cyclingnews january 2015 digital

VOL 16 NO 1 JANUARY 2015

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

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AFTER THE HOLE IN THE HIPALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

20 QUESTIONS FOR TILL DROBISCH

CATHY CARSTENS –LEADING LADY OF SA CYCLING

LEGEND OF THE PEDAL

HOT SUMMER BUYS

TOUR DE BOLAND RIDERSTO FINISH ON A HIGH

RYDER OVER THE MOON AS

HIT THE SUMMITMTN-QHUBEKA

CONTENTS

01Cyclingnews January 2015

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: New Jock Tour to be toughest in Africa

4 In the Bunch: A time to reflect

11 Product feature: 8 hot summer buys

20 Pulse pages: Take time-trial racing to heart

33 Legend of the pedal: Cathy Carstens – The leading lady of SA cycling

FEATURES

7 Tour invite sends Ryder over the moon

27 20 questions for Till Drobisch: After the hole in the hip all’s well that ends well

36 Bike shop feature: Cycle Lab Fourways caters to ‘new golf’

RACE PREVIEWS

17 Tour de Boland riders to finish on a high

23 Top SA teams to lead Berge en Dale bunch

RACE REVIEWS

39 Paarl delivers a pearler

MTN-Qhubeka are packing their bags forthe 2015 Tour de France – story on page 7

ON THE COVER

FROM THE EDITOR

02 Cyclingnews January 2015

New Jock Tour to betoughest in Africa

Cyclingnews Magazine is availablefrom these fine Cycling stores:

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SUBSCRIBEIf you’d like to join our ever-increasing subscriberbase, there is no better time than now.

Simply log onto www.asgevents.co.za and clickon the subscribe button

The magazine remains free of charge at majorbike shops and races throughout the country, butbecause our print run is limited we inevitably getreaders that miss out on some of the issues. If you would like to ensure that youdon’t miss an issue, a subscription charge of R85for ten issues will secure a copy of CyclingnewsMagazine in your postbox every month.

THE 2015 Bestmed Jock offers a brand-new challenge to serious road ridersacross the country.

The organisers have added another dimension to the weekend. Besides thethree-stage, one-day event on Saturday 18 July they have arranged athree-day stage race covering 334 km and a daunting 7 200 metres ofvertical ascent.

The existing one-day Jock, an official premier seeding event for the CapeTown Cycle Tour, retains its name as the Bestmed Jock Classique. Its three-daybig brother will be known as the Bestmed Jock Tour.

The Tour, to be held from 17 to 19 July, is not an option for the averagerider. It will be the first event in South Africa to mirror the Classic EuropeanAlpine road stage races such as the Haute Route.

There is no tougher three-day challenge on a road bike anywhere on theAfrican continent.

The first stage is a 30km hill climb time trial from Nelspruit to Kaapsehoop.In that short distance the riders will climb 1 200 metres.

The second stage is on the existing 154km Jock Classique route, whichJock Tour riders will have to complete in one go, without the luxury of thebreakfast and lunch stops that the Classique riders have at White River andSabie.

This stage takes riders from Nelspruit out on the N4 towards Kaapmuidenbefore they turn left towards the airport and on to White River. From WhiteRiver they race on the road to Sabie and then back to Nelspruit. This stagepresents 2 900 metres of climbing. The notable climbs on this stage areSpitskop and the Long Tom Pass.

Stage 3 covers 150km on the traditional Jock Classique route, starting inNelspruit, going out on the N4 towards Komatipoort before turning rightinto the Boulders reserve for the back-breaking Boulders ascent and on toKaapmuiden.

From Kaapmuiden, the Tour riders take on the undulating road toBarberton and then to Nelspruit, with Hilltop constituting the final climbbefore riders drop into Nelspruit to finish back at the Mbombela Stadium.

The total rise on the final stage is 3 100 metres.As a wise old Afrikaans man once said: Hier kom ‘n ding!

