Cyclingnews - November 2014

VOL 15 NO 9 NOVEMBER 2014

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

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KLEINHANS LOOKS BACKON A REALLY BIG SEASON

20 QUESTIONS

TIME TO STRIVE FOR MOREENDURANCE AND STRENGTH

PULSE PAGES

BRIGHT FUTURE BECKONS AFTER BRILLIANT YEAR FOR ASG RIDERS

HB STAKES CLAIM FOR 94.7

BESTMED SATELLITE CLASSIC

• BESTMED TOUR DE BOLAND WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY• PAARL RESERVE OPENS TRAILS TO MOUNTAIN BIKERS

RACE PEVIEWS

CYCLING LEGACYIMPEY’SLEGEND OF THE PEDAL

CONTENTS

01Cyclingnews November 2014

Sub header

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: Tour de Boland changes SA road cycling scene

5 In the Bunch: Practice makes perfect

7 Legend of the pedal: Tony led the way, set the pace and built a legacy

18 Product feature: Pinarello – The choice of champions

20 Pulse pages: Time to strive for more endurance and strength

FEATURES

13 20 questions for Ariane: Kleinhans looks back on a really big season

27 Bright future beckons after brilliant year for ASG riders

30 Adventure park turns Average Joes into heroes

35 20 questions for Willie Smit: Some tips from Cycle Challenge champion

38 Bike shop feature: Cycle towards the sunrise!

RACE PREVIEWS

23 Tour de Boland will take your breath away

33 Paarl Reserve opens trails to mountain bikers

RACE REVIEWS

10 HB stakes claim for 94.7 with Satellite victory

40 Bird soars to maiden Ballito win

The resemblance to his son is uncanny in thispicture of a young Tony Impey, Daryl's dad.

ON THE COVER

FROM THE EDITOR

02 Cyclingnews November 2014

Tour de Boland changes SA road cycling scene

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THE OVERWHELMING response that ASG has received regarding the 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland confirmed that South Africans are still just as passionate about road cycling as they are about mountain biking.

At the time of writing only a few of the 700 slots were still available fornext year’s Tour de Boland, which takes place from March 2 to 6.

The problem with many South African road events, in my view, is theyhave not evolved as much as mountain-bike events that present all differentformats of the sport. Most SA road races are still of the traditional 100kmmass-participation kind; fun rides on flattish circuits.

The Tour de Boland represents a move away from this format. It providesamateur road riders in the Western Cape an opportunity to find out what itis like to participate in a multi-day stage event, mirroring a typicalEuropean-style stage race.

In short, it makes the amateurs experience what the pros go through, and this concept has a lot of mass appeal.

ASG’s objective with the Tour is to create South Africa’s signature roadstage event, giving “average” riders an opportunity to rub shoulders withthe best in the sport; much like the experience the Absa Cape Epic affordsmountain bikers.

To cater specifically for the amateurs, veterans and elite women, the 2015 Tour de Boland will provide a nice early start to every day.

The five-day Tour, presented by Pinarello, begins at the beautiful SolmsDelta Wine Estate between Paarl and Franschhoek on March 2 and finishesat the Taal Monument on Paarl Mountain on March 6.

Three categories of riders are catered for. First off at 07:00 every day willbe the veterans’ bunches, followed by the women’s, who will ride with the50-plus veterans, and then by the open and seeded bunches.

The licensed elite bunch will comprise some world-class riders who willstart at 10:00 every day. This means all other riders will be in and at thefinish line to watch the cream of the crop come in.

The days can be rather hot in the Boland in March and the early startshould be good news for the participants.

ASG are working on a few new concepts in road racing in the WesternCape, and a special challenge is in the offing for accomplished road riderswho are looking for a new challenge in October 2015.

Watch this space.

Wynand de Villiers

IN THE BUNCH WITH COETZEE GOUWS


HE put in an impressive effort to holdoff the peloton for a bit, but wasultimately reeled in by the sprintingtrains and spit out the back to finishstone last.I remember thinking that if he had

timed his effort better, he might havehad a better chance. Kwiatkowski wasaround twenty-two at the time and Iput it down to youthful exuberance.Over the next eighteen months the

young Pole’s escapades off the front ofthe peloton in important racescontinued to grab my attention andeventually I became more than a littlefrustrated as he turned winningpositions into losing moves.Patience was obviously a

virtue that had eludedKwiatkowski as much asthose important victories.

At some point, one would’ve imagined,he would reassess his racing strategyand turn class into Classic victories.No one doubted his class and this was

underlined when the Polish federationnamed him team leader for the Worldsin Spain this autumn. Even more so, histeam put their faith in him as they satat the front of the bunch for much ofthe race to put him in position for oneof his trademark attacks.When the attack eventually came

between the final two ascents – and therest of the favourites preferred to holdtheir cards close to their chest – I heldmy breath.After seven hours of racing, my guttold me that he was going way tooearly and that he was once againsetting up a victory for his rivals.But, with the advantage of

hindsight, we now know that hehad timed his effort to absoluteperfection and rolled over the linea mere second ahead of the chasers

to collect the biggest win of them all.I was elated for his (and possibly my

own) sake. He had sacrificed an awfullot of titles to get his hands on this oneand I felt we had a worthy worldchampion.But it wasn’t until a few weeks later– during a squash coaching sessionof all things – that I was able to

fully interpret and verbalise the processthat Kwiatkowski had gone through totaste success.My coach and I were busy with a drill

that was designed to achieve a specificend result on my backhand. I started offrather shakily as I tried to understandthe exact force and angle needed toland the ball where the coach wanted.It was a gradual thing and several

minutes into the process I eventually hitthe sweet spot – and then again andagain. Slowly but surely I startedrecognising the trajectory off the frontwall and was able to adapt myshotmaking to achieve the desiredresult.Even though I’m nothing more than a

social squash player, I was mightilyexcited to have been able to tweak mymental process, resultant stroke andresult due to this drill. I turned to mycoach and told him how much easier Ifound it once I got it right the firsttime.He smiled and told me that, in

essence, repetition was at the basis ofany training regime. For, in a matchsituation, you are eventually presentedwith a scenario that is not just close towhat you’ve practised, but exactly thesame.When that moment comes, your

mind does not need to compute thescenario – it already knows what to doto achieve the desired result.Funny you say that, I told my coach.

The new world cycling champion hasjust used the same technique. •CN

Practice makes perfectI first laid eyes on Michal Kwiatkowski when he darted from the bunch in the run-in to the finish in one of the Classics.

Picture: Photosport International

“After seven hours of racing, mygut told me that he was going

way too early and that he was once again setting up a victory for his rivals.”

DATE: Saturday 31 January 2015TIME: 102km from 6:00; 55km from 7:30START AND FINISH: Cradlestone Mall, Muldersdrift

DISTANCES: 102km (R280), 55km (R150)ON-LINE ENTRIES: www.cycleevents.co.zaON-LINE ENTRIES CLOSE: 19 January 2015 TIMED BY: Race Tec

For more info, contact the race office on 076 621 1807 or e-mail [email protected]

THE WEST RAND’S BIGGEST RACE

The 2015 Action Ford Berge en Dale Classic is a premier seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour and takesoff from the Cradlestone Mall in the West Rand on 31 January 2015. After moving to the state-of-the-artCradlestone Shopping Mall on the R28 in 2014, the event proved to be a user-friendly experience at the venuewith ample parking and lots to do once the race finishes.

The event attracted 4 000 cyclists in the 2014 edition and the 2015 race route and venue remain unchanged.

