Cyclingnews - September 2014

VOL 15 NO 7 SEPTEMBER 2014

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

FREE

RIDE VINTAGE TRAILS ATRHEBOKSKLOOF

BRIGHT CYCLING FUTUREFOR SA WOMEN

20 QUESTIONS FOR LISE OLIVIER

SMITH ON SONG FOR SECOND SILVERSTAR WINRIJNBERG REIGNS SUPREME IN 24-HOUR CHALLENGE

JULIUS JUBILANT AFTER LOST CITY SUCCESSCHARGING CHANÉ JOINS ELITE AT LOST CITY

NO BRIDGE TOO FAR AT WINES2WHALES

FAST FORWARD WHEELTURNS TO ALUMINIUM

RACE REVIEWS

DARYL IMPEY THE CURIOUS CASE OF

CONTENTS

01Cyclingnews September 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: Just one more question –Who was responsible for Impey’s predicament?

4 In the Bunch: Probenecid – the truth serum

7 Product feature: Fast Forward wheel turns to aluminium

20 Pulse pages: Any cyclist’s best friends

36 Legends of the pedal: Peacock ruffled feathers of proud track champs

FEATURES

8 No bridge too far at Wines2Whales

12 SA has a new world champion

23 20 questions for Lise Olivier – Bright cycling future for SA women

29 Ride vintage trails at Rhebokskloof

34 Bike shop feature: Triathletes can take a Tribal shortcut

38 Sanlam MTB Invitational – Mountain-bike rides make business wheels spin

RACE REVIEWS

14 Julius jubilant after Lost City success

17 Smith on song for second Silverstar win

26 Rijnberg reigns supreme in 24-hour challenge

32 Charging Chané joins elite at Lost City

Daryl Impey signalled his return to racing with aresounding overall victory in the Tour of Alberta

ON THE COVER

FROM THE EDITOR

02 Cyclingnews September 2014

Just one more question:

Who was responsible forImpey’s predicament?

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AND so Daryl Impey has been cleared and all is well again. Or is it?The announcement of Impey’s positive dope test earlier this year came as a

shock to most. And the lateness of the announcement, five months after thefact, surprised cycling commentators.

After expressing serious doubts about the test in this column two monthsago, we were hardly surprised when he was cleared last month.

In this day and age it is almost impossible to have a “positive” dope testreversed, because of the huge burden of proof on the rider to refute the test.This means the fact that Impey managed to get his name cleared removes alldoubt about whether he advertently consumed Probenecid.

Impey is the kind of character who bounces back, as he has shown so manytimes in his professional career. He will view this episode as yet another obstaclethat made him stronger as a person.

The bottom line, however, is that he missed out on the Tour de France. Forany rider it’s extremely difficult to make a Tour team, quite simply because itrepresents the pinnacle of the sport.

The question then remains: who has to take the responsibility for him sittingon the sideline for two months and missing out on a substantial amount ofmoney?

The key, I believe, lies in the five-month delay of the announcement of hispositive test. Whether the reason for the delay was beyond all reasonablecontrol of the SA Institute for Drug Free Sport is not clear.

If it was, it boils down to a blameless situation, because Impey certainly can’tbe blamed. If there was anything the authorities could have done to bypass thedelay, they should be held accountable.

The almost draconic measures that have been implemented to curb doping inthe sport have placed professional riders on a hiding to nothing in respect of theestablishment, and of the rules that govern, and protect, them at the moment.A rider should and must have recourse if he has suffered financial loss as a resultof unreasonable actions of the sport’s governing bodies. If Impey pursues thisavenue it would serve as a test case that could level the playing field somewhat.

After his suspension was lifted, an emotional Impey was quoted as saying hewondered whether it was still worth his while to race in South Africa after theway he had been treated.

He received a lot of criticism after this remark, but some perspective isneeded. Whenever he lines up in South Africa again, it will be very much at thetop of his mind whether another botched test could mean the end of his career.

No matter how much he loves his country, which he does, he has to lookafter his career and his future income.

Wynand de Villiers

IN THE BUNCH WITH COETZEE GOUWS


Picture: Photosport International

“Basically, if you get caught forProbenecid, you are suspected oftrying to hide something”

HOWEVER, after a few sleepless nightsfor myself, and I bet Delgado, the riderwas cleared of any wrongdoing andallowed to win his only Tour de Francetitle in 1988.It turned out that the drug was

actually Probenecid – one that hadmade its way on to the IOC’s list ofbanned substances in time for theSeoul Olympics, but not yet that of the UCI.Perhaps assuming that the lists were

identical, the lab rats in Paris had madethe mistake of looking at the wrongone and scared half of us to death.Primarily used in the treatment of

gout, it is said to have no performance-enhancing properties. Its notorietyrather stems from the fact that it canbe used to mask the presence of otherdrugs that have.Its use increases the retention and

slows down the excretion ofsubstances like anabolic steroids,theoretically making them moredifficult to be detected.Basically, if you get caught for

Probenecid, you are suspected oftrying to hide something. In cycling,that is a death wish, which is why Iwas utterly confused when news ofDaryl Impey’s positive test broke.

We now know that the pro scene of our era has been somewhat of aruse, and I desperately wanted – and needed – to believe that theperformances of the Impeys of thisworld were real.I felt cheated, not because Impey

apparently had, but because I hadonce again allowed myself to startbelieving.Then, like many of his peers, he

professes his innocence at the top ofhis lungs and it all sounds a bit hollow.Just look at the Brandon Stewart sagaand how that ended.Based on precedent, I think it is fair

to say that the soapbox Impey wasstanding on was rickety at best.It reminded me of the characters on

Speakers’ Corner at Hyde Park inLondon. They voice their opinions butnobody really cares and they end upbeing nothing more than a touristattraction.By piecing together an unlikely

sequence of events, Impey wasfortunate enough to prove hisinnocence – and I envy him for this.Some years ago, I too found myself

fighting for what I knew was rightand I decided to put my trust in thelegal system. It failed me miserably.I found that it took lies and truths

at face value, and it therefore camedown to whether the conman wasmore convincing telling his lies than Iwas telling the truth.Neither the magistrate nor I was a

match for him, so I cannot associatewith Impey’s sense of vindication. But I can with the injustice of it all.I learnt a lot about life, people and

business during that process.The most important being that truth

is not always what you can prove, butwhat you can make people believe.So help us God. •CN

PROBENECID –THE TRUTH SERUMOne night, now about a quarter of a century ago, my blood iced over when Phil Liggett announced that Pedro Delgado had tested positive for what he called “Promedicine”.