Wynand de Villiers

WE came together as a family (possiblyfor the first time since his untimelydeparture) and roasted a few chops onhis braai.Besides DStv’s sports channels, this

was his favourite thing in the worldand we washed the meat down withanother of his favourites, brandy andcola.In a previous column, I wrote about

how he had unwittingly shaped my lifeand working career through his love ofsport in general, and cycling inparticular.These passions had rubbed off on me

and through several twists and turnsintroduced me to the peculiar world ofcycling, where I met several interestingcharacters over the years.And, since this is a cycling column, I’d

like to dedicate a few columncentimetres to one of them whoshaped my cycling psyche at the verybeginning, uncle Chris Botes.While dealing with my personal

tragedy, I received a call from Chris’sson, Hein, to inform me that his dadhad also passed on and to ask whetherI could write a piece for the localnewspaper.I was unable to at the time, but

promised myself that I would eternalisehis memory in my column when thewords came to me.When memories of him intermingled

with those of my dad while I wasstanding next to the braai on Sunday, Iknew it was the appropriate time totype a few words in his honour.I’m not exactly sure which caps he

wore at the Eastern Province CyclingAssociation back then, but he wascertainly heavily involved with theyoungsters and, to me, he was theperson I feared most.He was a lanky individual with a

leathery face and he barkedinstructions like an army general, so Iassume he must have been thepresident of the organisation.

My most enduring memory of himwas of the annual provincial trialsduring the winter holidays.He would drill us for an entire week

up and down Seaview Road justoutside PE as he went through theprocess of selecting his squads in themost brutal of ways. It was basicallysurvival of the fittest, or, one could sayselection by way of attrition.We would start at the old Rathmead

Farm Stall on the city side of SeaviewRoad and he would follow us in hisNissan 1400 bakkie, coordinating ourmovements by sounding the hooter.The first hoot meant sprint like hell

and you would do this until you heardthe next honk. It was pure torture andthe sprint-stop-sprint cycle continueduntil the narrowing of the road, wherewe turned around for more of thesame on the way back.After a week of this, the last four

surviving riders made the team bydefault. His style got the best out ofme (I was too scared to give up andface his wrath) and it was a selectionpolicy that clearly had no place forfavouritism or bias.The record books would show that it

was a fine strategy as the little ol’ EPteam dominated the annualinterprovincial competition –named after the late Eric vanEnter – during his reign.For all the successes he

achieved with other dads’youngsters, I believe one ofhis proudest moments camewhen Hein was selected forthe junior Bok team inthe late eighties.Hein was as tough

as nails and clearlythe apple didn’tfall far fromthe tree.RIP. •CN

A TIME TO REFLECT

IN THE BUNCH WITH COETZEE GOUWS


This Sunday past was the first anniversary of my dad’s passing and it turned out to be a day of reflection rather than emotion.

“He would drill us for an entireweek up and down Seaview Roadjust outside PE as he went throughthe process of selecting his squads

in the most brutal of ways.”

BRACE YOURSELF!

THE JOCK CLASSIQUE1 Day - 3 Stages - 154km – 2900m Ascent

STAGE 1• Nelspruit – White River: 44km

STAGE 2• White River – Sabie (via Spitskop): 45km

STAGE 3• Sabie – Nelspruit (via Long Tom Pass): 63km

THE JOCK TOUR 20153 Days - 3 Stages - 334km – 7200m Ascent

STAGE 1: FRIDAY 17 JULY • Individual Time Trial; Nelspruit to Kaapsehoop; • 30km, 1200m ascent

STAGE 2: SATURDAY 18 JULY• Nelspruit to White River via the Kruger Airport Road/Sabie and back to Nelspruit;

• 154km, 2900m ascent.

STAGE 3: SUNDAY 19 JULY• Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden via Barberton and back to Nelspruit • 150km, 3100m ascent

The 2015 Bestmed Jock offers a brand new challenge to seriousroad riders across the country.

Besides the existing 3-stage, 1-day event which takes place onSaturday 18 July, the organisers have added another dimensionto the event with a 3-day stage race covering 334km and adaunting 7200 metres of vertical ascent.

The existing one-day Jock, which is an official premier seedingevent for the Cape Town Cycle Tour, keeps its name as theBestmed Jock Classique while its 3-day big brother will beknown as the Bestmed Jock Tour.

The Bestmed Jock Tour, which takes place from 17-19 July, isnot a challenge for the average rider. It constitutes the firstevent in South Africa which is mirrored on the Classic EuropeanAlpine road race stage races, such as the Haute Route.

There is no tougher 3-day challenge on a road bike anywhereelse on the African continent.

ENTRIES FOR THE TOUR EVENT IS LIMITED TO 400 RIDERS

The 2015 edition of the Bestmed Jock Cycle Classique, whichtakes place on 18 July 2015, will feature a new stage 1 routefrom Nelspruit to White River.

