Cyclingnews - October 2012

VoL 13 No 7 oCtoBER 2012

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oN thE CoVER: Greg Minnaar literally flies to his world championshipvictory in Leogang, austria. Story on page 8.

Contents

03Cyclingnews October 2012

Editorwynand de Villiers

[email protected]

Consulting editorGerhard Burger

ContributorsPhil Liggett, Wilhelm de Swardt, Teresa Harris,Chris de Beer, Rod Knight, Coetzee Gouws,Andrew Mclean

PicturesPhotosport International, Michelle Cound,Frank Bodenmueller, My Picture

PrinterColorpress Pty (Ltd)

Ryan Lotter – 011 493 8622/3/4/5

DesignCinnamon Graphix C.C.

Chris Dawson – [email protected]

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: The bottom line – Lance was the best

4 Phil’s Brew: British rule the roads – but watch the Africans

6 In the Bunch: No more guessing – the secret is out

12 Nutrition: Sports nutrition

14 Legends of the pedal: Champion cyclist packed a punch

22 Pulse pages: From zero to 94.7 in under three hours. You can do it!

34 technical: Not such an easy decision – compact or standard cranks?

36 Product review: Bont on the heels of Tour winner

38 Product review: Look! See! Watch! Observe! Check out the Deewhys!

FEatuRES

8 World champ goes downhill fast

26 The dream that became a magnificent memory

30 Tour de Dreams: Now you can also go riding in Europe

32 Foreverheroes champion future sports stars

RaCE REVIEwS

18 Celebs bust their tjops at Kia Val de Vie race

44 Flying Fouché in fine form for Amashova and 94.7

RaCE PREVIEwS

40 Bestmed Jacaranda Satellite Classic: On track for another superb experience

42 the FedGroup Berg & Bush: Thrills, spills and skills on Descent hills

A lot of sports fans are disappointed at events surrounding Lance Armstrong over the past two months, but I am rather relieved.

Armstrong has announced he won’t be fighting the umpteenth doping allegation against him; part of a ten-year witch-hunt led by the American Anti Doping Agency.

And even after ten years of digging, the most they could come up with is circumstantial evidence provided by former cyclists who dislike Lance Armstrongand have their own reasons for trying to bring the great Texan down.

I grew sick and tired of reading about the American cycling body trying to sinktheir hero, and of their constant efforts to drag Armstrong’s name through themud. I stopped counting the number of times they charged him, only to withdrawthe charges, leaving them with red faces.

After Armstrong’s decision not to fight the latest barrage, we thankfully won’thave to read about it again, ever. I honestly believe that, as I’ve grown tired of allegation after allegation, Armstrong also grew tired and realised he was fighting a useless battle.

He fought and won his case against so many anti-doping bodies so many times,but they just kept coming back to try again. I understand Armstrong’s decision andsupport him in it. Whether he is guilty or not is no longer the issue. The issue is theanti-doping agency trying to save face and vowing to keep pursuing him until theycan discredit him.

I would have also thrown in the towel and stopped wasting my time in trying tohumour them. I would have also rather spent my time to raise another billion forthe fight against cancer.

Whether Armstrong used illegal substances or not has become immaterial. It hasbecome clear all his competitors did. If he did use performance-enhancing substances he was on par with them in the engine room. And he still beat them.So it’s apples with apples.

There are, however, a few factors that led me to believe otherwise, and to pointto Armstrong simply being a super human specimen.

Let’s take his absolute dominance of the sport for sevenyears. In those years he did not put a foot wrong in theTour. It’s well documented that he trained harder andlonger than anybody else, and looked after himselfbetter than anybody else did. In seven consecutiveyears he never had a bad day in the Tour de France.And he did this after being given no shot at survival.

He then continued his mind-blowing featsafter his retirement. Coming back at the age of37, after a lay-off of two years, he finishedthird in the Tour.

And now he has embarked on a triathloncareer in which he has already shot to thetop of the ladder, competing against athletes way younger than him and whohave been racing triathlons for manyyears.

Take a moment to think about howspecial he must be to simply decide toget off his bike, start competing intriathlons and, a year later, win majorevents.

In sport, a special person comes byevery now and again. In our generation,we have been fortunate to see the likesof Michael Schumacher, Valentino Rossiand Usain Bolt. And, indeed, LanceArmstrong.

Wynand de Villiers

The bottom line:

Lance was the best

From the Editor

04 Cyclingnews October 2012

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A week before the world road race championship in Holland, Mark Cavendishrode and won his last race as defendingworld champion. It was the eighth stageof the Tour of Britain – his third stage winof the week-long race – and a fitting wayfor the British champion to say farewell tohis rainbow jersey.

During his reign as world championCavendish won 16 races, the most since BelgianTom Boonen, who won 23 during his reign in2005. We often talk about the “curse of therainbow”, but it seems, at least the sprinters areunaffected!

It took a British rider 46 years to repeat thefeat of Tom Simpson who outsprinted the German Rudi Altig in Spain in 1965 to win theworld title.

This brings me to the progress being made by the African Continental professional teamMTN/Qhubeka, which remain on course to realise their dream of competing in the Tour deFrance.

After an encouraging showing in the worldteam trial championship in September – a first

for Africa – the team have taken a huge step tobuild the squad for 2013 by signing formerworld under-23 champion Gerald Ciolek.

Ciolek, who is only 26, has ridden the Tour deFrance four times, finishing every one. He bringsvast experience gained as a member of WorldTour teams Quickstep, Milram and Colombia-High Road. He must have been convinced thatthe team’s future was good before signing up.

In addition, Jay Thompson, 26, returns to theteam after three seasons racing in the UnitedStates, where he won six races. His best wincame last August when he won the openingstage of the Tour of Portugal. He led this longtour for three days.

Another shrewd signing by team boss Dou-glas Ryder is Lithuania’s Ignatas Konovalovas,also 26, who won the final time-trial stage ofthe Giro d’Italia in Rome three years ago. Theformer national road and time-trial champion ismaking sure he is part of a progressive year forMTN/Qhubeka in 2013.

From my national viewpoint, there has neverbeen a year like 2012 in the history of British cycling. After the two top places in the Tour de

France, came a massive medal haul for the cyclists in the Olympic Games and Paralympics.The trend continued into the Tour of Britain, wonby a British rider for the first time since 2003.

In addition to Reinardt Janse van Rensburg,another MTN/Quebeka rider, one of the finds inEurope was Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, who hasdeveloped through the British home teams set-up and this year burst out with wins in the Tourof the Mediterranean and the Tour of Alsace.

His home win in the Tour of Britain was expected and he certainly showed himself to be a top climber. He has also, like Janse vanRensburg, been approached by the biggerteams. Team Sky Are expected to announce JTL’s signing soon.

It has been a good year for cycling and withfull entries already announced for races in SouthAfrica during November and December, there isno loss of enthusiasm for a sport that is now thefastest growing in the world.

It is estimated that more than 18 million people are now riding bikes in the UK. Let ushope among them is the next world road racechampion. I can’t wait another 46 years! •CN

British rule the roads –but watch the africans

Phil’s Brew with Phil Liggett


Picture: MTN

Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg celebrates followinghis victory in the Ronde van Zeeland Seaports.

BEFORE it was out in the open, peopleused to corner me with this question:“Do you think Lance Armstrongdoped?”

With my neutral journo jacket on, I wouldtell them that if he had not, my theory wouldbe that, at the very least, his team haddoped on his behalf.