IN THE BUNCH WITH COETZEE GOUWS


DATE: 18 October 2014

START AND FINISH: Saloon Route 66

ON-LINE ENTRIES: www.cycleevents.co.za

CLOSING DATE: 7 October 2014

DISTANCES: 106km and 80km

ENTRY FEES: 106km (R270), 80km (R250)

AN ENTIRE WEEKEND OF CYCLING ACTIVITY

ROAD EVENT







MTB EVENT

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

Both road distances are premier seeding events for the 2015 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour

R10 of every race entry goes towards the Cancer Association of South Africa

PRODUCT FEATURE


THE F2A, which was introducedinternationally in February this year, marksthe brand’s foray into manufacturing awheel that is lighter than the standardfull-carbon models.

The change in material also makes thewheelset more affordable withoutsacrificing quality.

Rory Spong of ASG Solutions says themodel is the perfect companion for takingon road races, whether you’re a pro or aweekend warrior.

“This wheel really holds its own when it comes to ascents; the lighter wheelsetshaves off some of the total weight a riderhas to power up that hill. They’ve createda great climbing wheel.”

Like another of ASG Sport’s imports, the Pinarello Dogma, Fast Forward use theprinciple of asymmetry to ensure nopower is lost between pedal strokes andthe road.

DT Swiss hubs and spokes, which arehailed as the definition of precision andperformance, are put to work on thewheelset and with a history of Grand Tourwins it’s easy to see why it was included.

There are 20 spokes in the front wheeland 24 in the rear, of which only the latteris asymmetrically laid. This number iscarefully chosen so that the wheelset islight but retains a stiffness and rigidity thatmakes the bike comfortable to handle.

The number of spokes, combined withthe wheelset’s material, drives the weightdown to an admirable 1 470g.

The Ratchet System, which forms partof the DT Swiss Hub, has been designedto offer less resistance when spinning,which translates into a more durablecomponent.

“Riders sometimes need to changebetween freebodies. The durability of theRatchet System means they are getting aproduct that lasts,” says Spong.

Durability and lightness are an ongoingmotif throughout Fast Forward’s productline. The wheelsets are laced and trued byhand and the tension is tested in everyspoke to ensure they’re equal.

The FF F2A is available at leading cyclingstores. •CN

In a move that goes against the modern grain and redefines their all-carbon image, Dutch company Fast Forward recently launched their first aluminium wheelset.

FAST FORWARD WHEEL TURNS TO ALUMINIUM

SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT1 470g / set

WHEEL SIZE700c (622)

RIM DEPTHShallow







AN ENTIRE WEEKEND OF CYCLING ACTIVITY

ROAD EVENT







MTB EVENT

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

Both road distances are premier seeding events for the 2015 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour


FEATURE


Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Cherie Vale/Newsport Media

“This year, we have over 4 000 ridersand all our events are fully booked,with waiting lists on all three”

FEATURE


A PASSIONATE cyclist for the past 30years, Kriegler knew exactly what he, as a rider, wanted from an event.“The basic principle I had in my head

from the start was to make it scenic,adventurous and fun,” he says. “It’s notan extreme event; it’s something moreintermediate.”Kriegler knew he had hit upon the

winning recipe when he took part inthe Nedbank sani2c for the first timeabout six years ago.“Glen (Haw) was the only guy who

was building trails for an event. It was a new thing. And while I was cycling it I thought: ‘I must copy this model forthe Cape’. “That’s how I got the idea and how

Wines2Whales started.”It took another year and a half before

he staged his first event but it was aninstant hit. “The first proper Wines2Whales Race

took place in November 2009 and wehad 300-odd riders. The next year itjumped to something like 1 200 riders,with 300 on the waiting list alone.”In 2011, Kriegler was forced to add

the Adventure component due to riderdemand, with the Ride following lastyear.“This year, we have over 4 000 riders

and all our events are fully booked, with waiting lists on all three.”Kriegler remains modest about the

success and says the sudden boom wasnot unexpected as similar events werefew and far between.“I think we were lucky back then that

there weren’t really any multistageevents aside from sani2c and Cape Epic.Now there are a lot.”He believes the beautiful Western

Cape was a mountain-biking resourcejust waiting to be tapped. “In the areawe go through, from Somerset West to

Hermanus, you’ve got those mountainsand wineries, and the views are justunbelievable.“So the scenic component was there;

it was just a case of building trails.”And build trails they did, spending

almost R1.2 million on traildevelopment, maintenance and clearingalien plants. “When we started, Ithought that, to make it successful andsustainable in the long term, we’d haveto put money into the trails.”Initially cash-strapped, Kriegler joined

forces with the Pedal Power Association,which supplied funding and expertisefor establishing some trails.“Those ones we’ve opened to the

public year round but the rest areexclusively for Wines2Whales.”Continuous trail development has

also had positive spin-offs for the localcommunity around the race village atOak Valley Wine Estate, he says. >

No bridge too far at

Wines2WhalesFormer management consultant Johan Kriegler had a clear picture of success when he created the FNB Wines2Whales three-stage mountain-bike race.

“For me, one of our greatestachievements is that we brought in fourunemployed local youths when westarted. They are now part ofWines2Whales, have their owntrail-building business and are fullycontracted to us throughout the year.”

The event supplies the trail builderswith good mountain bikes, which theyalso use for commuting from their homesin Grabouw to wherever they areworking. “Sometimes it’s 10km fromhome and sometimes it’s 30 or 40!”

The event officially supports a numberof local schools and crèches, the localRotary and Round Table clubs and a fewcommunity organisations.

“The clubs work on the event, so theystage the water points and prepare theproducts we give them.”

The beneficiaries receive their share ofaround R800 000 per annum andapproximately 150 local people gaintemporary employment during the event.

Kriegler says his job is to look after thebeneficiaries and landowners, whilepartners Stillwater Sports andEntertainment look after the sponsors,logistics and event management.

“We have good relations with thelandowners. There are about 50 involved;from large farms to smallholdings.”

The mountain-biking bug has already

bitten a number of them, he says. “Whenwe started they said: ‘Ja, ja, you can dothis event’. The next year some cameback and said: ‘I want to buy a bike, whatkind should I get’?”

The farmers have lent their knowledgeand expertise with regard to the lay ofthe land and getting around obstacles.

“Our trails run along the mountainsand the issue with the Cape mountains isthat you can’t go too high. So we need tofind ways of getting over the cliffs.”

This year, says Kriegler, they will buildthe 100th bridge on the route. Thebridges vary from 1m to 55m in length,with the highest one being 8m aboveground.

While he may have got his originalconcept from sani2c, Kriegler believesWines2Whales has perfected the art ofbridge building.

“Glen and I have a healthy littlecompetition going. On sani2c, he has hismanicured trails, so I said he must comeand learn about bridges from us. Wehave our ‘manicured bridges’!”