Premier Seeding Event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour

LEGEND OF THE PEDAL


AT the time, sporting isolation had firmlyshut South Africa’s doors to internationalcompetition and taking on the Tour deFrance was merely a pipe dream.

The pragmatic Impey therefore tookthe opportunities he had to make inroadson the domestic circuit and became amultiple national track champion.

In 1976, he won the SA 20km title in anew national record of 24:35; a markthat stood for 15 years.

That same year, he was selected for atrack test series against a combined

international team. He received hisSpringbok blazer alongside other futurelegends Jack Lester, Walter Thornhill, JoeBillet, Alan Dipple and Robbie McIntosh.

Impey was SA pursuit champion forthree consecutive years from 1979 and,at the 1981 SA Games, confirmed hisdominance in the pursuit and 40kmevents.

When he turned his attention to theroad, he also proved himself as a tourrider, competing alongside flamboyantstars such as Alan “The Idol” van

Heerden. From 1982 to 1989, Impeyraced in the colours of various sponsors,including the TV4 and Southern Sunteams.

Foreshadowing his son’s success, hetook the yellow jersey for a day in the1982 Rapport Tour and wrote his namenext to two more stage wins in the annalsof the country’s most prestigious race.

“In those days, cycling was morepopular and exciting than it is today butthere was not enough money to be afull-time pro,” he says. >

Tony led the way, set the pace and

built a cycling legacyWhen Tony Impey became one of South Africa’s first card-carrying professional cyclistsback in the early eighties, he could not have believed that his son would one day becomethe first African to don the maillot jaune in the world’s most famous cycle race.

Words: Coetzee Gouws

“Tony’s eight-year procareer gave his kids

more than money. It gavethem a dream; especially

young Daryl.”

DATE: Saturday 31 January 2015TIME: 102km from 6:00; 55km from 7:30START AND FINISH: Cradlestone Mall, Muldersdrift

DISTANCES: 102km (R280), 55km (R150)ON-LINE ENTRIES: www.cycleevents.co.zaON-LINE ENTRIES CLOSE: 19 January 2015 TIMED BY: Race Tec

For more info, contact the race office on 076 621 1807 or e-mail [email protected]

THE WEST RAND’S BIGGEST RACE

The 2015 Action Ford Berge en Dale Classic is a premier seeding event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour and takesoff from the Cradlestone Mall in the West Rand on 31 January 2015. After moving to the state-of-the-artCradlestone Shopping Mall on the R28 in 2014, the event proved to be a user-friendly experience at the venuewith ample parking and lots to do once the race finishes.

The event attracted 4 000 cyclists in the 2014 edition and the 2015 race route and venue remain unchanged.

Premier Seeding Event for the Cape Town Cycle Tour

Holding down a nine-to-five job, herealised that his pro fees and winningswere simply a nice addition to hisearnings but not enough to keep a wifeand two children.

But, as it turned out, Tony’s eight-yearpro career gave his kids more thanmoney. It gave them a dream; especiallyyoung Daryl.

“Whatever sport he did, Mom and Dadsupported him,” says Tony. “He wasn’t abad footballer and tennis player and Ithink he tried rugby once.”

It was when Daryl discovered mountainbiking and then progressed to road racingthat his passion really flared. But,although cycling was clearly in his genes,it was not his interest in the sport per sethat Tony encouraged but rather his son’sdedication to something he loved.

“I have never stopped encouraging himhis whole life and continue to do so,”says Tony. That holds true for both hissons, Daryl and Grant, who is also a keencyclist.

Good character was something else hedid his best to instil in his boys. “I’d like

my kids to think of me as a role model,and themselves as role models forothers.”

Both he and Daryl built solidprofessional and personal reputations asthe good guys of what is often a dirtysport. This is why it came as such a shockwhen Daryl tested positive forProbenecid, forcing Orica-GreenEdge toremove him from their Tour de Franceline-up this year.

“We as a family were devastated andhad many sleepless nights.”

The negative media coverage wasembarrassing for everyone involved.“Although Daryl was able to prove hisinnocence, it caused a lot of damage tohis career.”

Tony believes the SA Institute forDrug-free Sport could have cleared Darylsooner than they did, thereby limiting theramifications.

Standing together in a time of crisis,the Impeys are a close-knit family. Theyoungest member is Daryl’s 17-month-oldson Ayden, who is the apple of hisgrandfather’s eye and may one day

continue their sporting legacy.“I just love them all to bits,” says

60-year-old Tony.His other pride and joy is his

eponymous Johannesburg-based bikeshop, which he opened after retiring frompro racing in 1989.

This year, Tony Impey Cycles celebratedits 25th year of business, thanks in nosmall part to the owner’s enduring lovefor and knowledge of the sport. And thebusiness brain of his wife, Elly.

“She makes sure everyone gets paid ontime. She does not ride a bike but, whenit comes to work, I don’t know where shegets her energy from.”

As for Tony himself, he enjoys bothroad riding and mountain biking and stillputs in a full day at the office.

Incidentally, he did eventually get hischance to compete on European soilagainst the world’s best. In 1992, Tonyraced at the veteran world championshipsin Vienna, Austria, where he won theroad time-trial, carving yet anotherImpey’s name in the international recordbooks. •CN

LEGEND OF THE PEDAL


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RACE REVIEW



RACE REVIEW


KRUGER put his climbing as well as hissprinting abilities to the test as henotched up his maiden win in the106km event, which traditionally servesas one of the toughest tests of formahead of the Momentum 94.7.

The Bonitas rider put in a big effort ona tough climb in the closing kilometresalong Hartbeeshoek Road and was firstinto the last turn at Saloon Route 66,going on to win in 2 hours 31 minutesand 8 seconds

Costa Seibeb of the MTN-Qhubekafeeder team was second, with Sean-NickBester of Westvaal-BMC third.

Kruger said the Satellite Classic, whichis presented by ASG, was one of the fewraces that suited his strengths. Mostnational classics tended to favour thefast men and usually came down to abunch sprint, he explained.

Some serious tests in the final 20km,including the Hekpoort and Poeierbultascents, gave climbers the opportunityto get away and shake up the pro field.

Kruger said his team had gone intothe race without a designated leader.“It’s more about who’s got the legs atthe finish,” he said afterwards. “I toldthe guys I was feeling good and theybrought back the last guy for me. LuckilyI had the legs to pull off the win.”

The racing started at a brisk paceunder cloudless skies and in perfectconditions, with the bunch quicklynullifying any early attacks. A 12-manbreakaway went up the road just beforethe sprint prime – won by MeronTeshome of the MTN-Qhubeka feederteam – at the 40km mark.

Europcar’s Ian Pienaar bridged toTeshome and the two worked togetherto open up a gap of more than 30seconds. They led the race over the next30km until they were finally broughtback on Hekpoort.

African road champion TesfomOkbamariam conquered the 4km ascent,which has an average gradient of sevenper cent, to claim the king of themountains for MTN-Qhubeka.

The climb also resulted in the rest ofthe lead bunch being reeled in by thepeloton, with the groups joining andsplitting several times after going overthe top.

A new front bunch eventually formed,with lone rider Metkel Eyob going onthe attack for MTN-Qhubeka. His soloeffort lasted almost 20km before he wasreeled in about 2km from the finish.

With a full-strength Bonitas squad inthe mix, Kruger said, they had a numberof cards to play. “Herman (Fouché) wasin a break right before the finish but hesaid he didn’t have the legs, so he andDylan (Girdlestone) committed fully tome,” said Kruger.

“Without them I wouldn’t have beenable to do it.”