For crying out loud, in the aftermath ofthe Festina Affair, the other half of the pelo-ton had also been implicated (by OperaciónPuerto) and, despite this, none of them couldkeep up with him and his Blue Train.

Every July we witnessed the Posties drag anot-so-innocent peloton around France bythe scruff of its neck; climbers and non-climbers routinely lined up in front ofArmstrong on the most grotesque of terrainto run the best riders in the world into thered.

Then, one by one, the Posties worth mentioning got rapped on the knuckles fordoping, while the others confessed andspilled the beans on team-mates who hadnot.

So, if one hypothesises that Lance hadraced au natural – and we already knowmost of his team-mates didn’t – it would follow that the latter had done so in supportof Armstrong – quite possibly by design andfor financial gain.

His lawyers would argue the “evidence” tobe circumstantial, if not pure speculation, buttwo and two always make four.

You know, I don’t think the public wantedthe penny to drop. We needed to believe inmiracles and heroes and here was a personwho personified both.

Even as the cracks started to show, we insisted on focusing on what was good instead of the ugly truth that had startedseeping through them.

So, in our collective minds, we placed himabove the law and he revelled in this shadyunderworld devoid of accountability. Anyclaims made by Armstrong were lapped upand those by his critics rubbished.

For a peek into this world, I downloadedconvicted doper Tyler Hamilton’s tell-all autobiography, The Secret Race, the minuteit was released. I got more than I bargainedfor.

If Paul Kimmage’s A Rough Ride was aneye-opener all those years ago, Hamilton’scloak and dagger account of pro racing,where Armstrong is portrayed as the mainvillain, shattered my world. Not because theylived a lie, but because they sold it to us.

I felt like a fool for squandering months, ifnot years, of my life supporting somethingthat turned out to be merely hocus pocus.

In his exposé, Hamilton describes howArmstrong coined the phrase “not normal” when referring to substance-enhanced performances by his op-position; almost as if he believeda different set of rules appliedto them than to him.

I suspect a portion of thepublic will continue to holdon to the dream that isLance Armstrong, but I havefound my answers. Theywere scattered all over thee-pages I was flipping intothe wee hours of the night.

LA’s performances weresadly just “not normal”. •CN

Coetzee is a cycling fanaticwhose PR company specialisesin sports communications. Visitwww.inthebunch.co.za or follow @In_the_Bunch.

No more guessing –the secret is out

In the Bunch with Coetzee Gouws


Picture: Photosport International

GOING downhill fast is, metaphoricallyspeaking, a bad thing. But for international champion Greg Minnaarthe literal version has put him on topof the world.

After chalking up his second downhillworld title in Leogang, Austria, in September,Minnaar finished his season with a podium inthe final UCI downhill mountain bike WorldCup event in Hafjel, Norway, to finish runner-up overall.

“I was happy to finish second overall. I would have liked to have won the race butthird on the day was good,” says Minnaar.“It was quite tough racing for second in theWorld Cup having won the ‘worlds’.”

The Santa Cruz Syndicate rider grabbed international headlines when he won his firstworld title in Lugano, Switzerland, in 2003.

The 30-year-old says taking the laurels asecond time feels just as good as it did firsttime. “I don’t feel any different to nine years

ago when I won my first world championship.The only thing that has changed is that I probably appreciate it a little more.”

With the 2013 event taking place in hishometown of Pietermaritzburg, Minnaar isalready eyeing a title defence. “It has to bemy number one priority,” he says. “There’sno better race to win and now it’s at home...I have to be ready for it.”

As the poster boy for downhill racing, headmits that the heat is on. “The pressure is

world champ goesdownhill fast

Feature

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10

Cyclingnews October 2012

words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Santa Cruz Syndicate and Frank Bodenmueller

Minnaar flies home during hisworld championship ride.

Feature

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11

Cyclingnews October 2012

“the psychological aspect is a big part of

being a champion downhiller. You can be the

best rider but never the best racer if your

mental game is not up to scratch.”

already mounting but I don’t mind. I justhave to make sure I rise above it.”

Minnaar says the biggest challenges willprobably come from the likes of World Cupwinner Aaron Gwin of the United States,Canadian Stevie Smith, the Brit Gee Athertonor Mick Hannah of Australia.

Strangely, he says, his personal recipe forsuccess is based on a lack of confidence inhis riding. “So I always put in more effortthan the others. I’ve always done this andnever think I have done enough.”

The philosophy has clearly served him wellas Minnaar is also a three-time World Cupand double American national champion.

“The psychological aspect is a big part ofbeing a champion downhiller. You can be thebest rider but never the best racer if yourmental game is not up to scratch.”

He says fitness, power and knowing howto strategise your run are also essential.

“I grew up racing motocross, so I alwaysliked the speed and technical aspect. I rodecross-country a little but was more suited todownhill.”

A passionate advocate of the sport, Minnaar says downhill racing is by no meansthe redheaded stepchild of mountain biking.“Downhill has its own following, which isvery strong at the moment. It has grown a

lot over the past five years.”He attributes it to the growth in the

number of foreign ski resorts openingup downhilling out of season. “Someof these bike parks are generatingmore money in the summer nowthrough downhill racing than they doin winter.”

Now at the peak of his powers in agrowing sport and with at least onemore world title in his sights, it seemsMinnaar won’t be sloping off into thesunset soon. •CN

Feature


2012 uCI DowNhILL woRLD ChaMPIoNShIP FINaL RESuLtS

ELITE MEN

1 MINNAAR Greg RSA 3:21.790

2 ATHERTON Gee GBR +00.581

3 SMITH Steve CAN +01.214

4 HANNAH Michael AUS +02.140

5 HILL Samuel AUS +03.406

6 SPAGNOLO Damien FRA +03.859

7 PAYET Florent FRA +04.227

8 MACDONALD Brook NZL +04.861

9 PEKOLL Markus AUT +05.774

10 VILLEGAS Marcelo COL +06.064

18 NEETHLING Andrew RSA +07.980

42 POTGIETER Johann RSA +12.761

ELITE WOMEN

1 CHARRE Morgane FRA 3:50.654

2 RAGOT Emmeline FRA +01.199

3 CARPENTER Manon GBR +01.490

4 PUGIN Floriane FRA +01.617

5 ATHERTON Rachel GBR +05.894

Nutrition


Nutrition


FROM being banned for life from theold SA Cycling Federation, forfisticuffs with officials, to becoming its youngest vice-president, ChrisWillemse has enjoyed a cycling careerthat has been nothing if not colourful.

A true Legend of the Pedal, the mercurialWillemse also holds the distinction of beingthe only SA cyclist to have won the nationalroad championship title in every age category.

The former Western Province rider wasequally at home on the track, winning thesenior SA madison event twice with HennieWentzel, as well as the old 25-mile (40km)and 1 500m events. He also took nationalhonours in the 1 000m time trial.

“But I was very short-tempered and wassuspended at least five times for fightingwith my fellow cyclists and officials duringmeetings,” he says, laughing.

Willemse recalls one specific incident at aninterprovincial meeting in Oudtshoorn in1972. “I was on the other side of the trackwhen I saw someone arguing with my father.I ran over and some officials tried to stop mefrom crossing the track while an event wastaking place.

“The referee grabbed me and tried to stopme but I couldn’t wait and punched him. Hefell to the ground and the next minute it wasa free-for-all.”

The meeting was called off and WesternProvince chairman Piet Pienaar and Willemsewere both suspended for life after a disciplinaryhearing. It was later reduced to six months.

Willemse says what first attracted him tothe sport – he was 13 years old then – wasnot the cycling itself but the lure of silver-ware. “I played rugby and my team won atrophy. A photo was taken with me holdingthe trophy but sadly it had to stay at school.