Sharing knowledge is somethingKriegler believes event organisers must do for the growth and improvement ofmountain biking and the benefit of all.

“There are a few organisers whojealously guard what they’ve got. Butthere are new events coming up all the

time, so if you’re willing to be open andshare your ideas, others will also do so.”

Feedback from riders has shown thatthe route is still a major determiningfactor in their enjoyment of multistageraces but that the quality of and access tofood and ablution facilities are also vital.

“Guys don’t want to stand in longqueues and they want clean, hotshowers.”

Kriegler says this year’s Wines2Whalesparticipants can look forward to a greatvibe at registration inside the winery atLourensford Wine Estate.

“They will be able to enjoy the food,drink the local wines and just chill beforetheir event.”

With daily distances varying between66 and 76km, he promises a rideable,balanced challenge for pros and amateursalike. “Stage two will also be a littleeasier than in previous years.”

Having staged Wines2Whales half adozen times now, Kriegler’s energy andlove for the event remains undiminishedand is clear in every detail.

“When you have a passion forsomething and you love what you’redoing, it’s not really work.”

The event starts with the Adventure on October 31, followed by the Ride onNovember 3 and finishes with the Racefrom November 7. •CN

FEATURE


“When you have a passion for something andyou love what you’re doing, it’s not really work”

VENTER set a solid pace on thestreets of Ljubljana to cover the18.6km out-and-back course in 26 minutes and 53.2 seconds andclaim the rainbow jersey in the 35 to 39 age group.The Bestmed-ASG rider also

finished third overall on thewomen’s podium behind theUnited States’ Molly vanHouweling (40-44), who set a timeof 25:31.7, and Slovenian riderDanijela Svetik (19-34), whoclocked 26:35.8.Venter was thrilled after taking

gold in her first outing at aninternational competition. “I’mhonoured and humbled by theoverwhelming support I got frommy family, friends, sponsors andthe cycling community,” she said.She had decided before the

event to take the opportunity andappreciate the experience, ride thebest race she could and have noregrets afterwards. “I think mybucket list is now quite complete,”she said afterwards.The 38-year-old said the flat

course had suited her although she would have preferred a moreundulating route. “Going out wehad a headwind and I battled tokeep my speed above 40km perhour. At the turnaround point Iwas nine seconds behind.”With the wind at her back, she

put the hammer down and pushed

her pace up to an average of 45km per hour.“I pedalled out of the saddle on

the corners and sprinted towardsthe end. Something must haveworked because I won my agegroup by point seven of a second!”Venter has been on top

time-trial form this year,winning the solo event atboth the Bestmed Tour deBoland in March and theLowveld Tour in August. Sheis also the national roadchampion in her age category.As the world championships

drew to a close, the Pretoriaresident did the country proud inher second and final event, the156km road race.Venter held on, without any

other SA riders to support her inthe bunch, to finish just outside the top 10 in 4:28:04.Bestmed-ASG team manager

Owen Botha said, as captain,Venter was a role model to theyounger riders on her team.“Whatever she does reflects

positively on us and everyone inthe team looks up to her.”He said her junior teammates

Monique Gerber, Michelle Bensonand Catherine Colyn would drawinspiration from her victory aheadof their own participation in theUCI Road World Championships inSpain at the end of September. •CN

SA has a new

world champion

FEATURE


Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Capcha

SA time-trial champion Juanita Venter beat theworld’s top veteran cyclists to win gold in hersignature event at the UCI Amateur Road WorldChampionships in Slovenia last month.

“I think my bucket list is now quite complete”

THE Bonitas rider put the hammer downwith 3km remaining to set up his victoryin the 115km feature event at thePowerade Bestmed Lost City CyclingFestival.

Julius, who was making his race debut,outsprinted fastmen Tyler Day ofWestvaal-BMC and teammate HermanFouché, who had to settle for second andthird respectively.

The 20-year-old, who recently returnedfrom racing in Belgium, said the breezyconditions in the first of the springclassics had suited him ideally. “We hadthe wind blowing in the right directiongoing towards the finish. Also, the lastuphill drag was perfect for me.”

Julius knew it would be his last chanceto attack as the fast and flattish coursetraditionally came down to a decisivebunch sprint. “I just needed that last hillto make the difference and once I got thegap, it was perfect.”

Although he knew he had a good turnof speed from his early track racing days,Julius said he had surprised theopposition and even his own teammatesby crossing the line first.

“I even shocked myself! I neverthought I could finish a race like that.”

As a GC rider, the Ruimsig resident saidhis original assignment for the day hadsimply been to attack and follow themoves.

The major break came when Day, Chris Jooste and Willie Smit went clearafter 15km. They worked well togetherand were in the lead for 80km.

“Without my team, I don’t think I couldhave pulled it off because so many movesfollowed,” said Julius. “In racing, as inlife, you can’t do it alone – you need yourpeople around you.”

The win launched the second half ofwhat has been a successful first seasonwith Bonitas for the young pro.

Julius started the year with a podiumplace at The Herald VW Cycle Tour in Port Elizabeth and took the runner-upspot behind Dylan Girdlestone at theGrand Premi Odena in Spain in April.

Last month, he stormed to third overallin the Lowveld Tour and also claimed theking of the mountains jersey.

“It’s a good start to the second half ofthe season. Now I have to maintain themomentum and end it well,” he said.

Visit www.cansalostcity.co.za,@lostcitycycle or find Lost City CycleFestival on Facebook. •CN

Julius jubilant after Lost City success

RACE REVIEW



Young climber Jayde Julius showed his ability and classas a developing all-rounder when he sprinted to victoryat the Lost City Cycle Classic in the North-WestProvince in August.

RESULTS

MEN1 Jayde Julius 2:37:38

2 Tyler Day 2:37:38

3 Herman Fouche 2:37:38

4 Clint Hendricks 2:37:39

5 Dusty Day 2:37:39

6 Calvin Beneke 2:37:39

7 Shaun-Nick Bester 2:37:40

8 Peter-Lee Jefferies 2:37:40

9 Kevin Patten 2:37:40

10 Meron Teshome Hagos 2:37:40

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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RACE REVIEW


Smith on song for second Silverstar winDefending champion Pierre Smith demonstrated a convincing return to form when he made it two in a row at the Pennypinchers Silverstar Mountain-bike Challenge near Krugersdorp. >

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Jetline Action Photo

Pierre Smith, left, and Guylin van den Berg in actionduring the Pennypinchers Silverstar Mountain-bikeChallenge near Krugersdorp. Smith of Team Jeep SArode to his second consecutive victory.

FEATURE


SMITH, who missed the greater part ofthe season as a result of a torn thighmuscle, proved he was back on songwhen he outsprinted Guylin van denBerg to retain the 40km title. His timewas 1 hour 39 minutes and 54 seconds.