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

DATES: 17-19 July 2015

START/FINISH:Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

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

ENTRY FEES: 1-Day event: R7203-Day event: R3 950

5 DAYS – 5 STAGES – 460kmNO BETTER PLACE TO RIDE YOUR BIKE!DATES: 2-6 March 2015PROVINCE:Western Cape

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

STAGE INFORMATION:Stage 1: Monday 2 MarchPaarl through Franchhoek to Worcester, via Villiersdorp (113km)

Stage 2: Tuesday 3 MarchWorcester to Op-die-Berg, via Ceres (110.9km)

Stage 3: Wednesday 4 MarchIndividual Time Trial – Ceres to Tulbagh (30km)

Stage 4: Thursday 5 Marchulbagh to Riebeek-kasteel, via Piketberg (138.4km)

Stage 5: Friday 6 MarchRiebeek-kasteel to Paarl, via Wellington (72.2km)

The final route for the 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland, presented by Pinarello, has been announced as well as a new Tour logo, abrand new website along with the Tour Jerseys and R100 000 in extra product prizes.The overall tour distance increases slightly from 430km to 460km, but the overall ascent has decreased drastically from 7000

metres to 4428 metres. The other big news it that, following a significant commitment to the Tour by the City of Drakenstein, the stage 1 start moves from Franschhoek to the centre of the City of Paarl. The Tour now starts and finishes in Paarl.Riders who have booked their accomodation in Franschhoek don't need to be concerned as they are adjacent to the race

permanence and only 25km away from the stage start in Paarl (for those who fancy a warm-up ride, the prevailing wind is fromFranschhoek to Paarl and it's a flat ride).Three categories of riders will be hosted on the road. First up every day will be the veterans bunches, followed by the women,

who will ride with the 50 plus veterans, and they’ll be followed by the open/seeded bunches. These bunches will start at 07h00 daily.

AMATEUR TEAMCOMPETITION

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 with

daily times of the best three riders to countfor the overall amateur team prizes.

Team entries will be limited to 40 teams.

ENTRY INCLUDESFtech manufactured Tour de Boland Fleece Jacket, 2 High 5 Race Packs,

ASG Sport Discount booklet, valid for the entire 2015 with huge discountson an array of products, Pasta evening function at Solms Delta Restaurantduring race briefing, Special Bestmed finisher’s trophy, A tog bag shuttleservice, Well stocked water points and wonderful local hospitality, Neutralservice vehicles, Well marshalled roads, Excellent race control, Some ofthe finest cycling roads that South Africa can offer, R30 000 Prize money

R100 000 in Product Prizes

ACCOMMODATIONPACKAGES

We've arranged accommodation packagesin all of our start/finish towns, includingPaarl prior to stage one, but excluding the

final day which finishes in Paarl. Allaccomodation is rated 3-star and up andconsists of bed and breakfasts and hotels

in these beautiful towns.

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

FEATURE


TOUR INVITEsends Ryder over the moonFirst came Robert Hunter’s participation in the Tour de France 14 years ago; then Daryl Impey’s tenure in Le Tour’s yellow jersey the year before last. Now a third historic moment in SA cycling has arrived with the announcement that MTN-Qhubeka have been invited to take part in the 2015 Tour de France.

Words: Wynand de Villiers • Pictures: Andrew King

MTN-QHUBEKA, powered by Samsung,are one of five wild- card entries thatwill line up with 17 Pro Tour teams incycling’s showcase event in July.To receive a wild card for the Tour

de France is a dream come true for theentire MTN-Qhubeka set-up and amonumental moment for cycling inAfrica.

After 101 previous Tour de Franceraces, it will be the first time that anAfrica-registered team will take part inthe biggest cycling race in the world.“We are extremely proud to be able torepresent South Africa and Africa onone of the biggest stages in worldsport,” said team principle DouglasRyder. >

“The journey to reach the Tour deFrance has been a seven-year adventure. Itcertainly would not have been possiblewithout our fantastic partners, particularlyMTN, who have shared our vision from thebeginning, as well as Samsung, who havebeen on board since 2013.

“The added support from all our otherpartners, new and old, made the dream ofputting an African team on the startingline of the Tour de France a reality. We arenow able to expose the work of Qhubekato the world and in doing so will be ableto change more lives in Africa throughbicycles,” he said.

The 2015 Grand Depart will take placeon July 4, starting with a 14km time trial inUtrecht. The riders face 21 stages,covering 3 344km. The Tour finishes onthe famous Champs Elysees on July 26.