The victory marked some goodlate-season form for the 23-year-old,who won the recent Engen Cycle in theCity criterium race in his home base ofPretoria. He was also instrumental inFouché’s victory at the BestmedCampus2Campus SuperClassic.

“With the fast, intense racing we’vebeen doing in the GoWest and Engenseries, the speed is definitely picking up;not only mine, but my competitors’ aswell,” he said with a laugh. “I’m justhappy to have won.”

After a few top-five finishes in Francea couple of months before, Kruger wasfeeling positive about his form. “So farI’m happy but I wouldn’t mind inchingtowards a few more wins and finishingthe season off on a high note.”

In the 94.7 he will face strongcompetition from the likes of teammateFouché and Abantu’s Nolan Hoffman,who recently registered their thirdvictories in the BestmedCampus2Campus SuperClassic andAmashova Durban Classic respectively.

In the Satellite Classic women’s race,Time Freight-VeloLife’s Lise Olivier tookthe queen of the mountains title and theoverall victory in 2:53:09.

The Pretoria cyclist’s teammate andAmashova winner Kim Le Court wassecond, with Juanita Venter ofBestmed-ASG third.

The 94.7 is expected to be an all-outtussle between these two pro teams.

For more information, visit Facebookor follow @Satellite_Class. •CN

HB stakes claim for 94.7

with Satellite victoryHB Kruger emerged as a dark horse for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge when he won the Bestmed Satellite Classic with a fine all-round performance in mid-October.

“I told the guys I was feeling good andthey brought back the last guy for me.

Luckily I had the legs to pull off the win.”

FEATURE


With you and Annika Langvadwinning both the Absa CapeEpic and the Perskindol SwissEpic, this has been a truly “epic”season in every sense of theword?Yes, it feels great to haveaccomplished our goals. Especiallywinning the Absa Cape Epic, wherewe had strong competition and adifficult start because of mechanicalproblems, was a big achievement.

What makes you and Annika awinning combination?Annika is a talented rider; not themarathon world champion byaccident. She was probably thestrongest female to ride a stage racethis year. But she is also very smart andunderstands teamwork. We put a lotof thought into that before every stageand, with my experience from racingwith Erik, I could tell her exactly howshe could support me best. After all,we get along really well off the bike.

How did the Cape Epic andSwiss Epic compare and differin terms of the challenges andconditions you faced?We did about the same amount ofclimbing at the Swiss Epic over half the distance of the Cape Epic. TheSwiss Epic took place in the Valaisregion. We started close to Mont Blanc and finished at the bottom ofthe Matterhorn in Zermatt, two of the highest mountains in the Alps. >

20 QUESTIONS FOR AWESOME ARIANE

Kleinhans looks back on a

REALLY BIG SEASONHaving won the Cape Epic and Swiss Epic titles, Ariane Kleinhans looks back on astellar season.

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Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Apix

In this area, climbs of 1 500m arenothing rare, but the effort is alwaysrewarded with spectacular views andreally great single-trail downhills.Because of the massive ascents, theSwiss Epic becomes a less tactical racethan the Cape Epic. In the Alps it wasmore about pacing yourself so youwouldn’t blow up on one of thoseclimbs. At the Cape Epic the pace isless steady and it can be crucial to putin a big effort in certain situations justto stay with or catch a bunch and saveenergy over the next stretch of flatopen road. For me, this aspect makesthe Cape Epic more challenging thanthe Swiss Epic. A short, big effort isalways painful and you have to knowexactly when and where it’sworthwhile to put it in.

How good was it to be racing onfamiliar turf in Switzerland?I really love those mountains. The trailsin the Valais are incredibly cool. Erikand I have been for an altitude trainingcamp there every year and got to knowthe terrain better and better. Comingfrom South Africa, it’s been good tohave practised on the steep descentsand tight hairpins.

How did you divide your timebetween Europe and SouthAfrica this year?It was almost half–half but I spentmore time in Switzerland than I usuallydo. I prolonged my European trip forthe Swiss Epic and after I decided notto do the Cape Pioneer I stayedanother few weeks to spend sometime with my family. Next year I willprobably be in Switzerland for only twomonths.

You took part in a few Europeanraces in the lead-up to the SwissEpic. Which ones were they?And tell us about yourperformance in each.

My first race after the marathon worldchamps was the Ironbike in Ischgl,Austria. It is a killer, with 3 800m ofascending in 79km. Coming out of analtitude training camp a little tired, Isuffered immensely and finished fourthoverall. But the race was goodpreparation for the Eiger BikeChallenge in Grindelwald, which alsoserved as the Swiss nationalchampionship, two weeks later. Itascends more than 3 900m in 88km. Iwas well recovered by then butcouldn’t hold the pace set by EstherSüss and Milena Landtwing up the first1 000m climb. I was riding in thirdposition for most of the race until thetop of the last big climb. There Imanaged to catch Milena just beforethe finish line to take second behindEsther. Only a week later, the motherof all marathons awaited us: thelegendary Grand Raid from Verbier toGrimentz. With 5 025m of climbing in125km, the riders conquer a good partof the Swiss Alps in one day. Milenawas meant to be my biggestcompetition, but a serious mechanicaltook her out of the race after the firstdescent. I managed to pace myself wellover seven hours and 48 minutes towin the race ahead of Sabine Sommerand Florence Darballey. A new anddifferent experience for Erik and mewas the Skaidi Xtreme. The organisersinvited us to this event in the far northof Norway, close to the North Cape,and treated us like a king and queen.The race was only 40km but verytechnical and a lot of fun on my newSpecialized Era dual suspension. Imanaged to win, ahead of Swedishchampion Jennie Stenerhag.

With big wins in Africa andEurope bookending yourseason, do you feel truly“bi-continental” now? And doyou get homesick for bothplaces?

I did race a lot of races in Switzerlandand South Africa, so I’d say I’mbi-national rather than bi-continental.The two countries are very differentand that makes it interesting. I alwayslook forward to the change of sceneryand culture. Of course, if I have a badday in Africa I want to see themountains and speak my mothertongue but it’s also true the other wayround. When it’s miserable inSwitzerland, I miss the sunny weatherand the great trails in Jonkershoek.Some days the grass just seems to begreener on the other side. But thegreat thing of my life is that it nevertakes long to be on the other side.

You also did well on the road inthe Bestmed Tour de Boland. Isthere a lot of carry-over frommountain-bike stage races toroad tours in terms of enduranceand fitness?Yes, it’s both cycling, after all. The Tourde Boland was just before the CapeEpic, meaning that I was in good shapeby then. In road racing the pace variesa lot more than in marathon mountainbiking and you must be able to ride ata high intensity. That was a greatchallenge, and the perfect training tosharpen up for the Cape Epic.

Will you begin 2015 with a titledefence at Tour de Boland?I’m not sure about the date, but if it fits into my calendar I’d definitely like to race it again.

FEATURE


“The Tour de Boland was just before the Cape Epic,meaning that I was in good shape by then.”

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FEATURE


What were your highlights/topfive podiums of the season?I had the perfect preparation leadingup to the Cape Epic and was inexcellent shape in March. Myperformances at the Tour de Boland,the national marathon in Tulbagh andthe Cape Epic were personalhighlights. The Cape Epic naturallystands out, as it was my main goal,and also because we had to fightback really hard after our unfortunatestart. The rest of the season I neverquite felt in the same form again, but

I was extremely pleased with the victory at the Grand Raid and theSwiss Epic.