“Later, when I had to drop some stuff offat my brother’s friend’s house, I saw manytrophies on display and asked whose theywere. He told me they were his from winningcycling events.

“That’s when I decided to become a cyclistbecause I wanted to win my own trophiesthat I could keep at our house.”

Willemse first rode in the national roadchampionships in 1970 and won the 20kmevent on his 15th birthday. The following

Champion cyclist packed a punch

Legends of the pedal


words: Coetzee Gouws

Willemse (centre) was a wonderfulexponent of track racing.

year he narrowly lost the title to another legend in the making, Neil Emmenes.

In 1973, Willemse won the junior roadrace over 100 km and followed it up twoyears later with the elite title over 220 km.

“To win this really tough event was possiblymy best performance as a road cyclist. It wasgood making history and beating my oldfriend and idol, the late Alan van Heerden.

“I’ll never, ever forget it. The cream of roadcycling was in the final sprint, including Alan,Hennie, Ertjies Bezuidenhout, Robin de Bree,Bill van den Bosch and Robbie McIntosh.”

By winning, he also became the only cyclist to take part and win medals in fivenational championships.

The 57-year-old says he lived andbreathed cycling at the time, clocking up 90 km in each direction on his daily commute from his new home in Pretoria to Braamfontein where he worked.



“I started riding in the golden era of track cyclingwhen the whole grandstand was packed on a Fridaynight. Mass participation wasn’t the thing it is today;it was competition and nothing but first, second andthird counted.”

Like many of his apartheid-era contempo-raries, he also had a brief stint (in 1975) onthe international circuit with a Belgian licence and under the assumed name of Jan Willems.

In 1977, after getting fired for punchinghis French boss during a sales meeting atPeugeot Cycles, Willemse returned to theCape with his future wife Dalene andopened Chris Willemse Cycles.

“I was late for work one day and saw myboss on the road behind me,” he recalls. “I put my foot down and he gave chase but Irode away from him on the dirt road.”

When the Frenchman angrily poked hisfinger in his face at a meeting later that day,Willemse’s notorious temper flared. “Theteam grabbed me to stop me from hittinghim again. I was fired immediately.

“I had R1 800 to my name and decided toopen my store in Paarl. The rest is history.”

Too poor to advertise his shop, the new

business owner decided the best way to gainpublicity was to win the Paarl Boxing Day 25-miler, which was then the biggest eventafter SA champs. “I trained really hard andmanaged to pull it off.”

Willemse finally retired from cycling in1983 to concentrate on his business.

“After I retired, I was asked by the lateRaoul de Villiers to stand as SACF vice-president and, at age 27, became theyoungest to hold that office.”

Today the Capetonian is proud to have hiswhole family involved with Chris WillemseCycles, a 1 800m2 store in Durbanville thatspecialises in retail and online sales.

“My wife is involved and my daughter Annerika runs our marketing and computer

side. Chris junior is the brain behind the online store, which is the largest in SA andhas put us in a completely new market.

“My younger daughter Melanie does marketing and arranges tours and my son-in-law Jaco runs the warehouse.”

Although he admits to not spending asmuch time in the saddle as he should,Willemse remains chairman of the TygerbergCycling Club and still organises cycle toursfor various groups.

He has also just returned from a weeklongannual training camp in Italy with clients and Chris Jr, himself a former Springbok andnational champion.

Despite being a proud grandfather to 16-month-old Liebe, Willemse shows no signof slowing down or losing his spark and re-mains a storehouse of tales from the track.

“I have so many to tell that they could fillyour whole magazine,” he says with a mis-chievous twinkle in his eye. •CN



An elated Willemse is carried off the trackafter winning the Paarl Boxing Day 25-Miler.

THE inaugural Kia Val de Vie EstateMountain Bike Challenge provided amemorable spectacle as almost athousand riders, including a few famous faces, busted their tjopsthrough the vineyards of the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley on Sunday, September 16.

Olympic swimmer Ryk Neethling andcelebrity couple Gugu Zulu and LetshegoMoshoeu were among those who added atouch of glamour to the 30km and 60kmraces through the heart of the Capewinelands.

The Toks ‘n Tjops TV crew were also thereto capture the vibe. Co-presenters BreytenPaulse and Janina Oberholzer sweated it outin the saddle while the show’s anchor, former Springbok prop Toks van der Linde,sampled the local wines and chatted withfarmers along the route.

“It’s an event that will certainly grow, sowe just couldn’t wait to get involved atground level,” says Paulse.

An experienced rider, Paulse easily finishedthe shorter distance but the Capetonian’s co-host found her first off-road race a littletougher, coming in at the back of the field.

“Shame, she was broken,” says Paulse. “Itwas a tough day for Janina but I’m proud of

her for finishing. At least she wasn’t last, justthird last!”

The former Springbok wing was impressedwith the organisation and the “lekker track”.“It’s a nice family outing and was well sup-ported. We couldn’t have asked for betterweather and the scenery was fantastic. All in all, it was a very successful first event.”

Paulse jokes that his ultimate aim is to getthe burly Van der Linde to ride the race.“We’re busy building a four-wheel bike forToks. At 190 kg, he won’t fit on a normalone.”

Race organiser Wynand de Villiers, of ASGEvents, laughingly seconds this plan. “Wemight have to build Toks a special coursetoo, maybe just take him around the polofield and leave it at that.”

De Villiers says the participants’ light-hearted take to the day is exactly what theorganisers envisioned. “I don’t want thisevent to get too serious because it’s just somuch fun.

“Most riders stopped for about ten minutes at each waterpoint to socialise andenjoy a glass of wine with the farmers. It was more like a bazaar than a bike race.”

However, good riding will always remain apriority with exciting racing upfront and awell-marked off-road course, says De Villiers.

Celebs bust their tjopsat Kia Val de Vie race

Race review

20 Cyclingnews october 2012

words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Paul Nielson

Race review

21Cyclingnews october 2012

“Most riders stopped for about ten minutes ateach waterpoint to socialise and enjoy a glassof wine with the farmers. It was more like abazaar than a bike race.”

The 60km race, which crossed 21 WesternCape wine farms, was won by Charles Keeyof Team Blend Properties. He claimed line honours ahead of Team USN rider JacquesRossouw and Adriaan Louw of Team Contego. They clearly did not linger at theseconding tables.

Phelia Burger won the women’s race, fol-lowed by Desiree Loubser and Tandi Kitching.

In the 30km event, junior riders Louw Krieland Catherine Colyn took the titles for Team Contego/Sludge’ish and bizhub-FCF respectively.

“A couple of people came across the lineand said it was the best race they’d ridden inthe Western Cape, so we’re chuffed withthat,” says De Villiers.

He was amazed at how the local commu-nity pulled together to make the race hap-pen. “We’ve made so many friends here; itwas just a great time and an absolutely wonderful event.”

The local Rotary and Vrede Foundation foryoung cancer sufferers have also benefittedfrom the event.

It was the second fixture in the new Kiaseries, which includes the Walkerville Classicin July, the KZN Expedition in November andthe Krugersdorp Game Reserve MountainBike Challenge in February next year.

For more info, contact ASG Events on 076621 1807 or [email protected].

For updates, follow @CyclingnewsZA. •CN

Race review



From zero to 94.7 in under three hours

You can do it!

Pulse pages words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Sportograf

“there is no magic number as a rider of almost any weight is capable of a sub-three. however, the lighter you are, the higher your power-to-weight ratio and the better you’ll perform.”

