to train andrecover.”One “notable” victory that stands out

occurred at the end of a series of televisionshows a few years ago. Hundreds of thousands of viewers watched her pullthat one off. “I’ve always had a love of music,” she

explains. “So, in 2007 I went for a Noot vir Noot audition in Pretoria. It was a greatexperience and I went on to win the season. I think I was more surprised atwinning it than [presenter] Johan Stemmetwas.“And, for the record, I bought my time-

trial bike with some of the winnings!”Surprising people with her performances

seems to be Venter’s modus operandi andshe is far from done. “I think women gainendurance and wisdom as they get older.It all depends on how much you wantsomething in life.”She cites endurance swimmer Lewis

Gordon-Pugh’s book 21 Yaks and aSpeedo as an important source of inspiration. “His words that really inspireme when I’m tired and on the verge of giving up are: ‘Ask yourself if you can takeone more step. If the answer is yes, thentake it’.” •CN

RACE PREVIEW

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HE WAS ONE of the first qualified spinninginstructors in South Africa, and one of veryfew (if any) to transform a spinning studiointo a burgeoning retailer.He still recalls taking on the venture

about 12 years ago. “Spinning was verynew in the country, so I started the studioat home. Within a few months we had to move to a shopping centre to accommodate the growing numbers.”Campbell says it then became a

no-brainer to add a retail component tohis business. “It just made sense. Spinningstarted to fall away after a while and cycling, specifically road cycling, becamemore popular.”He recalls opening up shop with a mere

R8 000. Today, road cycling is still his corebusiness, bucking the trend set by so manybicycle shops that cater more and more toa growing mountain biking clientele. Heestimates that as much as 90 per cent of

Cycle Boys is geared towards roadies. “With everyone else stocking mostly

mountain bikes these days, there is definitely a gap in the market,” saysCampbell, who continues to focus his energy on carving out this special niche.“We mostly stock the French brand CKT

(which is imported), as well as somesmaller ones like Avalanche and Titan. Youwon’t easily find these in the larger retailchains.”His road-focused strategy extends to

providing top local pro outfit Team Bonitaswith an after-market service for their CKTbikes. “Although their team mechanics do the tech support, we take care of warrantee-related issues.”His shop, in Kempton Park near

Johannesburg, also offers the full complement of services and setups. Campbell, with his hands-on approach,does many of the services himself.

He is now planning to roll out a virtualretail store to service this need in the marketplace. “We’ll cater for everyonefrom total novices to professionals; everything in one place.“It will allow us to offer our wares at a

lower price than we can at a bricks-and-mortar shop.” Along with the planned online shop

expansion, Campbell has a tandem devel-opment team in the pipeline. “Everyone isinto developing road and mountain biking,but no one is putting riders on tandems,”he explains.His love affair with the sport can be

traced back to when he started cycling inhis matric year. Since then he has plied histrade with various pro teams. Last year, he won the national title in the tandemcategory, but his triumph was followed by devastating news. “I was diagnosed with lymphatic

cancer,” he says. “It changes your life in abig way. You want to spend time with yourfamily and at the same time you need tothink about the future of your business.” Campbell is maintaining a positive frame

of mind and, as always, is focused on turning opportunity into opulence; virtually speaking.Contact Cycle Boys on 011 391 8144

or e-mail [email protected]. •CN

Cycle Boys on the move – virtually

FEATURE



Glen Campbell has never been one to sit still and let opportunities pass. The story of Cycle Boys bears testimony to it.

IT’S THE BARDEN TYRES 24-hour mountain-bike challenge, presented byASG, which will be held at Rosemary Hillnear Pretoria from 10:00 on March 29 to10:00 on March 30. In addition to the day-and-night cycling

for individuals and teams, the event offers a feast of single track over ASG’smarvellous Rosemary Hill MTB track. And there is a lot to enjoy off the bike,

too. Participants will set up their own camp

site near the start, where music, bonfiresand various activities will help keep them“pumped up”. Warm showers, flushingtoilets and food and drinks will be available, not to mention Rosemary Hill’sspecial coffee for those in need of a boost.Prizes include an array of ASG brands

specific to mountain biking as well as othersponsored products.The 24-hour format combines

endurance and night riding in a social environment. In addition to the competi-tion among solo riders, there are relays inwhich teams of 2, 4, 6 and 8 will compete;all striving to complete as many laps aspossible within 24 hours, with only oneteam member out on the track at any time. Tactics are extremely important because

teams have to decide who should ridewhen, how many laps each rider shouldcomplete at a time, and when to take abreak for rest, sleep and nutrition. Teams and solo riders are free to decide

how much (or how little) they want to ride,and how much time they want to spendswapping stories around their fire. After all,the idea is to maximise the enjoyment andexperience of all participants.Solo riders, of course, will be out to

earn ultimate bragging rights in mountainbiking. There are two routes, each approxi-

mately 10km long, to make things moreinteresting and to provide variety in termsof terrain and features. Whether you arean experienced rider or a novice, you canbe sure that the event will accommodateall participants.Those who can’t make the full 24 hours

have the option of taking part in a six-hourchallenge, riding from 14:00 to 20:00 onthe same course and according to thesame rules as the 24-hour event. The participants will therefore also experiencethe thrill of day and night relay riding.For further information email

[email protected] or phone076 621 1807. •CN

Have fun in the dark –and in daylight too

RACE PREVIEW


It’s different, delightful and as demanding as you want it to be. And just about the most fun you can have on two wheels.

DATE29 and 30 March 2014

VENUERosemary Hill, 257 Mooiplaats, N4 East, Exit18 (Donkerhoek), PretoriaGates open at 07:30 for teams to set up camp

REGISTRATION24-hour event – 08:30 onwards6-hour event – 12:30 onwards

START TIMES: 24-hour race: Saturday 10:00 - Sunday 10:006-hour race: Saturday 14:00 to 20:00

ROUTE FEATURES: Dams, forests, grassy plains, ruins, floatingbridge and a shebeen

FORMAT AND COST 24-hour: solo – R290; team of 2 – R550; team of 4 – R990; team of 6 – R1 490;team of 8 – R1 8706-hour: solo – R180; team of 2 – R280;team of 4 – R500

Cyclingnews April 2014

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