Were there any personal orracing lowlights this season?Yes, the marathon worldchampionships in Pietermaritzburgwere a disappointment. Judging byhow I performed in March, I wentwith high expectations but somehowI just didn’t get it right.

Erik also had a good “homesoil” win at the Karoo to Coast,which was billed as the “Argusof mountain biking”. Was this abig win for him and somethinghe had been targeting for awhile?Erik had already collected a fewpodium places at the Karoo to Coastbut never got on the top step.Because it’s close to his hometown ofGeorge, he is attached to this raceand that made the win very special.Also, the way he won it was prettyimpressive. Normally this race comesdown to a sprint for the line but Erik

attacked with 40km to go andstayed in front.

What are some of theadvantages of being able totrain with your husband?In the beginning I trained quite a lotwith Erik because he was concernedabout my safety on the South Africanroads. He taught me a lot of smallthings and constantly pushed me outof my comfort zone. But at the sametime he sacrificed his training. It hadto change at some point and that’swhy we don’t really train togetheranymore. Erik often rides withChristoph Sauser when he’s inStellenbosch, and I have my coach,Andrew Smith, and the Power2Maxpower meter to keep me on my toes.

What are some of thedisadvantages of having twopro cyclists in the family?I don’t cope well with the pressureand stress before races, which cancause a pretty tense atmosphere.Because Erik is doing the same races,he has to deal with that at anunpleasant time for him. To be agreat athlete, you have to live foryour sport and look after yourself.Athletes therefore tend to be a littleeegoistic; obviously not a helpfulattitude for a successful partnership. >

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Cycling is a rather precariousprofession; one serious fall canalter the course of your career.How do you two deal with that?And is it hard to watch eachother racing across oftentreacherous terrain?I try not to think about it. If I did, itwould just increase the chances offalling because I’d ride in fear. Butwhen I arrived at the finish of thesecond stage of this year’s Nedbanksani2c and the people told me aboutErik’s crash, I was really shocked. Torealise that he wouldn’t be able toride at the world champs in his owncountry a month later was extremelysad. But luckily everything healed welland he is back on the bike.

What does an average day inthe life of Ariane Kleinhans looklike and, when you’re not on thebike, what do you do for fun?I get up between 7am and 8am andwhile I’m having my breakfast muesli Ido a bit of admin or read the news onthe internet. At about 9am I leave fora two- to four-hour ride. Immediatelyafter getting home, I have my

recovery shake, then wash my bikeand have a shower. After lunch it’stime to rest and do a little admin.Later I go for a run or a swim or dosome strength exercises, or I at leaststretch and massage my muscles.After that I go to the shop andprepare dinner. I try to be in bed atabout 10pm and to be asleep by11pm. During the serious trainingphase I either train or lie on the couchwatching TV. But at this time of theyear, I don’t have to be as strict withmy recovery. I could go free riding ordo a three-day hiking trip in themountains with friends. Those arereally great days.

Are you taking a break fromtraining or do you have moreracing goals before the end ofthe year?I took about two weeks off fromtraining after the Swiss Epic and amnow in a phase where I train, but nottoo specifically. In November I’ll dothe Wines2Whales, the DC and theOrigin of Trails, but I won’t put anypressure on myself to perform well.

When do you start your seriouspre-season training?The training will get more and moreserious in November, and by DecemberI hope to be in full-on training mode.

Where to from here? What goalraces and objectives have youpinpointed for 2015?The Cape Epic will again be a big goaland will determine my training overthe next few months. The other twoobjectives will be the Swiss andmarathon world champs at the end ofJune. Also the South African nationalmarathon series and the biggestclassic in Switzerland, the Grand Raid,will be important again. And for theend of the season I will most likelyfocus on the Cape Pioneer.

Do you believe you’re at thetop of your game or can youstill go up?I can still work on a lot of things, be it technical skills or physical andmental strength. My goal is tobecome the marathon worldchampion and I haven’t stoppedtrying to achieve that. •CN

FEATURE


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PRODUCT FEATURE


Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Photosport International

Pinarello has inspired a number of athletes to world-class performances. Miguel Indurain caught the attention when he took to the Tour de France time trial with a slanted top tube, which brought a significant aerodynamic advantage.

PRODUCT FEATURE


A competitive professional cyclist in hisprime, he decided that finishing in themiddle of the bunch at the 1951 Girod’Italia was unacceptable. So hepromptly decided to finish last to claimthe Maglia Nera, the black jersey. This allowed Pinarello to participate

in the lap of honour at the VigorelliVelodrome alongside the race winner,Fiorenzo Magni, and climber LouisonBobet.His name became associated with the

black jersey, but following that act ofdefiance he started a bicycle brand thatled to a legacy of many yellow jerseysand a global name long before he diedin September this year.In 1952, Pinarello was offered 100 000

lire by his team to drop out of the Giroto allow the more promising PasqualeFornara, who had just been released byTeam Bianchi and was on the market, toparticipate.With the money, he started a small

bicycle shop in Treviso where he focusedon building high-quality, handmademachines.Sponsorships were slowly rolled out

to up-and-coming teams but the branddid not become a household name untilFausto Bertoglio won the Giro in 1975,almost a quarter of a century afterPinarello claimed his black jersey.The manufacturer’s hot streak

continued with back-to-back victories inthe 1981 Vuelta ã Espa�a and Giro d’Italia.

Although the marque was making aname for itself as a premium product, it was elevated into the stratospherewhen Alexi Grewal claimed the goldmedal in the road race at the 1984Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Four years later, then 66 years old,

the visionary Pinarello brought his sonFausto into the business, which hadexpanded into a mega operation. Thatsame year, the brand netted its firstTour de France title, courtesy of PedroDelgado. During the nineties, the company

produced frames that were ahead oftheir game and by the early 2000s thefirst Dogma – made from magnesiumalloy – saw the light of day.Less complex to use in the

manufacturing process and at a fraction of the cost, carbon fibre laterreplaced the magnesium.More recently, Pinarello has become

the race machine of choice of some ofthe world’s top teams, most notablyTeam Sky, who won Tour de Francetitles in 2012 and 2013. Sky also collaborated with Jaguar and

Pinarello to design their dream bike forthe upcoming season. Locally, the brand supplies frames to

Team Bestmed-ASG and stores are keen to stock it, despite its reputation as ahigh-end product.Contact ASG Sport on 012 807 3684

to find a stockist near you. •CN

The choice of

CHAMPIONSGiovanni “Nani” Pinarello had never been one for half measures.

“During the nineties, the company producedframes that were ahead of their game.”


Cyclists who enter their late base-training phases have to focus more intensely on increasing muscular endurance and strength on the bike.

PULSE PAGES

THE greater your muscle endurance, theless fatigue you will experience towardsthe end of a long race and the moreintensity you can handle while training.

Early-season base training is a goodconditioning phase. It is the phase inwhich you should spend a lot of time inthe saddle, at low intensity, to startpreparing your body for the rigoursof the season.

The more time you spend onbase training the moreracing your body will be

able to endure, without you getting tootired or ill. Previously, most cyclists movedinto the endurance and anaerobic trainingphase without a transition period. Nowmany believe one should make a gentletransition.

This means one should startincorporating strength and endurancetraining into your upper heart-rate zonesin the final few weeks of base training.

Heart rate is a great tool to monitorincreased efforts during short endurancebursts, but a steady heart rate can hideincreases and decreases in speed andpower, resulting in a less than steadyeffort.

No effort is going to be perfectlysteady, but with power you can limit thefluctuations.