Pulse pages

ANDREWMclean believes a sub-three-hour time in the Momentum 94.7 CycleChallenge is not an impossible dream.Almost anyone can do it, says the cycling guru from Johannesburg. Thekey is to train consistently.

With South Africa’s second biggest road raceonly weeks away, Mclean says cyclists from 16 to 60 years were capable of reaching thisgoal but should already be able to ride 100 kmin three-and-a-half hours.

“To achieve a sub-three you need to build asolid base. By now that phase should be complete,” he says. “From here on, you muststart improving the quality of your training withshorter, faster rides.”

The former national road and time-trialchampion says the training should replicate asmuch as possible the route, intensity and duration of the actual race. “Make sure thoughthat you get enough rest and recovery afterhard training sessions.”

The biggest mistake sub-three hopefulsmake is to try to make up for lost time bycramming in too much training in the time thatremains. “They only succeed in getting to thebig day too tired to ride at their peak.”

To ensure a balanced approach, he

recommends following a structured trainingprogramme specifically geared towards theevent.

“Possibly the best advice I can give cyclists isto go to www.fittrack.co.za and pick up aCycle Challenge training programme. Theseprogrammes have all the principles of trainingbuilt into them by qualified coaches.”

About optimum nutrition, Mclean says ridersshould not be starving themselves to reachtheir goal weight.

“There is no magic number as a rider of almost any weight is capable of a sub-three.However, the lighter you are, the higher yourpower-to-weight ratio and the better you’ll perform.”

A sensible eating plan will fuel the finalweeks of training, he says. “I’m not a dieticianbut I believe in eating small meals often, drinking lots of water and eating as much foodin its natural state as possible.”

This includes lots of raw fruit and vegetablesand avoiding highly processed foods.

For race day, Mclean recommends a bal-anced breakfast three hours before the event.“For a sub-three-hour time, I would suggestyou start your race with your carbohydratestores nice and full.

“Sip at least one bottle of your favourite carbohydrate nutritional mixture and then startthe race with one or two bottles of cold carbdrink on your bike.”

Although it is an endurance event, he sayseating on the bike should not be necessary.“Remembering that it takes a long time to digest and absorb solids, I would rather suggest liquids.”

Conserving energy is important but how riders pace themselves depends on a widerange of variables such as their personalstrengths and weaknesses, the calibre of ridersin their start group and weather conditions,says Mclean.

“Remember, slipstreaming is a huge advan-tage and you ideally want to be in a groupthat’s a little stronger than you and tows youaround the route to a sub-three-hour time.”

“Afterwards... I suggest an ice-cold beer tocelebrate your success!”

For those who still fall disappointingly short ofthe mark, Mclean has these words of wisdom:

“Cycling is a way of life. The 94.7 is not theend of a journey, but rather a stepping stone to your next goal. Use everything you havelearnt and experienced to help you achieveyour objectives at the next event.” •CN

BY now I have had enough time to re-flect on my experiences at the LondonOlympic Games. It is time to share themwith cycling enthusiasts and especiallythose who supported me and enabledme to become an Olympian.

Attending the Games has been one of mydreams since I was a boy. When I took upmountain biking as a profession, I made it mylife goal to participate at the Olympics oneday.

I failed at my first attempt to qualify. Thistime I made sure I met the requirements. Butthere were nervous times between qualifyingin February 2011 and being selected in Maythis year.

The Games were everything I hoped theywould be, and more. I wanted to be there forthe opening ceremony and remain therethroughout the Games; to stay in the athletes’village and really live the Games.

My race was only on the last day but everything worked out perfectly.

There were training venues available, theweather was mostly pleasant and getting tothe race venue for practice on the four daysbefore the event was a breeze.

The course was 48 km from the village butwith a dedicated vehicle we were able to get

there in just over an hour. We were also fortunate that we could watch some of theother events.

I remained healthy during the two weeksand was really confident about my form. I washardly nervous before the race. I just knew itwould be a good ride.

I enjoyed the course, the weather was perfect and I had my parents and an unclewith his family there for support; all wavingthe Namibian flag.

I also had the best personal supportthroughout the Games. Mannie Heymans andlater Jacques Celliers looked after me well,calmed me mentally and made sure my bikewas in good shape.

I aimed for a top-30 finish.I didn’t know whom I would be riding

against. I saw the start list only the day beforethe event. And then I knew I had set myself atough goal.

I started from the last row, in 41st place,but passed some riders on the start lap andavoided the early crashes.

From then on it was a matter of riding ashard as I could. On the third lap I had a littleslip-up in a switchback corner that cost metwo positions but I regained my position overthe next two laps.

Heading into the last lap I could see on theboard I was 31st. I couldn’t believe it. I hadTour de France rider Peraud in my sights anddug deep to gain on him. Up the last climbthe two of us passed a rider who had punctured.

I now had my 30th spot but behind mewas another rider desperate for a top 30. I was unable to pass Peraud, but still crossedthe finish line knowing I achieved my goal. I felt as if I had won the race. It was a feeling like no other; a feeling of great accomplishment.

I had not gone to London to merely takepart in the Games. I wanted to make the bestof my opportunity by going in with the bestform I had ever been in and to make it count.

My first step, halfway through 2011, was toobtain the help of a good coach. Ian Rogerwas the man I chose and together we workedreally well. I had confidence in his work as theresults showed during training and pre-racing.

I also wanted to use equipment that I knew and was used to, with good support.Having ridden with Merida since 2010 I washoping to be able to carry on riding their top-quality bikes.

Thankfully Cytec Cycle Distributors, agentsfor the Merida brand in South Africa, once

the dream that becamea magnificent memory

Feature


words: Marc Bassingthwaighte • Pictures: Sportograf

“I had not gone to London to merely take partin the Games. I wanted to make the best of myopportunity by going in with the best form Ihad ever been in and to make it count.”

Feature


again came on boardwith a full range of bicycles for me and

team partner Ben-MeltSwanepoel.

I am glad to reportthat, once again, I did not

have a single problem with thebikes and really enjoyed the

super-ride feeling. I chose to ride theBig.Nine 29er hardtail; the perfect bike

for the course. Other sponsors came to my aid during my

preparation. Enduren provided the energydrink whose lack of sweetness I had come tolove, especially on the hard interval days.

Adidas eyewear again made me look cooland enabled me to protect my eyes from theelements. Squirt Lube kept the chains running smoothly in all conditions and thanksto Sludge in the tyres I did not have one puncture this year. Continental supported uswith some great grip for any terrain.

Without finances, however, one is prettymuch grounded. I was lucky enough to be

supported by the Namibian Olympic Committee, who covered my preparation expenses.

Another big thank you goes to my club,Rock&Rut, as well as my godmother whoeach sponsored me with 10 000 Namibiandollars. Their support is greatly appreciated.

Ben-Melt also deserves gratitude for bringing together the sponsorships we sogenerously received.

Finally, the biggest thank-you goes to themost special people in my life – my parentsand girlfriend Stephanie.

They also helped me financially and theircontinuous support and motivation were keyfactors that enabled me to achieve myOlympic dream. They put up with my demands and went out of their way to helpme wherever they could. They made the success so much sweeter and I am happy Icould share it with them.

I can now say I have been living thedream. I have achieved a life goal by takingpart in the Olympic Games and achieving mygoal. It’s a memory I will cherish forever. •CN

Feature

CYCLING tours in Europe have becomea popular tourist attraction. And as thecycling boom continues, more and moreSouth Africans are looking into the possibility of undertaking such a tour.