Van den Berg finished two secondsback, with Julius Cobbett a furtherminute and a half down in 1:41:31.

Smith, who rides in the colours ofTeam Jeep SA, said the victory had beenan important one for him. “I was out ofracing for three or four months after Igot injured. So this is the first time I’vepeaked this season and the formappears to be coming along nicely.”

The 22-year-old said he had decidedto go hard from the start. “The field wasa lot stronger than last year and I hadsome tough competition. I hammered ita bit and only Guylin was able to staywith me.”

The two set a steady pace, workingtogether in windy conditions. After30km they looked back to see Cobbettgaining on them in third, so they “putthe hammer down again in the closingkilometres and rode away”.

Smith said his route knowledge hadultimately made the difference on theday. “I knew where I could go hard,especially in the last five kilometreswhere there are two or three smallclimbs. The last bit of dirt is also asingle-track section.”

The Potchefstroom resident saidcoming out of that technical section first had given him the edge as he and Van den Berg hit the tar anddescended towards the finish at thecasino resort.

Nevertheless, he said, the win had stillbeen a happy surprise. “I’m definitelymore of a climber than a sprinter, so it

was actually a shock for me to take thesprint.”

Anneke Hanekom turned in anotherdominating performance in the women’srace after winning the Bestmed Lost CityMountain-bike event three weeks earlier.She won in 2:02:46, well clear of NadineVisage (2:10:47), with Caroline Arnoldthird in 2:24:20. •CN

RESULTS

MEN (40KM)1 Pierre Smith 1:39:54

2 Guylin van den Berg 1:39:56

3 Julius Cobbett 1:41:31

WOMEN (40KM)1 Anneke Hanekom 2:02:46

2 Nadine Visagie 2:10:47

3 Caroline Arnold 2:24:20

MEN (20KM)1 Johan Gouws 1:01:25

2 Ruan Soekoe 1:05:36

3 Zander du Preez 1:07:41

WOMEN (20KM)1 Engela Conradie 1:08:10

2 Nicolene Marais 1:14:06

3 Nicola Ehlers 1:16:36

Anneke Hanekom sealed a convincingwin in the women’s race.

Polar and LOOK have rolled out their latest bike accessory products to help cyclists focus on sharpening their technique and improving performance.

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When Polar and LOOK first joinedforces, they introduced a completely newway to measure power output by usingclipless pedals. The two companies havecontinued to develop the system and it isnow even easier to use.

The premium product is the new KéoPower Bluetooth® Smart, which includestwo LOOK Kéo Power pedals with twoentirely renewed Polar Bluetooth® Smarttransmitters.

It measures power output, left andright balance as well as cycling cadenceand efficiency. It also features the forcevector, which guides users to improvetheir technique by showing how they useforce against the pedal.

Kéo Power Essential Bluetooth® Smart

is a cost-effective choice for reliablepower analysis without the left and rightbalance measurement. The set includestwo pedals and one transmitter.

The functional design of bothconforms to strict requirements. The slimmetal casing of the transmitters fitsalmost any frame or group set, and theunlimited crank lengths make the systemeasy to set up and switch between bikes.

It weighs only 200 gram more than theKéo Blade 2 in titanium version.

Transferring data to a compatible Polartraining device, and from there to thefree Polar Flow web service, is easy andhelps cyclists plan and analyse their rides.

When comparing power to heart rate, it reveals what kind of an impact factorssuch as state of mind or changes in theenvironment have on the user, and howthe body responds to the workout overall.

The two Kéo Power Bluetooth® Smartproducts work best with the Polar V650

as well as the top-of-the-range PolarV800, Polar’s most advanced trainingdevice with integrated GPS.

They are compatible with any productthat uses Bluetooth® Smart technologyand can detect power output whenriding.

One of the main goals in introducingthe new products was to ensure they are as user-friendly as possible. Whenheading off for a ride, cyclists do nothave to do anything to wake up thesystem as it calibrates itself automatically.

Opening the Kéo Power to BluetoothSmart is a great evolution. Cyclists nowhave the option of using cycling devicesor smartphones to track their poweroutput. It is easy to set up and to use andthe new features, such as force vector,will certainly help cyclists improve theirpedalling efficiency.

Both sets will be available in selectcountries from October 2014. •CN

For further information email [email protected] or phone 076 621 1807

DATE: 28 September 2014

START AND FINISH: North-West University Potchefstroom (rag farm)

DISTANCES: 107km, 50km

ON-LINE ENTRIES: www.asgevents.co.za

CLOSING DATE: 17 September 2014

TIME: From 07h00


TIMED BY: Racetec

STUNNING NEW ROUTEAND VENUE FORTHE 10th EDITION

10thEDITION


20 QUESTIONS


Is this the first time that CyclingSA has created a post for awomen’s commission director?A: Yes, the rider and women’scommissions are two exciting additionsmade by CSA this year.

What is CSA’s vision for thewomen’s commission?A: Within women’s cycling people areenthusiastic about our sport and weneed to convey that message to thecycling community and the public.

We would like to develop a roadmap for young riders, build nationalteam selection criteria and implementa strategy for sustainable growth. A strong focus will be to find a way to look after our riders for big eventssuch as the Olympics.

We need to grow the number ofwomen on bikes to ensure sustainablechange. This will involve creativeinitiatives geared towards therecreational cyclist all the way throughto the professionals.

We are hoping to assist CSA infinding sponsors through which wecan drive initiatives such as a nationalteam programme in Europe, an annualUCI stage race in SA, mentorship anddevelopment programmes as well astraining camps.

How did your appointmentcome about?A: Both the International OlympicCommittee (IOC) and InternationalCycling Union (UCI) have rider andwomen’s commissions. Although

participation by women is increasingsteadily, there is still a lack of womenin governing and administrativebodies.

CSA has definitely made a move inthe right direction for women’s cyclingin SA.

When did your appointmentcome about?A: I heard about it while I was at theLowveld Tour.

How do you feel about theposition?A: I’m excited. I have seen somepositive change in the women’s fieldlately and I know we are now past theturning point and heading in the rightdirection. >

20 QUESTIONS FOR LISE OLIVIER

Bright cycling future

for SA womenNewly appointed Cycling SA women’s commission director Lise Olivier chats toCyclingnews about the upcoming world championships and the future of women’scycling in South Africa.


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Lise Olivier is going to work hard tolift the profile of women's cycling

What will your first task aswomen’s commission directorbe?A: I am putting together the women’scommission. It needs to be welldiversified and include at least oneperson from each of the disciplines, aswell as other stakeholders. We will lookat the IOC and the UCI commissionsand follow their guidance. We willfinalise our strategy at our first annualmeeting later this year.