TIME TO STRIVE FOR MOREENDURANCE AND STRENGTH

Words: Wynand de Villiers • Picture: Photosport International

“The more time you spend on base training themore racing your body will be able to endure. ”

PULSE PAGES

This allows you to target specific energydemands while placing a greater amountof aerobic stress on the muscle comparedto using heart rate alone. Used inconjunction, wattage and heart rate canprovide valuable information.

Incorporating more days focused onlonger upper heart-rate zone efforts (zone3 and 4) has become important, especiallyfor professional athletes looking to kicktheir bodies into gear and slowly transferthemselves into their higher intensitytraining pre-season training period.

Zone 3 efforts are especially effectivewhen used on long endurance rides.Working for durations of 10 to 30minutes allows you to place a largeamount of stress on the musclesaerobically. Challenge yourself to work theupper end of the zone with both powerand heart rate.

It takes greater concentration tomaintain this effort but it will lead togains in power in this range, which willrepresent gains in muscle endurance.

When you train outdoors, the terrainwill dictate how steady you can be andfor how long, so it is best to work theseefforts on a continuous grade oruninterrupted flats.

Maintaining a steady wattage output is great for helping you maximise yourpotential for each effort, but knowingthat you are working aerobically is just as important.

Feedback from your breathing,perceived exertion and heart rate is stillimportant. Keeping a deep breath duringthese efforts will let you know you are stillworking aerobically.

If your heart rate drifts high butbreathing remains deep, stick with the

power for your effort. If your heart ratedoes not elevate into zone 3 but youexperience a high perceived exertion,then, whether or not you can hit thepower ranges for the day, you mayexperience greater fatigue. This is when itmay be wise to back off for the day andskip the efforts.

Since the efforts are not too intense,you can recover quickly from each one and you can do more of this training every day during the late baseperiods.

Important adaptations while workingefforts in these ranges will be seen inincreases in muscle glycogen storage,aerobic conversion of fast-twitch fibresand mitochondrial enzyme activity.

All these adaptations are importantfactors in building increased muscleendurance and strength. •CN

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CKT-OUREA MTBFRAME ONLY: R15 999

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Complete weight of only 12.5 kgAvailable colours: white and red, matt black

RACE PREVIEW


THE TOUR, presented by Pinarello, startsat the beautiful Solms Delta Wine Estatebetween Paarl and Franschhoek onMarch 2 and finishes at the TaalMonument on Paarl Mountain five days later, on 6 March.

Riders will participate in threecategories. The veterans’ bunches will be off first every day, followed by thewomen, who will ride with the50-and-older veterans, and then the openand seeded bunches. The first buncheswill start at 07:00.

Some top-shelf international cyclistswill compete in the licensed elite bunchand will start at 10:00 daily. This means

all other riders can be the finish lineto watch them come in.

The early start will also benefit thosewho won’t have to contend with the heatthat is often experienced in the Boland inMarch.

Daily starting times (with the exceptionof the stage 3 time trial): • 07:00 – Veterans, 30 plus and 40 plus• 07:05 – Veterans, 50 plus, 60 plus and

elite women• 07:10 – Open seeded, A bunch• 07:15 – Open seeded, B bunch• 10:00 – Licensed elite riders

The number of entries, excluding theelite bunch, are limited to 700 in theopen and seeded bunches. There are stillsome spots available.

A distance of 430 km over five stagesawaits riders, including a total ascent of 7 128 metres.

The tour caters for all CSA categoriesas well as open/seeded fun-ridecategories and presents four road stages

and a 53km individual time trial.Emulating European cycling

traditions, the 2015 Tour is again set for

a scintillating

grand finale. Riders have to summit thePaarl Mountain to finish at the TaalMonument on the final day.

The Tour de Boland is at the forefrontof rekindling classic road tours in SouthAfrica. The organisers aim to present atrue challenge to road riders and to alsoshow them as much as possible of thebeautiful Boland region.

The roads are excellent for cycling andtraffic is generally calm. Other road usersare usually a lot more patient than thosein elsewhere in the country.

To keep things interesting, theorganisers have made changes to theroute. Only one of the 2014 stagesremains intact: the 138km fourth stagefrom Tulbagh to Riebeek-Kasteel.

The format will change every year toprovide participants with a differentracing experience and to take the tour todifferent areas. The roads in the Bolandare perfect for cycling and the riders willpass through some of the area’s mosthistoric and beautiful towns, includingFranschhoek, Worcester, Ceres, Tulbagh,Riebeek-Kasteel and Paarl. >

Tour de Bolandwill take your breath away

Amateur cyclists, veterans and elite women who participate in the 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland will enjoy a nice, early start every day.

“A distance of 430 km over fivestages awaits riders, including atotal ascent of 7 128 metres.”


Most open and seeded riders will aim to justfinish the tour but there will be a huge battlefor top honours up front.

All SA pro teams will be present, as well as a strong contingent of international riders,including world and Cape Epic championChristoph Sauser.

Entry fees for the event are R1 850 per rider. Route information and maps available at

www.asgevents.co.zaFor further information email

[email protected] or phone 076 621 1807. •CN

RACE PREVIEW


SATURDAY 29 FEBRUARYRegistration at Willemse Cycles, Tyger Valley from 09:00 to 13:00

SUNDAY 1 MARCH Cocktail function from 18:00 to 20:00 atSolms Delta’s Fyndraai restaurant formedia representatives, sponsors andriders. (Compulsory to GC contenders,team managers, all staff, officials, media,support crews, and individual entrants(open/seeded and veteran riders without ateam manager).

MONDAY 2 MARCH: STAGE 1Franchhoek to Worcester, via VilliersdorpDistance: 92km; total ascent: 1942m

TUESDAY 3 MARCH: STAGE 2Worcester to Op-die-Berg, via CeresDistance: 73.8km, total ascent: 2013m

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH: STAGE 3Individual Time Trial: Op-die-Berg toTulbagh, via CeresDistance: 53km, total ascent: 614m

THURSDAY 5 MARCH: STAGE 4Tulbagh to Riebeek-kasteel, via PiketbergDistance: 138km, total ascent: 1584m

FRIDAY 6 MARCH: STAGE 5Riebeek-kasteel to Paarl, via WellingtonDistance: 74km, total ascent: 975m

PROGRAMME

An entire weekend of

cycling activities

For more information, contact ASG Events on 076 621 1807 or email [email protected]

Enter on-line atwww.cycleevents.co.zaOn-line entries close on 30 March 2015 at 23:00

SATURDAY, 11 APRIL 2015EMPERORS PALACE MTB CLASSICStart: 8:00Distances: 40km (R170), 20km (R130)Start and finish: Emperors Palace

SUNDAY, 12 APRIL 2015EMPERORS PALACE CLASSIC ROAD RACEDistances: 102km (R290), 50km (R150)Start and finish: Emperors PalaceStart: 6:00

EMPERORS PALACE KIDS CLASSIC 2-4 year-olds, 5-8 year-olds. Emperors Palace groundsStart: 10:00

EMPERORS PALACE CIRCUIT SPECTACULARBy invitation onlyVenue: Emperors Palace groundsStart: 11:00

FEATURE


ASG Sport Solutions has been investingin the future of South African cycling forthe past six years with its sponsorship ofthe ASG junior and U23 men’s teams,ASG Mountain Bike Academy andBestmed-ASG women’s team.

ASG chief executive HeinrichDannhauser says most corporate andindustry sponsors prefer to invest in eliteteams, where marketing benefits andcoverage were generally assured.

“This makes it extremely difficult foryoung South African cyclists to find thesupport they need. As a result, it hasbeen a major contributing factor toexciting talent disappearing afterpromising junior careers.