They don’t have to look far, because the well-known Willemse family have theknow-how and the contacts to organise unforgettable cycling tours in Europe.

Earlier this year, while everyone was enthusing about the television coverage of theTour de France, Melanie and AnnerikaWillemse were putting together plans for another superb tour for people who wantedto go cycling in Europe.

The two, whose father is the SA cycling legend Chris Willemse, also organise all theChris Willemse Cycles (CWC) Executive Toursin Cape Town. They are now working on theCape Monster, a 297km ride in the WesternCape, to take place in April 2013.

The popularity of the local events madethem look to Europe and they made contactwith former world road champion MaurizioFondriest, who lives in Italy.

Fondriest immediately got the wheelsrolling. A group of 14 riders left Cape Town onAugust 27, heading straight for the Eurobikeshow in Frederichshaven, Germany .

The event, the largest cycling expo in theworld, provided an opportunity to check outand admire the latest and greatest bicycles,components and apparel. Among the celebrities were several former world champions.

“The guys were like kids in a candy shop,”says Melanie Willemse.

Everyone enjoyed the show but they couldnot wait for the start of the training camp, tobe presented by Fondriest himself. After threedays at Eurobike they spent a night in Zurich,Switzerland, and then headed for Riccione inItaly.

The group arrived in Riccioni on September 1and wasted no time. This is what they did:

Day 1, September 2. A beautiful 120km ridewith many hills and a little rain. The musclestook some strain and everyone welcomed amassage afterwards. The riders were lookedafter by Fondriest who lives in San Marino andstill does about 170 km of training every day.

Day 2, September 3. By 09:00 everybodywas ready for a longer ride but heavy rain keptthem off the road.

Day 3, September 4. The action began at09:00. The riders did 140 km, interrupted by adelightful lunch at the top of a mountain pass.After the ride they could not wait for theirmassage.

Day 4, September 5. The first “killer stage”.They had to do 140 km, including the Republicof San Marino climb. To get there they had tosummit a pass of nearly 9 km long – and ithad to be done after a number of tough hillsalong the first 100 km. Just about everyonesuffered .but back at the hotel they enjoyedstunning Italian food and wine to end an unforgettable day.

Day 5, September 6. Another wonderfultraining day, with “only” 135 km in the saddle.

Day 6, September 7. The day that everybodyhad been waiting for – 170 km of cycling, including the cruel Cipo climb where MarcoPantani used to do most of his mountain train-ing. The climb is 5km long, with the gradienttouching on 30 per cent at times. Pantini’sbest time to the top was 16 minutes; a littlefaster than Eddy Merckx’s. The best time by a member of the tour group was a commendable 61 minutes.

Day 7, September 8. Time to pack all thestuff and return to South Africa.

SIMPLY AMAZING“We had the most amazing six days in Ric-cione,” said Melanie. “The hotel was brilliantand geared for cyclists. The organisation froma cycling perspective was unimaginable. Fondriest gave each rider one of his newestdemo bikes to enjoy a week of riding.

“We enjoyed the best of Mama Italian cooking, with olives and vino. But the besttreat was a tour around the breathtaking Ital-ian coastline with former world road cyclingchampion and founder of Fondriest bicycles,Maurizio Fondriest.”

Riders had a great meal at the hotel afterevery ride and the hotel even had a bicycledepot for small maintenance jobs and repairs

To top it all, a physiotherapist was on handafter each ride.

The next CWC European Tour will be in Au-gust 2013. If you are interested in joining thegroup, please contact Melanie at [email protected] for more information. •CN

Now you can also go riding in Europe

tour de Dreams

Feature


words: Wynand de Villiers

“we enjoyed the best of Mama Italian cooking,with olives and vino. But the best treat was a touraround the breathtaking Italian coastline with former world road cycling champion and founderof Fondriest bicycles, Maurizio Fondriest.”

“Great bunch of guys, with an awesome senseof humour. Nobody was better than any otherperson; all equal. Very important.

“Organisation was very poor as the weatherwasn’t great. Only joking! U Rock!

“Routes were very challenging in some instances, which made riding very exciting. All those little quaint villages that we cycledthrough and stopped for KOFIE.

“The food was outstanding and plentiful.We cycled and ate very well, which is important for the next day and the next.

“Let’s not forget the shopping, Juniorshopped till he dropped on his mom’s creditcard, I hear. “

Romao Da Luz

“Hallo there from a freezing Sweden. “Great riding with wonderful tour guide, in

excellent cycling weather.“Hotel geared to sports activity and of

course cycling; great laundry service, storagefacilities and buffets. Excellent food.

“The group was put together very well, withmany different types of people who gel as thetrip goes on and become wonderful company.

“The organisation is superb, with every detail organised and arranged.

“The best tour with regards location, cyclingand organisation I have ever done. Will be aparticipant each and every year.“

Trevor Law

“First, a big thank you from Margaret and mefor the framed photos you sent to us. A greatreminder of an excellent tour!

“Second: The organisation was very goodand spiced with moments of humour, like taking the slow train to Bologna...

“The riding was a key aspect of the trip andI enjoyed the company of Chris Sr as I couldjust manage to hold on to him.

“The riding routes were immaculate and theguides were real stars.

“The food was plentiful and healthy andcould be recommended to anyone.

“The best part of the entire experience wasthe company, inspired by a lovely family androunded off by a great group of Capetonians.”

Roy Fouche

Feature


FEEDBaCK

FORMER SA sporting greats are putting their not insignificant musclebehind tomorrow’s champions withthe advent of the Foreverheroes project.

By taking part in a number of high-profilecycling events, past and present celebritiesare banding together to raise funds for thedevelopment of future sports stars.

Enthusiastic supporters include formerSpringbok rugby captain John Smit, flankWarren Brosnihan, Olympic sprint canoeistBridgette Hartley and SA’s own “oarsomefoursome” – Matthew Brittain, SizweNdlovu, John Smith and James Thompson –who won the lightweight gold medal atthis year’s London Games.

Project mastermind Brett Metcalfesays South Africa has a number of ex-ceptionally talented youngsters whoare on track for podium places in a va-riety of sporting codes but require somehelp in getting there.

“We must step up to help make it happen. The best way to engage potentialcontributors is through sport because it isabout the future of sport,” says Metcalfe.

Having spent most of his working life deal-ing with sports heroes and sports development, Metcalfe first piloted the concept at the Powerade Cansa Lost CityCycle Classic a few years ago.

“It was a roaring success and almost allthe heroes who got involved have been asking us to formalise the concept and makeit a regular feature at major events.”

The Foreverheroes now participate in toproad and mountain bike races such as theMomentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and thesani2c (presented by BoE Private Clients) aswell as golf days, says Metcalfe.

The idea, he says, gained momentum afterhe had read Bob Buford’s book Halftime,which is about finding meaning in the second half of one’s life.

“It became evident that sports heroes ofthe past felt a little redundant after retiringfrom competitive events. We realised theyneeded an opportunity to move from sporting success to significance.”

Foreverheroes gives big-name achieversthe opportunity to use their fame to raisefunds and create visibility for potential sponsors, which will eventually allow theprogramme to become self-sustaining.

Through sponsorship, it aims to provide astructured and balanced environment for developing young sportsmen and women,including access to facilities and expertise.

“We enjoy a constructive and well-established relationship with the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria.”

Based on the number of Olympic medallists the centre produced this year,Metcalfe says it runs what is probably one of the country’s most credible long-term athlete development programmes.