What are your objectives?A: As chair, I see my role as workingwith the women’s commission towardsuplifting the profile of women’s cyclingand increasing participation,supporting CSA in finding financialsupport for sustainable growthinitiatives, and creating an enhancedcommunication platform wherewomen can voice their concerns, andto facilitate communication betweenstakeholders.

SA women’s cycling certainlyreceived a boost at theCommonwealth Games, didn’tit?A: While I was with the national teamat the Games, we had really positivediscussions about women’s cycling inSouth Africa. As a team, we discussedwhere we are and how we want tobuild women’s cycling back up. Wereturned with fresh ideas and adifferent energy to encourage change.Even though this has been a recent

appointment, we have already startedworking towards goals set out at theGames.

How would you describe thestate of women’s road cycling?A: Alive and well! Internationally,women’s road cycling has made rapidprogress during the past year. There isa global call for big teams and eventsto also include women.

Give us some examples of this.A: The recent addition of La Course atLe Tour is one example. And thepowerhouse Team UnitedHealthcarefrom the United States introduced awomen’s pro team.

UCI president Brian Cookson is atthe forefront of the fight for women’scycling and said: “Since I became UCIpresident nine months ago, we havemade unprecedented investment inthe funding of broadcast packagesaround the UCI Women’s Road WorldCup. This followed the appointment of Tracey Gaudry as the UCI’s firstfemnale vice-president, and theestablishment of the UCI’s firstwomen’s commission.”

How are things changing on thelocal front?A: The enthusiasm around women’scycling growing internationally opensdoors locally. Women’s road cyclinghas experienced some positive change.The level of the top six to eight ridersmight be lower than two years ago

but it has opened up the opportunityfor a whole new, even bigger, group ofwomen to progress through the ranks.There are more juniors racing nowthan I have seen during the past fouryears. More individual women, notpart of teams, are moving over fromnon-competitive bunches to the racingbunch. This is exactly what we want.

How do you see the future ofwomen’s cycling?A: There’s clearly an internationalmovement towards the developmentof women’s cycling. I have alsoexperienced this locally.

For the first time in years there isfresh energy among female cyclists andthose supporting them. This is exactlythe kind of energy that we need.

The focus has turned towardssolutions rather than problems. This iswhy it is such an exciting time to bepart of women’s cycling, because theopportunities are endless. Othersports, such as tennis, have been ableto change the path for women and Isee no reason why, with a concertedeffort, we cannot do the same.

What will your role be in thelead-up to and during the UCIroad world championships?A: I will not be going to the worlds this year. There is a very capable teamgoing. In the meantime, I will do whatI can to secure financial support forthe women’s national team for 2015and beyond.

20 QUESTIONS


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“There’s clearly aninternational movementtowards the development ofwomen’s cycling. I have alsoexperienced this locally”

20 QUESTIONS


You competed at the worldswhile racing for Lotto-Belisol inEurope. Do you believe it ispossible for South Africas to becompetitive withoutinternational racingopportunities?A: International racing opportunitiesare critical in the development of anycyclist across all disciplines. In roadracing, preparing and racing as anational team in Europe prior to anevent such as worlds is essential,especially when you have medalaspirations. It is difficult for any rider to get into an international UCI teamwithout UCI points. These points youcan only get by competing in UCIraces, most of which are in Europe.Sending a national team to Europe notonly prepares riders for big events, butit gives them an opportunity to get intoa UCI team for the European season.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio put in afantastic performance to takebronze at the CommonwealthGames. You were part of theteam that helped her. Is one ofyour objectives to grow the sizeof the team in internationalcompetitions like the worldchampionships?A: Having more riders competinginternationally across all cyclingdisciplines is definitely an objective forthe women’s commission. The biggerour base of riders to choose from, themore sustainable our programme

becomes and the better the nationalteam will perform in the end.

How does the current SA teamrate against more establishedinternational teams?A: Two years ago, South Africanwomen were ranked 13th in the worldfor road racing. This was achieved withonly one rider based in Europe and fivewho were given the opportunity tospend part of the season there.Comparing this ranking to that ofEuropean countries, whose riders haveaccess to UCI races, and countries likeAustralia and the US, who run propernational team programmes... it wasincredible. Imagine what we could dowith a whole bunch of women basedin Europe for the entire season.

Do you believe the current SAteam can compete against thelarger continental teams?A: My answer is definitely YES. Wehave really talented riders. With properinternational racing opportunities thereis no reason why we cannot competewith the best. For this to happen, thesupport has to be continual, whichunfortunately has not been the casefor most of our top riders. Thewomen’s commission is hoping tochange that.

Do you believe Ashleigh has theform to win a medal again at theroad world championships?A: Ashleigh is a classy rider and

definitely has a shot at a medal. Sheproved again at the CommonwealthGames that she is not only strongenough but experienced enough tocompete with the best. This has beenthe result of spending four consecutiveyears in Europe, which demonstratesfirst-hand the importance and benefitsof continuous internationalopportunities.

With the men’s team absentfrom the CommonwealthGames, all eyes will be on themat the world championships.What do you expect?A: It will be difficult for a team of onlythree riders to compete with biggerteams at that level. That being said,Jacques Janse van Rensburg and JayThomson will most likely come out ofthe Tour of Spain in excellent form.Reinhardt Janse van Rensburg is suchan exciting talent and the three ofthem should make a formidable team. I think [U23 rider] Louis Meintjes hasthe best chance of a medal if the routeis tough enough.

But it’s not all about road racingis it?A: No, not at all. It’s so important tohave a well-diversified women’scommission that represents alldisciplines, including our mountain-biking talent. I’ve already beenapproached about this and we intendto support all disciplines through thisplatform. •CN

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THE fourth edition of the popularevent, which is presented by BardenTyres, took place on a testing 6kmcircuit across the school grounds.According to organiser Wynand de

Villiers of ASG Events, the aim of therace was for riders to complete as manylaps as possible within the allottedtimespan.Participants could ride solo, or enter

in teams of between two and eight inthe relay competition.The individual men’s competition was

won by Alberton’s Dylan Rijnberg, whocompleted 68 laps (408km) in 21:10.Reigning women’s champion Nicky

Booyens, who lives in Pretoria, notchedup 57 laps (342km) in 25:22 to retainher title.Rijnberg said he was very happy to

have won after finishing third on asingle-speed last year.“I decided to come back on a bicycle

with gears and win it. It was a personalgoal of mine.”Unlike other mountain bike races, he

said setting a manageable pace was oneof the hardest parts of this event butalso critical to success.“You’re used to racing fast, so you

actually just have to tell yourself to slowdown.