“ASG Sport Solutions is one of only afew industry players that have beenprepared to sponsor significantly at juniorand U23 level in addition to ourcontributions in the elite ranks.”

Dannhauser says it is crucial for youngcyclists to be supported from an earlystage and mentored through to elitelevel. The ASG sponsorship programmehas been developed with this in mind.

“We have seen many riders comethrough our ASG junior team ranks, thenuse the U23 team structure as a ‘bridge’to get ‘picked up’ by a professional eliteteam; an achievement we are extremelyproud of.” >

Bright future beckons after brilliant year for ASG ridersWhile many team sponsors are making headlines on elite podiums across the country,one company has been quietly working in the background to promote the grassrootsdevelopment of the sport.


The brand’s supportive efforts havepaid off again this year with thefour-man junior team maintaining its100-percent podium record in all 11major classics for the fourth consecutiveyear.

“The team rode each race with theobjective to dominate and they had thedepth and the talent to do so,” saysteam manager Pierre du Plooy. “Theriders support and respect each other.Their success is purely a team effort.”

Gustav Basson scooped the nationaltime-trial title, making it the fourth yearin a row for an ASG rider. TeammatesKent Main, who was also third on theroad, and Jarrod Hattingh were fourthand fifth respectively.

Basson also claimed the greensprinter’s jersey and overall honours atthe TRAC N4 Junior Cycle Tour andHattingh was named best young rider.

By comparison, the six-strong U23squad suffered mixed fortunes thisseason, says Du Plooy. “The team wereconstantly under pressure because ofunlucky crashes and punctures, but their

aggressive riding in the elite bunchgarnered them respect and attention.”

Two of the members, Ryan Felgateand Wesley Eslick, rode the UCI-ratedMzansi Tour as part of the SA invitationalteam.

Viehann du Plessis won the MzansiTour criterium race and Rohan du Plooyfinished third in the SA time-trialchampionships and won the Bela BelaClassic.

“As a team, we have a lot of potentialand 2015 could be our year. Thepossibility of having a junior and U23national champion is definitely there,”says Du Plooy.

On the women’s side, ASG partneredwith Bestmed medical scheme asco-sponsors, providing the team withequipment, including Pinarello frames,Ftech cycling clothing and Rudy Projecthelmets and eyewear.

“All 16 riders have been supplied with premium equipment,” says teammanager Owen Botha. “Without thisequipment, we would not have achieved the awesome results of this

past year.”Botha says his U16 riders won all the

national events on the track, road and inmountain biking in their age group. “We dominated the junior women’sracing and three of our four junior riders were chosen to attend the worldchamps in Spain.”

On the elite side, the Bestmed-ASGwomen won classics such as thePowerade Lost City Cycle Classic, RandWater Race 4 Victory and PPC CementKremetart Tour.

“In the vets category, Juanita Venterwon the national time-trial and roadtitles and later also the world time-trialgold medal in Slovenia,” says Botha.“We’re proud to have a world championon our team but none of these victorieswould have been possible withouttop-class equipment.”

The teams will all be looking to endthe season on a high note at thismonth’s Momentum 94.7 CycleChallenge.

For more information, visitwww.asgevents.co.za •CN

FEATURE


“WE believe everyone should have achance to become a hero, whether it isto themselves, their family and friends orthe public. The Hero brand’s message issimple and clear: it’s about reaching yourfull potential.”

Many sports enthusiasts are seekingnew ways to extend their limits andHerbst says the demand for exciting, butsafe venues has spiked over the pastthree years.

“Because I organise so many events, I constantly get feedback from peoplewho say they would love to train andride more, but it’s too dangerous andunsociable in public areas.”

And so the idea of a multi-sportadventure park to cater for thesepeople began to take shape asHerbst and his associatesbounced ideas around.

“It was essentially the brainchild of abunch of mates, all passionate aboutsport and people,” he says.

The group opened their first HeroAdventure Park at Heia Safari Ranchnear the Cradle of Humankind inGauteng this year. “We started lookingat a number of venues and it took thebetter part of a year to come across HeiaSafari,” says Herbst.

“I’m not sure if it was a stroke ofgood luck or fate, but westarted talking to the

landowners and after a few months andhundreds of meetings we finally got thego-ahead.

“Heia Safari and the owners are veryspecial. We have an amazing relationshipand worked hard as a team to ensure we deliver the best possible results.”

These include seven trails formountain biking, trail running andwalking and three courses for canoeing,kayaking and open-water swimming on

the cleanest lake in Gauteng. Anobstacle course and cross-fit

training facilities complete theoffering.

“Hero doesn’t just cater formountain bikers,” says Herbst.

“All these activities gel to offer anoutdoor lifestyle hub for families.

And for those riding solo, it’s a greatplace to meet like-minded people.”

Adventure park turnsAverage Joes into heroes

FEATURE



Giving ordinary mountain bikers an opportunity to let out their inner hero is what theHero Adventure Group is all about, says co-founder Darren Herbst.

FEATURE


One of the most important aspects, hesays, has been getting the balance rightin terms of catering for all levels ofexperience, skill, fitness and technicalability.

“We’ve made sure there’s somethingfor everyone, from the newbie to theseasoned athlete. We want beginners tofeel comfortable while giving them‘carrots’ so they keep on aspiring toachieve.

“Another exciting part is the focus onLittle Heroes, including a secure kiddies’area with party facilities, 300m pumptrack and obstacles.” The facility offersdedicated child minders over weekends.

Herbst says the recent mushroomingof mountain-bike parks has notnecessarily been beneficial to the sport.“A lot of people seem to have the

perception that you can just get a spade,clear some grass and, boom, you have amountain-bike trail.”

It’s a lot more detailed than that, saysHerbst. A number of legal, social,environmental, safety and other aspectsmust be considered.

“The list of challenges is endless. Weare still learning about the day-to-dayoperation of the park and we take eachday as a positive lesson.”

The venue is open daily from sunriseto sunset, with night races byarrangement.

“Having a venue that provides a varietyof activities is exciting when it comes tohosting events. We are, however, verycareful not to overexpose the venue.”

One of the more popular events is theJozi Night Series, which takes place on

the last Friday of every month. Itcomprises a kiddies’ race, 5km and10km trail runs, plus 10km and 20kmmountain-bike races.

“Some of the events to look forwardto in 2015 are the TriRock triathlon, twocross-fit championships and a three-daymountain bike race,” says Herbst.

The new membership option givespeople unlimited access to the park’sactivities and trails as well as discountson events and kit.

Herbst says they are developing threemore Hero Adventure Parks in theJohannesburg area, one in Pretoria andpossibly one in Cape Town over the next12 months.

For more information visitwww.hero-adventure.com or find thevenue on Facebook. •CN

“Heia Safari and the owners are very special. We have an amazing relationship and worked hard asa team to ensure we deliver the best possible results.”

RACE PREVIEW


THE EVENT, presented by the City ofDrakenstein, offers 60km and 30kmdistances. It has received a once-offconcession for cyclists to traverse thehuge granite rock and fynbos-shroudedhiking trails that are out of bounds at allother times.

The event promises an unrivalledexperience, says race director Wynand deVilliers of ASG Events. Participants willpass picturesque vineyards, ride therenowned Rhebokskloof Estatesingle-track and power up to the iconicTaal Monument.

“It’s certainly worth the trip. This routeis without equal anywhere in South Africaand those who miss it will miss out on anexceptional experience.”

In addition, a total of R10 000 in prizescan be won.