“We aim to offer bursaries and scholarships in collaboration with the HPC.Unfortunately, as with most institutions ofthis nature, the funding is woefully inade-quate despite the fact that they already havemore than 70 talented young stars on trackfor 2014.”

Metcalfe believes the project will growfrom strength to strength with the assistanceof a growing number of sponsors such as Future Life, Aspen andHP.

To find out more about Foreverheroes, call Melanie on 082 461 1610 or visitwww.foreverheroes.co.za (currently underconstruction). •CN

Foreverheroes championfuture sports stars

Feature



Foreverheroes champion and former Springbok flank WarrenBrosnihan in action at sani2c, presented by BoE Private Clients.

IN an era of cycling innovations, manycyclists are unsure of the gear ratiothey should choose. There are somany options and theories that evenexperienced riders are confused andmake the wrong decision.

The ideal cadence, say many coaches, isaround 90 to 100 rpm or above. SouthAfricans often ride on flat roads, but also encounter a good many climbs. That iswhere one has to keep a cool head and, considering your level of riding, adapt yourbike; not your effort.

As a professional cyclist, I use CampySuper Record, which gives me 11 gears atthe rear. This allows me to ride a 11/25 cassette. My front rings are 39/53.

When we race I often hit 60 km/h andmore, so the big 53 blade comes in handy.

But for a weekend warrior, a 50/34 compact crankset would be a better option.It gives you more options at slower speedsand when you go uphill, a 34 blade givesyou a much better cadence.

Having a 52/11 as your heaviest gear willbe more than enough when going at high

speed. About 90 per cent of SA female professional cyclists use compact cranks. So do many in the veterans’ categories.

One should always keep your cadence of90 to 100 in mind. If you are convinced thatcompact cranks are for you, there is anotherhuge weight-saving advantage.

Before compact cranks, riders had tochange the entire cassette and put some really big gears at the back, increasing theweight of the rear wheel by a few hundredgrams.

But by fitting compact cranks, youdon’t only change your optionsbut you also take weight offyour bike because youare using smallerblades. It makessense tochangecranks.

Racing in the Tour de Langkawi inMalaysia, I – and my mates in the SA team –used compact cranks on the final climb upGenting Highlands. Having the correct gearratio and saving weight made a huge difference. •CN

Not such an easy decision –compact or standard cranks?

technical


words: Hanco Kachelhoffer

For any further enquiries please contact ASG Events on

076 621 1807 or email [email protected]

Date: 10 November 2012

Distances: 80km, 40km

Start: 80km and 40km start at Inanda Dam

Finish: Kingfisher Canoe Club, Blue Lagoon

Entry fees: 80km: R220, 40km: R160

Starting times: 80km: 6:00, 40km: 7:30

On-line entries: www.roag.co.za

Timed by: Elite Timing

The 80km routeFrom Msinsi, riders proceed up the tar and then on to district dirtroads. They head up a few hills that will split the riders before thesingle track starts.

After passing some traditional homes and the BongampiloCreche, we encounter the first of the dam-side trails, all the wayto the top of the dam. Down the north side of the dam the par-ticipants will experience some of the best trails in SA; mainly sin-gle track all the way to the bridge below the dam.

Along this section, riders will be treated to winding single trackthrough natural bush, just meters from the water’s edge, withstunning views across the dam.

Passing eNanda Adventures, the last bit of single track takes usto the bridge below the dam wall.

(See below: link-up with 40km route.)

The 40km routeFrom Inanda Dam Msinsi Resort the riders continue up NgweleRoad, turning off to the left to the school.

The route climbs to top of the Inanda Dam wall before de-scending to the road crossing at Inanda Dam Wall Bridge.

Riders then continue on and off the road next to the river,crossing over Molweni Causeway and Island Rapid and on towhat will be one of the best surprises of the race.

This section of the race will demand some of the most fo-cused riding in terms of new routes. With the Mango cross-ing being eliminated, it brings you to Silver Pipes Bridge.

Continue on dirt road along the river to join our golf ballalley single track and, on the northern side of the river, tothe SPCA, avoiding the river crossing under the N2.

From there, proceed on new trails to Connaught Bridgeand on to the Bird Park single track, all the way to theMangroves, to cross on the new pedestrian bridge.

You will emerge on the south bank of Blue Lagoon andproceed to the finish line at Kingfisher Club.

Job well done!

CADEL Evans couldn’t make it two ina row at this year’s Tour de France,but another Aussie brandboomeranged into the spotlight;quite literally on the heels of Britishwinner Bradley Wiggins.

Weighing in at just 170 grams each, theTeam Sky rider’s custom-designed Bont Zeroshoes were an important part of the ultra-lightweight kit that helped propel himto victory.

“Every rider wants and needs the edge,”says Shan Wilson, technical director at TheBicycle Company, the sole distributor forBont in South Africa. “And feet and shoesultimately play a big role.”

Wilson says Bont’s design philosophy isbased on a fully heat-mouldable monocoquecarbon chassis.

“A carbon sole and a carbon last are two

very different aspects not really understoodby the public. Most aftermarket carbonshoes out there simply have a carbon insert.”

Made from 3K carbon fibre, which is fivetimes stronger than steel, the shoe is strongand rigid, allowing zero flex.

What makes this footwear so ground-breaking, says Wilson, is that the carbon last is completely mouldable, creating an individualised fit for the rider. “It has uniquecleat placements that can be set under thearch; a feature not widely available in themarketplace.”

The hardness of the sole also eliminatesthe cleat pressure issues commonly found inentry-level shoes, he says. “Despite itsstrength, the shoe is one of the lightest,which is critical in this sport, and the stackheight is one of the lowest.”

Bont on the heelsof tour winner

Product review words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Photosport International

All Bont models feature structural mediallongitudinal arch and lateral forefoot support to stop over-pronation of the feet.

“Over-pronation is one of the main contributors to incorrect tracking of theknees during the pedalling phase because ofinternal rotation of the tibia and femur. Thiscan result in knee injuries, as well as lowerback strain.”

Furthermore, says Wilson, the anatomicalheel cup shaping provides increased stabilityduring the pull-through stage of the pedalling and up strokes. “This stabilisationis achieved without any mechanical operation or over-tightening of straps orlaces, which allows for increased comfortand blood circulation.”

Although conventional cycling shoes have a more aesthetic “dress shoe” shape,they can constrict the toes and compress

the nerves between the metatarsals, resulting in the common “hot foot” sensation, he says.

The anatomical forefoot shaping of Bontshoes lets the foot function in its most efficient and anatomically correct position.“This allows the pedalling force to be spreadacross the greatest possible surface area.”

For sprinters, and track riders such as thepre-Tour Wiggo, the shoes offer a dualstrapping system, combining laces with Velcro strap and ratchet, for maximum support during bursts of power.

With two standard models in each of theroad and mountain-bike departments, Bontshoes are priced from R1 999 at selected cycling outlets throughout the country.

The top-end model is available on specialorder at a recommended retail price ofR5 999. •CN

Product review

1st Floor, 105 Victoria Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925Tel: 021 448 4130 • Fax: 021 448 4624 • e-mail: [email protected] • Visit: www.howzitsports.co.za

At Howzit, we supply the retail and corporate marketsin the design and manufacture of club, team and corporate gear. The Howzit team prides itself on quality products, attention to detail and a friendly approach to business.

All designs & production are done in house whichmeans good quality control. Our imported chamoisrange is the biggest in South Africa with something to suit all riders from beginner to professional.

DEEWHY sunglasses, Rudy Project’snewest addition to their casual line,are designed for sports enthusiastsbut they offer that laid-back, dynamiclook that people look for.