“I knew the hardest work would beon the climb, so I’d put it in the easiestgear and go up at a normal pace. ThenI’d slowly build my speed back up onthe flats.”A veteran of five 24-hour races,

Rijnberg said his strategy had been toconcentrate on finding the smoothestand most efficient line along the track.“If you focus too much on your time

or count every lap, it’ll just mess up yourhead.”He said he maintained his energy

levels by consuming energy drinks andrace food every hour.“Your legs are actually quite strong

but it’s your back, hands, shoulders,neck and heart you’ve got to look after.“That being said, I think your head’s

got to be stronger than your body forthese types of races.”The 27-year-old said he had opted to

do a full 12-hour stint from the start at10am on Saturday morning, followed bya short break and then another rideuntil midnight.“Then I just had a three-hour rest and

was back on the bike at about 3.30am.”He said the second half of the race, in

the early hours of Sunday morning, hadbeen the toughest.“Your body goes into a state where it

wants you to stop. If you get off yourbike, it goes into recovery mode whereit thinks the most strenuous part isover.”Rijnberg, who races for Lawprint, said

his nearest rival had been SebastianJahnke, who completed 66 laps in 21:46.“We rode together. At one stage he

passed me right in front of where hisfamily were camping and they werecheering, so I thought it was for thelead.“I had no idea how many laps I’d

done.”The two riders pushed each other,

with Jahnke trying to pull away on thehills and Rijnberg catching him again onthe flats.“At the end, we were both just so

tired.”When asked whether he would be

back next year, Rijnberg said he wasalready considering it.“Even though my back is still sore, I’ll

definitely think about it because I doenjoy the racing.“You can train as hard as you like but

it doesn’t prepare you to race an entireday.”For more information, find 24hr

Pretoria Boys High School MTBChallenge on Facebook. •CN

Rijnberg reigns supremein 24-hour challenge

RACE REVIEW

More than 400 Gauteng mountain bikers pushed their endurance to the limit as they tookon the Pretoria Boys High School 24-Hour Mountain Bike Challenge.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Hendrik Steytler Photography


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FEATURE


THE TRAILS, which were conceptualisedby Johan Kriegler of Wines2Whales fame,offer sweeping vistas from theFranschhoek Mountains, over theSwartland to Table Mountain in the west.

Former Springbok cyclist HansDegenaar, who is part of the team thatimplemented Kriegler’s concept, says the uniqueness of the trails lies in thecombination of the historical farmsetting with its natural amphitheatre and stunning views of the surroundingcountryside.

“Seventy terraces were constructed on the western side of the amphitheatre25 years ago and then left to revegetate.This provided a unique opportunity toimplement fun, easy flowing, mountainbiking nirvana.”

Two-storey high granite rocks andswathes of indigenous forest also lendthemselves to an exceptional single-trackriding experience.

Named after the estate’s flagshipwines, the two route options are the20km Shiraz and 14km Chardonnay.

Both are blue-graded, but the Shirazdistance has a different impact on therider experience, Degenaar says.

“The longer route just gives more ofthe fun factor with an extra kilometre of climbing.”

But, he says, riders should not bedeterred. “The eight-kilometre sectionup to the first of the two viewpoints hasbeen constructed in such a way that itchanges the suffering of an uphill sloginto an up-and-down experience ofnote. >

Ride vintage trails

at RhebokskloofRhebokskloof Wine Estate, situated on the northern slopes of the Paarl Mountain, has developed a reputation for some of the finest single-track riding in the Western Cape.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Louis Ferreira

“Every effort has been made toalleviate the pain of climbing and improvethe enjoyment of the free-flowingdownhills over the last 10km.”

Average riders should take about 90 minutes to complete the short courseand two hours for the longer one,reaching speeds of up to 50km/h oncertain sections.

“This course is designed for someonewith average to expert levels of skill. A noob could find it quite daunting butin terms of exposing yourself to realmountain biking, this is it!”

Degenaar says the exciting thingabout the trails, which took eightmonths to build, is that they remain awork in progress. “We thrive on inputfrom the mountain-biking fraternity.”

Although the route officially openedonly in February this year, mountainbikers had gotten wind of thedevelopment and enjoyed preview ridesfor several months before the launch.

“At present, six kilometres ofadditional single-track is beingconstructed, with even more to follow,”says Degenaar. “Submissions will bemade for further funding to make thisthe destination of choice for allmountain bikers in the Western Cape.”

The natural terrain presentedinteresting route-building challenges.“The typical Paarlberg graniteformations and indigenous clusters offorest were challenging to incorporateinto the design.

“Also, maximising the distanceswithout compromising the flowingnature of the route.”

They made a serious attempt toconserve the natural vegetation,maximise the views and elevate theriding experience.

“For example, trees are notunnecessarily cut down to make way for single-track. There’s also one sectionwith a sharp descent into a cave, which

is awesome.”Degenaar says it is possible for families

to ride the first 4km of the route in acircular format, crossing three naturaldam walls and catching glimpses ofhorses and water birds.

Besides mountain biking, young andold can take rides on horseback or onquad bikes. They can also enjoy a mealat the authentic Boland bistro-inspiredrestaurant and try out the estate wines,which won 34 national and internationalawards in 2013.

“The estate is family-friendly, withjumping castles, trampolines, junglegyms and pony rides over theweekend,” Degenaar says.

Daily permits cost R30 per person andare available at the restaurant on theestate.

Find out more atwww.paarlmtb.com/rhebokskloof, [email protected] or findRhebokskloof MTB on Facebook. •CN

FEATURE


“I’m really happy to have come awaywith the win,” says Jonker of her victoryat the Bestmed Powerade Lost CityCycling Festival. “It’s my first majorclassic title.”

As an accomplished all-rounder, the21-year-old allowed neither hills nor flatsnor strong gutter winds to sidetrack her.“I just told myself I had 115km ofopportunities,” she said afterwards.

Jonker, who signed on with TeamBestmed-ASG in February, rode awayfrom the field within the first 20kmalongside Activate Drinks rider MandyHuman.

“I tried one or two soft moves butthen I got a gap and Mandy crossedover to me,” she explained.

Working together, the two keptextending their lead over thenext 90km. “I believed I

could do it and I wasn’t going to giveup. Once the gap was seven minutes Iknew no one would cross over and I feltcould take the win. I was hungry forit...”

The Krugersdorp resident kicked with10km to go, leaving Human to chase fora distant second place.

Jonker’s scintillating form was a far cryfrom the ill health that had forced her towithdraw from the Lowveld Tour afortnight before. “Going into the LostCity race, I focused on the positives. I’dbeen training hard before I fell ill, so I

knew that I was fit.”Taking an

enforced rest and looking afterher health paid

dividends. “I feltgood during the

race, so I was so relieved because younever know how your body is going torespond when put under pressure afteryou’ve been ill.”