De Villiers says the event is the start ofa brand-new partnership between themunicipality and the organisers and bothparties are determined to make it asignature event for the town.

“Paarl residents will also be able toshare in the action as riders dice throughtown en route to and from the PaarlArboretum race village.”

The feature race, with its 1 750m

vertical ascent, was especially designed to give skilled mountain bikers a goodchallenge. “It’s a tough ride butabsolutely stunning and guaranteed toleave any serious mountain biker with areal sense of accomplishment.”

The field should split early becauseriders start with a 12km climb to theradio tower on top of Paarl Mountainbefore descending over the samedistance through the scintillatingRhebokskloof single track.

“This means participants will be able toplay comfortably, without bottlenecks orslow-moving traffic, on what has beendescribed as some of the best single trackin the Western Cape.”

Riders can also look forward toascending through the grounds of theTaal Monument before plunging downthe mountainside on flowing single track and popping out back into thestreets of Paarl, says De Villiers.

“The 30km race is a much moremanageable option but riders still have to get themselves up to the top of themountain before they can enjoy thedescents in the second half of the route.”

Vehicle sponsors NTT Volkswagen Paarlwill provide sweep vehicles on the routesto ensure rider safety.

The event starts at 07:00 to avoid theheat of the day and CBC Brewery andRhodes Foods will provide a beer tent anda food village at the finish. All participantswill receive goodie bags and medals.

Registration takes place from 10:00 to16:00 on the Friday at Chris WillemseCycles in Tyger Valley and from 09:00 to13:00 on the Saturday at the PaarlArboretum’s southern entrance.

Late registration is from 06:00 on themorning of the race.

Enter at www.asgevents.co.za beforeNovember 11. The Cancer Association ofSouth Africa will receive R10 from every entry fee. •CN

Paarl Reserve opens trailsto mountain bikersParticipants in the inaugural Bestmed Paarl MTB Classic will have a rare opportunityto ride their bikes inside the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve on Sunday November 16.

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5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

60km ROUTE PROFILE

FEATURE


How old are you, and when andhow did you get into cycling?I am 21. I started mountain biking withmy school friends at the age of 16 andmy interest in the sport grew fromthere.

Which team do you currentlyride for?I ride for the Vini Fantini-Nippocontinental team in Italy.

When not racing abroad, whereare you based?I grew up in Lydenburg inMpumalanga. When I’m home fromItaly, I stay in Nelspruit as it best suits

my demand for training on all kinds ofterrain.

You’re competing in theUnder-23 category at the worldchampionships. Take us throughyour personal and teamobjectives.I’ve done a few 1.1 UCI races in Italy inpreparation for Worlds. I’ll do my bestto support Louis Meintjes, keep himout of trouble and support him withbottles and food where I can.

Your most satisfying result thisseason? And why?It has really been a tough first season

in Europe for me. But winning thepoints jersey in the Tour of Dubai wasmy best moment because all ProTourteams where present, with riders suchas Cavendish, Sagan and Kittel.

What did last year’s victory atthe Momentum 94.7 CycleChallenge do for your career?Will you be defending your title?Unfortunately, winning any number ofraces in South Africa won’t give youany contract in Europe. It all dependson whether I get a proper contract inEurope for next year. If I do, I mighthave to rest in November to buildtowards the 2015 season. >

SOME TIPS FROM CYCLE CHALLENGE CHAMPION

20 QUESTIONSFOR WILLIE SMITLast year’s 94.7 Momentum Cycle Challenge champion, Willie Smit, may not defend his title on November 16, but he has some good advice for participants. Cyclingnewschatted to him about this and his personal ambitions for the upcoming season.


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You powered away in the lastfew kilometres of the CycleChallenge last year. Was thatyour pre-race plan?Races in South Africa don’t really suitmy style of riding. I planned to helpHerman Fouché and Clint Hendricks,but an opportunity presented itself in ahard final stretch. It suited the team tosend me up the road, which resultedin the win.

Will you recce the new routebeforehand?If I do ride the 94.7 this year, I wouldcheck out the final three kilometres tosee which lines to take and where thebest place for an attack would be.

Which portion of the CycleChallenge do you find thetoughest? And why?Any part where there might be gutterscould be very tough.

With around a month to go untilrace day, what is your numberone tip for the average rider?It’s usually quite hot at that time of theyear, so hydration throughout the raceis of the utmost importance. And, ifyou don’t have backup, carry yourown tubes as you don’t want to spendthe whole day out there.

What are the most commonmistakes in the final weeksleading up to the event?Training too much. Riders think theyshould catch up on training they havemissed. And changing their diet. Itcan disturb the body’s balance anddoesn’t give it enough time toadapt to a new diet or training.

The Argus has thesub-three-hour barrier thatsocial riders aspire to break.Does the Cycle Challenge havean equivalent benchmark?It’s hard to say because of the differentroute but if the wind doesn’t play toobig a role, anything under 2 hours 30minutes is a decent time.

Should riders who are going forpersonal best or specific goalslisten to their body or rather beguided by heart-rate monitorsand other equipment? How doyou do it?Unfortunately, in races you have to tryto go as fast as the group you are in,even if it means not listening to yourbody. The 94.7 is only once a year, sothere should be no reason for notexploring your limits. But it’s alwaysbetter finding a group that works welltogether to achieve your best timepossible. A solo attempt might feel

harder but it’s not always the fastermethod as wind resistance plays a bigrole in energy expenditure. In Europe,you’re always pushing yourboundaries; you go as hard as you canand if you crack before the finish youjust accept it wasn’t meant to be. But,most importantly, know where yourboundaries are.

For non-pros, would yourecommend a rest day or aneasy ride the day before?Always, always, always ride the daybefore. It activates the body andmuscles. You don’t want to start yourrace numb and with stiff legs.

What should the ordinary riderbe eating and drinking the daybefore? What, when and howoften?Always eat in proportion to your bodysize and what you are used to.Overeating won’t enhance yourperformance because your body canonly use X amount of the proteins andcarbs you’ve eaten. Overeating couldalso cause an upset stomach, whichyou don’t want on your big day. I keepit simple with my usual breakfast ofFutureLife and eggs, some protein, likea chicken salad at noon, pasta withnot too much sauce at night, followedby something sweet like fruit. Thiswould be my typical pre-race dayroutine.

And on race day?Anything with carbs and sugar but,most importantly, a coffee before thestart. And, as mentioned before,something that your body is familiarwith.

FEATURE


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“Always, always,always ride the daybefore. It activates thebody and muscles. ”

FEATURE


What is your top tip for riders whostart cramping?I’ve cramped up quite a lot of times inimportant parts of races. The best thing to dois pedal through it. Once you stop, it’s over.The muscle will contract even more. Also,drinking more water and less sugar on hotdays can help prevent cramping.

How should those who have timegoals – like breaking the three orfour-hour barrier – pace themselves?Start fast, finish fast, ride a constantpace or just stay with the bunchthroughout?Someone once told me that if you think youcan’t anymore, it means you can still dodouble what you’ve already done. I’ve keptthis saying close to my heart. Give it your allfrom the start as you don’t want to finish therace feeling you could have done more. Thiswill come back to haunt you for days.

Due to the sheer numbers, races likethe Cycle Challenge feature a lot ofgroup riding. What are your top threebunch-riding tips?First of all, always pay as much attention aspossible to the rider in front of you and beaware of changing situations around you.Second, if you’re just riding for a good time,there is no reason to overlap the wheel infront of you. Lastly, riding a bicycle is a lot likedriving a car … always stay within your limits.Not everyone can go through corners andgaps at the same speed. And never, ever pulltoo hard on the brakes.