Think golden sand, warm sun, water, surfand relaxation.

Named after a famous Australian beach,Deewhy sunglasses provide an unmistakablesporty style that catches the eye duringthose carefree moments.

The full, wraparound frame protects one’seyes against direct and reflected sunlightand the lenses are guaranteed to provide100 per cent protection against UVA andUVB.

Deewhys come in five captivating colourcombinations: Crystal frame with multilaserorange lenses, demi turtle matte frame withbrown lenses, anthracite frame with multilaser red lenses, crystal ash frame with

smoke black lenses and black gloss framewith either smoke black or Polar 3FX greylaser lenses.

Rudy Project’s multi-laser lenses incorpo-rate a mirrored surface treatment to reflectsunlight and give a stylish, sleek look.

Polarized Polar3FX lenses offer the maximum performance and visual clarity.They are ideal for driving and eliminate thereflection of the sun on water, asphalt andsnow. They provide excellent protection forthe eyes.

For those with vision-correction needs,Deewhy sunglasses have a highly refined RXoption and broad parameters. These allowthe users to enjoy the benefits of style, comfort and perfect vision.

ABOUT RUDY PROJECTRudy Project designs and manufactures hi-tech sunglasses, Rxes, goggles and helmets

by applying the most advanced science andtechnology. Designed and made in Italy since1985, Rudy Project has grown quickly as apremier brand throughout South Africa.

Rudy Project has won numerous international awards for its cutting-edgeframe and lens technologies. And Rudy Project is proud to provide the absolute bestprescription eyewear for athletes and out-door enthusiasts around the world.

What sets Rudy Project apart is unparalleled customer service standards,cutting-edge products and technological in-novations, and proprietary, award-winninglens technologies including ImpactX™,Polar3FX™ and RPOptics™.

Rudy Project Deewhy sunglasses are available from participating a[s]g dealers atprices from R1 130.

Visit www.asgsport.co.za or e-mail [email protected] for more information •CN

Look! See! watch! observe!Check out the Deewhys!

Product review


THE stage is set for yet another bril-liant Bestmed Jacaranda Satellite Classic on October 20. The organisersare pulling out all the stops to ensure adelightful experience for riders whohave set their sights on Pelindaba andthe stunning route.

The Satellite Classic boasts the distinctionthat it is the only Argus seeding event that offers two seeding distances.

Riders can choose between 112 or 94 km. The event therefore offers somethingfor those who are fit enough for the longerdistance and use the event as a final barome-ter for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge,as well as those who feel they still need a solidtraining ride before Joburg’s big cycling day.

The 94km ride provides an opportunity forthe average rider to improve his Argus seeding. There is a definite advantage to riding the 112km event, as it carries aweighted seeding and top-echelon riders willdo well to take on this option rather to try toimprove their seeding.

The venue of the Classic is not ideal for abig event and has presented sizeable challenges for the organising committee,under the guidance of race director Wynandde Villiers.

“We know riders love the route of theSatellite Classic, but with Telkom’s withdrawalas title sponsor three years ago we lost a goodvenue at the satellite tracking station, says

De Villiers.“We set out to provide that ride experi-

ence at a new venue and we’ve been

through many learning curves. To their credit,Necsa has really helped us out with a venueand it’s getting better every year.”

For this year, the organisers have arrangedparking at Roos se Oord, across the road fromNecsa. The well-known resort is erecting gatesand clearing a section that can hold 2 000 vehicles, comfortably.

Agreements are also in place with farmersacross the road from the start line, which willensure ample parking on race day.

More good news is that the finish stretchwill be considerably easier this year. Afterturning right into Gate 1 at Necsa, the riderswill see the finish line 250 metres farther, instead of the previous 1km uphill stretch tothe Necsa visitor’s centre.

As a result, the start/finish activities alsomove down towards the main road. Theprize-giving will be held on a large lawn adjacent to the finish at the big Suzuki Gig Rigwhere eats and drinks will be on sale. Thestart/finish and the activities are much closerto the parking areas.

The 2012 Bestmed Jacaranda Satellite Classic is presented by ASG in conjunctionwith the Jakaranda Cycling Club.

VENUE ARRANGEMENTSParking has been arranged with farmers onthe opposite side of the main road (dam side).No vehicles will be allowed to park within 500metres from the turn into the start-finishchute, which goes up towards Necsa fromgate 1. Only officially accredited vehicles willbe allowed past these points.

on track for anothersuperb experience

Race preview


Picture: Action Photo

DatESaturday October 20, 2012

VENuENecsa (Pelindaba), Hartbeespoort.Necsa can be reached via Church Street ex-tension from Pretoria or via MalibongweRoad from Johannesburg, past Lanseria

StaRtING tIME06:00

DIStaNCES112 km (official seeding event for the CapeArgus Pick & Pay Cycle Tour 2012)94 km (official seeding event for the CapeArgus Pick & Pay Cycle Tour 2012)40km

ENtRY FEES112 km – R21094 km – R20040 km – R110

oNLINE ENtRIESwww.cyclelab.comClosing date: 9 October 2012

MoRE INFoRMatIoNContact ASG Events on 076 621 1807 oremail [email protected]

Bestmed Jacaranda

Satellite Classic

ROUTE INFORMATIONWith the exception of the final 5km fromBroederstroom to Necsa, which is well pa-trolled by metro police and the Road Rangers,the entire route takes place on quiet roads. The road surface throughout is smooth andgreat to ride on. The big feature of the route is,of course, the Hekpoort climb which presentsitself after 50km in the 94km ride and 67km inthe 112km.

At 3.5km in length and an average gradientof 8 percent it’s tough.

The 40km fun goes out on the same routeas the other two rides, but turns short in Skeer-poort to come back past Peacanwood andonto the venue.

There are six waterpoints on the route andriders will be well hydrated throughout.

The route past the Satellite station, all theway to Broederstroom, is predominantly downhill. This means that afteryou’ve conquered “Poeierbult” just before theSatellite Station, the final 20km makes formuch easier riding and from here riders canget home at a steady pace.

Over the past 13 years the race has not only served as a seeding event for the CycleTour, but it has also been regarded as the lastsignificant training ride for those taking aim atthe Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. •CN

Race preview

THERE is an old Ottoman proverb thatstates: “There is an uphill for everydownhill, and a downhill for every uphill.”

But for a seasoned professional such asBrandon Stewart, who navigate both withequal skill, the FedGroup Berg & Bush Descentoffers thrills sweeter than a boxful of Turkishdelights.

“It’s definitely one of the best descents inSouth Africa,” says Stewart, who is lookingforward to defending his title in the 220kmstage race that starts at Sterkfontein Dam inthe Free State on October 26 and finishes atWinterton in the Central Drakensberg threedays later.

“Besides the fact that the single track is somuch fun, with sweeping bends and technicalrock sections, the views on the way down arebreathtaking.”

The 90km first stage starts in dramatic fashion as riders plunge off the top of the escarpment into KwaZulu-Natal, windingalong old wagon trails such as the 6kmBezuidenhout’s Pass for a total descent of almost 2 000 metres.

“The trip down into Sharks country is absolutely amazing and takes you down trailslike Solly’s Folly, which have become synonymous with the event,” says Stewart.

The FedGroup-Itec Connect rider says dayone caters for mountain bikers who are notafraid of one or two tumbles and those seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush.

“You need cahonies the size of watermel-ons to smash it down the pass. There arerocky, rutted sections, as well as jumps thatsend you metres into the air.