Listening to her body was what gotJonker into cycling in the first place. “Iused to be an athlete but I had bad luckwith injuries, ending up with a stressfracture on my shin. And it keptresurfacing.

“The biokineticist suggested that I dosome non-impact sport until my boneshealed properly, so I started riding a bitwith my dad.”

Thus began the sport science student’slove affair with cycling. “From then on, Inever looked back,” she said.

Last year, Jonker spent five monthsracing for Team Kenda in the UnitedStates. “I was based mainly in Texas andPennsylvania and took part in races such

Charging Chané joinselite at Lost City

RACE REVIEW



When Chané Jonker won the Lost City Cycle Classic by a country mile last month, she earned her place among the elite of South African cycling.

as Speed Week, Nature Valley Grand Prixand the Tour of America’s Dairyland.”

American-style racing provided thesteep learning curve she needed toenhance her cycling career back home.

“There’s a lot of criterium racing [inthe US] and it improved my bunch-ridingskills and technical abilities. The racing is fast-paced and the tours offertime-trials, road stages and criteriums;something for every type of rider.”

Fuelled by her experiences, sheobtained good results in her first outingback on South African soil at this year’sAction Ford Krugersdorp Classic. “I hadquite a good race and got picked up bythe team.”

Jonker went on to prove her worth for the pro outfit, finishing in the topten at the national road championships,winning the Serengeti Cycle Challengeand powering her way to second at theBestmed Jock Cycle Classique.

But she is far from done for the season.The Dome2Dome, Momentum 94.7 CycleChallenge and Amashova are among herremaining goals for the year. •CN

RACE REVIEW


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RESULTS

1 Chané Jonker 3:15:14

2 Mandy Human 3:16:13

3 An-Li Kachelhoffer 3:21:31

4 Catherine Colyn 3:21:32

5 Juanita Venter 3:21:32

“I was based mainly in Texasand Pennsylvania and took partin races such as Speed Week,Nature Valley Grand Prix and theTour of America’s Dairyland”

“WE REALISED not only is the country agreat place to raise kids, but alsoperfect to work and train in,” saysCillian.

The business idea for their TribalTriathlons speciality shop arose during abrainstorming session between Cillian,Siobhan and her sister Katy Knight.

The East London-born sisters realisedthat the trio had something special tooffer the city. “We sat down and talked;it really made an impression on us howmany East Londoners took part in therace.

“And we realised that although therewere a couple of national bicycleretailers and some local ones, there wasnothing that catered specifically fortriathletes,” says Cillian. “It was a gapin the market that we wanted to fill.”

Their concept store, which opened onAugust 30 this year, fills that niche.They offer swimming, cycling and

running resources to everyone frombeginners to pros.

Due to their background inmulti-discipline sport, a multi-facetedapproach comes naturally to the threebusiness partners, and extends to everypart of their business.

“Although we focus on triathlon, wehave good product and trainingknowledge and can assist someone who,for example, is just going to take part ina swim or a mountain-bike race.”

They make a point of keeping abreastof global trends to ensure they offer thevery best, and latest, service and productrecommendations.

The shop’s two mechanics wererecently sent to Switzerland to obtainUCI certification, which makes themamong the most qualified in SouthAfrica.

The directors will attend the Interbikeseminar in Las Vegas in September to

see what’s happening overseas and howit can be applied to the local market.

“We’re not waiting for the productlines to hit South Africa; we’re going toknow what’s coming first,” says Cillian.

They already work closely withimporters such as ASG to stock premiumcycling brands, including Trek, Shimano,SRAM, Rudy Project and Pinarello.

Their plans include offering seminarsand workshops on everything frombicycle maintenance to expert nutritionand biokinetics. “These things don’tcome cheap and it would be great tooffer people practical information tohelp them develop a love for the sport.”

Their support of local sport isn’tlimited to products and information.They also offer vehicle-assisted grouprides for early risers on Tuesdays andThursdays.

Visit www.tribaltrading.co.za or findthem on Facebook and Twitter. •CN

Triathletes can take

a Tribal shortcut

BIKE SHOP FEATURE


Words: Coetzee Gouws

When Irish couple Cillian and Siobhan Ryan arrived in South Africa three years ago to take part in Ironman 70.3, they had no idea how radically it would alter the course of their lives.


WHERE: Sondela Nature Reserve, 45 minutes from Pretoria on the N1

RACE DISTANCES:104km (R250); 40km (R140)

STARTING TIME: 06:00

ENTER ONLINE:www.asgevents.co.za

ENTRIES CLOSE: 15 October 2014

TIMING: RaceTec

On-line entries and further information:www.asgevents.co.za

For further info on Sondela and directions go to www.sondela.com

For race enquiries email [email protected] or phone 076 621 1807

Situated only 45 minutes north of Pretoria on the N1 Highway,Sondela Nature Reserve this year plays host to the third annualSondela SuperClassic road race on 25 October 2014.The road event presents two distances on a flat and fast

course – a perfect last training ride two weeks prior to the Mo-mentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge.The long ride covers 104km while a 40km option is also on

offer. Both distances are on flat routes and will provide a goodmoral booster before the Cycle Challenge. The roads are quietand the road surface good.The race this year returns to its original 2012 route with road

works something of the past. Last year the route had to followand out-and-back path, which this year isn’t the case with theevent returning to the original circular course.

PERFECT FINE-TUNING FOR THE MOMENTUM 94.7 CYCLE CHALLENGE

FAST AND FLAT

MTB FUN RIDERiders who fancy doing a double header over the weekend canenter the Sondela MTB Fun ride the day after the road race:Date: 26 OctoberDistance: 25kmCourse: flat, jeep track and single trackEntry fee: R140

BUYING HIS first bicycle, a second-handone, from former Empire Games roadchampion Hennie Binneman, theyoung Peacock could not have foreseenthat he would soon pedal along thesame international path as the 1936Olympian.He could also not have known that

he and his fellow track riders wouldbecome the last South African team tocompete at the Olympic Games beforethe country’s isolation from worldsport.“I was 20 at the time, inexperienced,

brand new,” says the now 74-year-oldPeacock. “I thought my first Olympicswould be the one to gain experiencefrom and that I’d try to make a namefor myself at the next.”Of course, there would be no next

for him. The 1960 Summer Olympics inRome was the last for South Africansuntil 1992. “It was a wonderful experience but

that was one of those sad things, withour political situation at the time,” hesays.Peacock was chosen to race in his

favourite event, the 4 000m team

pursuit, alongside Syd Byrnes, BobbyFowler and Abe Jonker. “We’d riddenreally well previously and had donereally good times in training,” herecalls.Everything appeared to be on track,

so to speak, until their tandem teamcrashed two days before the race. Theirmanager did some hasty reshuffling ofboth teams, which, as it turned out,was against Olympic rules.“When we were on the starting line

for the 4 000m, we found out that he’ddrafted Jimmy Swift into the teampursuit and you weren’t allowed tomake more than two changes.“Syd was sitting up in the stands, so

we had to get him back in the team,rush him to the Olympic village, get hiskit and get him ready to ride the teampursuit. That was a debacle and wewere a bit messed up.”Without the necessary warm-ups and

mental preparation, they did not coverthemselves in glory.As part of the Springbok squad,