The altitude may affect coastal riders.Any tips for them?Coastal riders should take a more strategicapproach and not start too hard, as theycould easily burn out quickly. •CN

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

Ocean & Air

Imports & Exports

Warehousing

Customs Clearing

Road Freight

Distribution

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Unit 1 Aviation Park, 18 Pomona Road, Pomona, Kempton Park, Gauteng, 1619

Phone: (+27) 11 396 1896Fax: (+27) 11 396 2011

E-mail: [email protected]

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19

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IN the space of 12 months, he gotmarried, became a dad and emerged as afirst-time business owner.

The name of the shop, which openedduring the winter and is situated in SherryStreet in Harmelia, Edenvale, was inspiredby its location east of Johannesburg.“You’re cycling towards the sunrise!” hesays.

With a retail background spanningmore than a decade, Kreuger hasextensive experience in everything fromtechnical assistance to management.However, while he was gainingexperience in other businesses, he longedfor a place of his own.

“The idea was in the back of my mindfor a long time. I wanted to offersomething a bit different from what I’dseen.”

He began talking to investors, and byJanuary everything was coming togethernicely. His daughter was born soonafterwards, well ahead of schedule,

adding to the family’s rollercoaster ride ofadjustments.

Kreuger is not complaining. His shop isalready doing much better than he hadanticipated, partly, he believes, due to itsclever positioning. His decision to sharehis retail space with a camping storeturned out to be an inspired one as thesport complements other outdooractivities, such as camping, canoeing andhiking.

“The space was available and it justmade sense. We’d love to eventually offercaravan-based accommodation for stageraces,” he says. “When you get off thebike, you don’t have to sleep in a hottent. There’s aircon, cold beverages in thefridge, and a comfy bed.”

The flagship bicycle brands they stockare Momsen and Trek, but Kreuger hasset his eyes on some of the brandsimported by ASG, including Pinarello.

Accessories by Rudy Project and SIDI,and nutritional products from High Five,

are also available in-store. And if they donot stock an item or a brand, Kreugergoes out of his way to make sure hisclients get what they want.

“I just came back from an errand. Acustomer wanted something I didn’t haveso I popped out and found it for her.”

The shop offers the full complement ofservices and he ensures they have time totake proper care of each bike by limitingthe number of bookings per day.

In-house mechanic Thomas Leboganghas been in the industry for almost 30years and even did a stint as AndrewMclean’s personal mechanic.

Kreuger is also excited about taking oncommunity projects and is planning toassist local youngsters to follow inLebogang’s footsteps.

Cycle East is open from 08:30 to 17:00on weekdays and from 08:30 to 13:00 onSaturdays.

Visit www.cycle-east.com or give thema buzz on 011 974 8410. •CN

Cycle towards the sunrise!

BIKE SHOP FEATURE



When Kelly Kreuger decided to make the shift from employee to entrepreneur he hadno idea that the year leading up to the opening of Cycle East would be his busiest yet.

No better place to ride your bike!

5 Days... 5 Stages... 430km.

NEW ADDITION: AMATEUR TEAM COMPETITION

The 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland will forthe first time boast a team competition indie open bunches. Open/seeded riders canorganise themselves in teams of 6 withdaily times of the best three riders to

count for the overall amateurteam prizes.

ACCOMMODATIONPACKAGES

We've arranged accommodationpackages in all of our start/finish towns,including Paarl prior to stage one, butexcluding the final day which finishes inPaarl. All accomodation is rated 3-star

and up and consists of bed andbreakfasts and hotels in these

beautiful towns.

DATES: 2-6 March 2015PROVINCE:Western CapeON-LINE ENTRIES: www.asgevents.co.za

STAGE INFORMATION:

Stage 1: Monday 2 MarchFranschhoek (Solms Delta) to Worcester, via Villiersdorp (92km)

Stage 2: Tuesday 3 MarchWorcester to Op-die-Berg, via Ceres (73.8km)

Stage 3: Wednesday 4 MarchITT Op-die-Berg to Tulbagh, via Ceres (53km)

Stage 4: Thursday 5 MarchTulbagh to Riebeek-kasteel, via Piketberg (138km)

Stage 5: Friday 6 MarchRiebeek-kasteel to Paarl, via Wellington (74km)

The route for the 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland,presented by Pinarello from 2-6 March next year, has been unveiled. A total of 430km awaits ridersover 5 stages with a total vertical ascent of 7 128metres. The Tour caters for all CSA categories as well as open/seeded fun ride categories and presentsfour road stages and a 53km individual time trial. Emulating the finest European cycling traditions,

the 2015 Tour is again set for a scintillating grandfinale with riders having to summit the PaarlMountain to finish at the Taal Monument on thefinal day.The Tour de Boland is at the forefront of

rekindling the tradition of classic road tours in South Africa. The organisers’ aim with the event is to present a true challenge to road riders whileshowcasing as much as possible of the Bolandregion.The roads in the Boland are absolutely

stunning and the Tour will pass through some of its most historic and beautiful towns, including Franschhoek, Worcester, Ceres, Tulbagh, Riebeeck-kasteel and Paarl. The field will be limited to 500 riders.

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

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THE Quattro rider held a small butdetermined chasing group at bay to claimvictory in the 50km race in a time of1:53:37.

Ryan Piercey followed him across theline to earn the runner-up spot in1:54:14, with Joshua Nelson just pippingBrad Stroberg for third in 1:55:33.

Bird said the racing started slowly, asthe riders gauged each other’s strengthand the effects of the previous night’srainfall.

“We were worried initially but theconditions weren’t too muddy and thetrails were nice and grippy, so it wasgreat.”

After getting away early on, theeventual top-four finishers kept thetempo up and worked together to extendtheir lead over the ensuing 30km.

“I was hurting a bit from the start untilabout the halfway mark,” said Bird. “But I was able to sit on and conserve as much energy as possible.”

When Nelson launched a strategicattack, Bird realised that this could be thedecisive move of the day.

“He wanted to put the hurt down onus and as soon as he started getting a bit

of a gap, I decided to go across to him.“He eased up slightly after I joined him

and, as soon as he did that, I knew thatthis was my chance.”

Bird attacked with 17km to go butNelson managed to stay with him for abit.

“Then we got into a nice technicalsingle-track section and I just kept thepace high through there.”

His tactic worked and when theyemerged from the single-track, Bird hadopened up a small but sufficient lead.

With a strong wind hampering his soloeffort, he put his head down and grittedhis teeth towards the finish at Sugar RushAdventure Centre.

“It was like a 15km time-trial fromthere and I knew I had to keepgoing because I had three guyswho were chasing me down.

“In the end, I managed to cross the linefirst and that’s what counts. It was nice tocome down and take the win.”

In the women’s race, multiple nationalveteran road champion Isabel Moolmansecured a convincing win in 2:23:14.

She finished more than five minutesclear of second-placed Melanie Palframan(2:28:50), with Colette Kriek third(2:29:27).

Njabulo Cele claimed the honours inthe men’s 25km event in 1:02:59, whileSabine Thies took the women’s title in1:15:05.

For more information, follow@BallitoExp or find the race on Facebook. •CN

Bird soars to maiden Ballito win

RACE REVIEW



Kokstad-based mountain biker Tyron Bird made a daring solo escape in the final 15kmto take his maiden win in the Bestmed Ballito Expedition, presented by ASG, on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast on Saturday, November 8.

Documents

Cyclingnews - November 2014