“The not-so-tough can take it slow becauseit is still doable, and the real roadies can walktoo.”

Even the pros approach the stage one descents with caution, while still trying to putthe opposition under maximum pressure, says

Stewart. “Your race isn’t won here but it islost if things go a little wrong.

“For example, falling off the edge of thecliff as you come down Solly’s Folly couldsomewhat hamper your racing ambitions, andwould generally see you fall out of the top10,” he adds drily.

For those who make it to the overnightstop at Emseni Camp on the banks of theTugela River, the 75km second stage with thefamed Spioenkop climb awaits.

At 400 metres vertical, it is the biggest andmost challenging ascent in the race, saysStewart.

“This climb gets a lot of people talking because of its historical significance, as well asits ability to snap your spirit in half. If you con-quer this beast mentally, the battle is halfwon.”

The Hilton resident believes it is on theclimbs where podium contenders could forcea split and where the race is often decided.

Although the third stage is the shortest at 70km, Stewart says it holds some surprises, with both the total ascent and descent hovering at around the 1000m mark.

“Mike’s Pass and Big Red Mountain have agood sting in the tail, so even though the finalday is nice and relaxed, there are still some bighurdles to clear.”

The 31-year-old says he will be riding therace with a new 30-year-old partner, whomhe calls “secret weapon” and whose identityhe has yet to reveal.

“He brings quite a few strengths to theteam in terms of professionalism, training andcommitment, and of course the will to winwhile having a good time.

“Having fun and focus is really important inthis sport, as this is what creates longevity.”

Social riders can look forward to experiencing the challenging route during thenew Great Trek event, which follows the De-scent on October 30. •CN

thrills, spills and skills on Descent hills

Race preview



DatE26 - 28 October 2012

VENuEStart: Summersly Farm, Free StateFinish: Winterton Country Club

StaRtING tIMES06:30

StaGE DIStaNCESDay 1: 90kmDay 2: 70kmDay 3: 68km

oNLINE ENtRIESwww.bergandbush.co.za

MoRE INFoRMatIoNVisit www.bergandbush.co.za or find therace on www.facebook.com/bergandbushand @bergandbush.

the FedGroup

Berg & Bush

Date: 27 October 2012

Starting time: 06:00

Start/Finish: Sondela Nature Reserve, 45 minutes from Pretoria on the N1

Enter online: www.asgevents.co.za

Entries close: 16 October 2012

Race distances: 104km (R200); 40km (R120)

For any further enquiries please contact ASG Events on 076 621 1807 or email [email protected]

Situated only 45 minutes north of Pretoria onthe N1 Highway, Sondela Nature Reserve thisyear plays host to inaugural the Sondela SuperClassic road race on 27 October 2012.

The road event presents two distances ona flat and fast course – a perfect last trainingride two weeks prior to the Momentum 94.7Cycle Challenge.

The long ride covers 104km while a 40kmoption is also on offer. Both distances are onflat routes and will provide a good moralbooster before the Cycle Challenge. Theroads are quiet and the road surface good.

Sondela has been a popular bushveld getaway for many years - running on a highoccupancy rate - and the resort excels inhosting mass participation cycling events, evidenced by the big Sondela Mountain BikeChallenge, which attracted 1500 riders inwinter this year.

Management are now putting it all inplace for a wonderful family weekend atSondela with lots of kids entertainment, a

massive beer tent and all sorts of deliciouseats and drinks.

A controlled bike park is available for riders. Participants will receive wrist tags atregistration which will ensure safe keeping ofbikes while riders enjoy the festivities overthe weekend.

The event starts at the entrance to Sondela, which is off the main slipway intoBela Bela, and ample parking is cordoned offfrom the Sondela entrance back towards theN1 Highway. More than 25 parking usherswill be on duty to help riders get parked andready and they will look after vehicles duringthe course of the day.

MTB FUN RIDEDate: 28 October 2012Time: 8:00Distance: 25kmCourse: flat, jeep track and single trackEntry fee: R120

FAST AND FLAT AND PERFECT FINE TUNING

THE Bonitas professional team continued their good run when Herman Fouché foiled two of thefastest SA sprinters to win the BestMed Campus2Campus 95km roadrace in Potchefstroom.

Fouché clocked 2 hours 10 minutes and 44 seconds to relegate two of this year’s mostprolific domestic race winners, Nolan Hoffman(Tasol GT) and Arran Brown (MTN Qhubeka)into second and third places respectively.

In the process he confirmed his good formapproaching two of the most popular SAraces, the Amashova and the Momentum94.7 Cycle Challenge.

The undulating out-and-back race betweenPotchefstroom and Ventersdorp in NorthwestProvince had “bunch sprint” written all over italmost from the start.

A tailwind on the way out and a headwindon the return made any kind of pack-destroying moves unlikely, despite numerousenthusiastic breakaway attempts that nevergained more than 40 seconds.

It was the fourth victory in four weeks forTeam Bonitas, who had also won the Randfontein EPR Challenge (Tyler Day), theDome2Dome (Hanco Kachelhoffer) and RandWater Race for Victory (Darren Lill).

“I felt pretty good from thestart,” Fouché said after his triumph. “I told my team-mates I could win if they

could help keep me in the mix. They did agreat job, especially Hanco (Kachelhoffer) and(Johann) Rabie. They gave me the perfect leadout for the sprint.”

“The Team Bonitas European campaignthis year did a lot to cement the riders’ respectfor and understanding of one another,” saidMalcolm Lange of Lange Sports, the companythat owns and manages Team Bonitas.

“The recent wins have all been as a resultof sensible team tactics and riders working towards a common goal. Johann Rabie andHanco Kachelhoffer are proving to be valuablein reading the race in the latter stages andhelped set up Herman’s win superbly.”

At 1.78 m tall and weighing 68 kg, Fouchéis decidedly slim for a sprinter but it worked inhis favour.

“There was a bit of a rise with a kilometreto go where I got to the top with less effortthan the other sprinters who are five or sixkilos heavier. That left me fresher for the finalpush to the line.

“I’m not afraid of big bunch sprints, but my

focus is to be able to climb better than theother sprinters so that I can have more left inthe tank at the end. Sometimes the climbs arehard enough for some of the bigger sprintersto get dropped, which obviously works in myfavour,” said the 25-year-old from Pretoria.

The victory was an important confidenceboost for Fouché who has won two otherraces this year, Stage 1 of the Tour de FreeState and Stage 1 of the Volta as Terras deSanta Maria in Portugal.

“We are approaching two of my favouriteSouth African races, the Amashova and the94.7, both of which I have won. This winshows my form is good and I’m really goingto go all out to try and win those again. Buteven if I don’t, a Team Bonitas win is alwaysthe priority, no matter which rider it is,” saidFouché.

In the women’s race, the Toyota CSA Academy team secured a podium clean sweepwith Leandri du Toit winning from LynetteBurger and junior Andri Coetzee in secondand third respectively. •CN

Flying Fouché in fine formfor amashova and 94.7

Race review


RESuLtS

MEN

1. Herman Fouché (Team Bonitas) 2 hours 10 minutes 44 seconds

2. Nolan Hofmann (Tasol GT)

3. Arran Brown (MTN Qhubeka)

4. Hanco Kachelhoffer (Team Bonitas)

5. Christoff van Heerden (Northcliff Cycles)

WOMEN

1 Leandri du Toit (Toyota CSA Academy)

2 Lynette Burger (Toyota CSA Academy)

3 Andri Coetzee (Toyota CSA Academy)

Documents

Cyclingnews - October 2012