Peacock and the others got anopportunity to redeem themselves twoyears later when they rode two tests

against a touring Dutch team.“We lost the first test and won the

second. It was a classy team that wasout here and we were able to beatthem.”Then, in 1964, South Africa sent a

team to the world championshipswhere they finished ninth in the teampursuit. The competition galvanisedPeacock’s decision to move to Germanyafter the SA championships thefollowing year.“I just felt I still had something to

offer and I wanted to race against thebest.”His actions were vindicated when he

clocked the fastest time in the world in1965 to win the German indoor title. “I also became the first South Africanto ride the 4 000m individual pursuit inunder five minutes.”

Peacock ruffled feathers

of proud track champs

LEGENDS OF THE PEDAL


Words: Coetzee Gouws

When 14-year-old Rowan Ernest Arthur Peacock walked through the doors of Nimmo’sCycles in Bellville back in 1954 he had no idea that his life was about to change.

“If more of our young cyclists canbase themselves in Europe for a wholeseason without having to worry aboutwhere their next meal is coming from,I think we could produce some Tourde France winners”

LEGENDS OF THE PEDAL


Over the next four years, themultiple SA champion garnered moresuccesses, beating Olympic and Germanchampions in the solo event. Whatmade it more remarkable was that hedid so while holding down a day job,whereas his opponents were fulltimecyclists.“If more of our young cyclists can

base themselves in Europe for a wholeseason without having to worry aboutwhere their next meal is coming from, I think we could produce some Tour deFrance winners,” he says.But, he acknowledges, the face of

the sport has changed. These days,riders compete for more than thepassion for the sport that motivatedtheir predecessors.“To set the context for the effort

that we put in as opposed to what wegot out of it, let me say this,” explainsPeacock. “In the 1964/’65 season Icompeted in 85 races on the track. Ifinished in the top three 55 times andwon vouchers to the total value ofabout R50.” One thing he was not short of,

however, was success in the heyday of SA track cycling, when he racedagainst the likes of Byrnes and EddieKriel. As a senior, he shared in multipleteam-pursuit national titles, wasnational champion in the individual

time trial and notched up two PaarlBoxing Day titles, among others.Although he was also a two-time

junior road champion, Peacock says hedidn’t have time to train on the road.He raced on tar only to get fit for thetrack.“My track cycling career was really

in two parts. In the early years, Iwas a skinny runt and wasn’t strongenough to win races on my own.After a few years I gained a littleweight and could sprint better. Mostof my races were then won on myown with a breakaway from thefield and so on.”Having lived, worked and raced all

over the country and overseas, theRondebosch-born Peacock eventuallyreturned to Cape Town before sellingup his office automation business eightyears ago.Now retired, the father of four and

grandfather of three enjoys the quietcountry air of Greyton. “I’ve got amountain bike now and I ride it once or twice a week. Having ridden on thecobbles of Europe for so long, I battlewith my wrists on longer rides.”Peacock assures Cyclingnews that he

won’t be lining up to race any timesoon.“No, I had my fill for 17 years –

and that’s ENOUGH!” •CN

THE burgeoning market created bymass-participation cycling events hasresulted in a range of corporationscommitting to sponsorships over the pastfive years. Now a clear trend towardsexclusive mountain-bike excursions isdeveloping.

The movement began with the BraitGrace to Grace Challenge. Brait werefollowed by PWC, who present awonderful day out in Grabouw annually,and Sanlam Investments, who havecreated the Sanlam MTB Invitational inPaarl.

These events are organised andpresented with all the guests as the mainfocal point of the event. Participantsatisfaction, well-being and enjoymentare clearly the primary and ultimategoals.

No stone is left unturned to deliver amenjoyable and unforgettablemountain-bike experience.

Sponsors within the cycling industryare queuing up to provide participantswith value-adding items to promote theirproducts to target-group individuals.

In the Sanlam MTB Invitational(www.sanlammtbinvitational.co.za),scheduled for October 12 at the 5-Star

Rhebokskloof Wine Estate in Paarl, eachparticipant receives “goodies” valued atmore than R10 000, courtesy ofsponsors.

The package includes high-endeyewear, cycling kit, saddle bags andkitbags, to name just a few items.

On the day of the event, theparticipants’ bikes are collected andcleaned, if needed, before and after therace. The tyre pressure is checked, bikesare lubricated, and personalised numberboards are mounted.

The 5-Star catering includes a lightpre-race breakfast and a lavish lunch atthe venue, followed by the traditionalprize-giving function. Participants takehome excellent prizes in a number ofcategories, such as “longest day” andsportsmanship, similar to those presentedat golf days.

The watering points are usually stockedto the maximum with sumptuous eatsand drinks.

As the fastest-growing sport in SouthAfrica, cycling has gained recognition inmany spheres and at all levels. In corporate circles it isincreasingly regarded as themarketing sport of choice.

South Africa now has about 700 000active cyclists – and their numbers aregrowing. As a sport that keeps peoplehealthy and fit, cycling has acquired aglamour image and offers outstandingnetworking possibilities and all-inclusivebusiness opportunities.

Corporate mountain-bike days cater for all levels of cyclists and the widerange of activities can include familyparticipation. The Sanlam event, forinstance, offers distances from 41kmright down to 500m rides for children.

The beautiful Cape Winelands providea magnificent backdrop to the inauguralSanlam Invitational that offers cyclists asingle-day off-road ride on the slopes ofthe Paarl Mountain along some of thebest mountain-bike terrain in SouthAfrica.

The 150 participants and their familiesall receive VIP treatment and will enjoyworld-class hospitality.

There are now more than 750mountain-bike races in South Africa, andthis number is set to keep growing aslarge companies and other businesseszoom in on the team-building andnetworking possibilities that cyclingoffers. •CN

Sanlam MTB Invitational

Mountain-bike rides makebusiness wheels spin

FEATURE Words: Wynand de Villiers

More and more big-business decision makers are turning to mountain-bike events toget their marketing message across.


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Cyclingnews - September 2014