The organisers, ASO, have alsoannounced the 20 teams to take part inthe Critérium du Dauphiné. MTN-Qhubekahas been included in this event as well.

The Critérium du Dauphiné is a WorldTour event starting on June 7 and will bevital in the team’s Tour de Francepreparation.

An elated Ryder received the news fromTour de France director ChristianPrudhomme via a text message.

“When I received the message fromChristian Prudhomme saying ‘welcome tothe Tour de France’ and asking me to callhim back, I simply could not containmyself.

“I shouted to my wife and then thingsstarted going crazy. I have been waitingmy whole life for this news. The pressureover the years of getting partners andriders to believe in this dream is finally areality.

“We have so many people to thank thathave been a part of this journey and Iknow our riders and staff will be the mostmotivated team in the world right now.We will not only ride in the Tour; we willcompete and we will have the support ofthe whole continent.” •CN

FEATURE


Courtesy www.letour.com

PRODUCT FEATURE


With summer well and truly here, Cyclingnews has put together a round-up of this season’s hottest cycling essentials. You can find these must-have items on shelves at your nearest retailer.

SUNNY DISPOSITION

Solargenome bags, a collection bystorage accessories company Scicon,allow you to catch some rays on thetrails and keep your electronic devicesrunning at the same time.

The HydraCharge bags, which arefitted with supercharge polymer cells,will recharge the lithium battery pack inless than five hours and keep youswitched on regardless of yourloadshedding schedule.

The seven-litre bag provides amplespace for food, as well as integratedpockets for bike tools and spares. It alsohouses a 1.5-litre, compact Hydrapakthat is easy to clean and refill.

HOT SUMMER BUYS

PRODUCT FEATURE


FRAMED FOR FAME

The Pinarello Dogma needs nointroduction and, with an asymmetricalframe that ensures that no power is lostbetween you and the road, this bike willgive you the most bang for your energybuck.

The bike, the first choice forworld-renowned UCI outfit Team Sky, is said to be one of the fastest on themarket, but comes at a price thatreflects its premium nature. All the more reason to let Santa know you’ve been good this year . . .

MAKE TRACKS

Nothing will stop you in your tracksonce you’ve fitted the Veloflex Carbontyre this summer. Resilient, durable andmade from a natural rubber compound,the Veloflex tyre offers a Calicotpuncture-resistant layer under the tread, making it the clear choice formountain-bike adventures.

PRODUCT FEATURE


SHOE SENSE

Premium cycling shoe brand Sidi hastrotted out the new Genius 5 Fit Carbonfor the 2015 season, and the newestoffering from their stable will have youputting your best foot forward.

The Millennium 4 Carbon compositesole offers more rigidity than a standardnylon sole, which makes it less prone towear and tear from prolonged usage.The replaceable soft instep offers athermo-formed pad that distributes thepressure evenly over the instep area,making it a good choice for riders whoare looking for a comfy fit.

HEAD COVER

Rudy Project’s Airstorm helmet will helpyou keep a cool head this summer withits high-coverage internal padding ofantiperspirant fabric and 21 vents.

An adjustable comfort ring and Fastexsystem closure button will help you clearyour head and enjoy your time on thetrails.

KITTED OUT

When you’re out on the route you needkit that works as hard as you do. Ftechoffers stylish yet functional sports gearto ensure a great fit.

The Italian brand utilises Xtra LifeLycra, which can stretch up to 600 percent without losing material integritywhile offering superior UV protection.Hydrofit technology keeps you cool anddry, as it allows air to flow through.

In addition, ASG Sport Solutionsprovides sponsorship deals, which isperfect if you want to kit your team outwith custom threads.

PRODUCT FEATURE


VROOM WITH A VIEW

Rudy Project offers ImpactX Lenses thatactivate from clear to colour in seconds,even performing their magic whenbehind windows and windshields.

The range, newly available fromretailers, comes in black, red and brown.The lenses have a wider photochromicrange than their predecessors andfeature higher contrast definition todeliver a clearer view of yoursurroundings.

HAPPILY HYDRATED

Keep your hydration levels up when theheat is on with Zero tabs, which are free ofartificial colourants and preservatives. Thisfruit drink is loaded with Vitamin C andelectrolytes such as sodium, potassium andmagnesium to combat fatigue withoutadding any extra kilojoules.

A 20-tablet tube can make up to 15litres of the refreshing drink, making thisgreat value for money.

RACE PREVIEW


THE five-day road championship, whichis presented by Pinarello, moves deeperinto the heart of the Boland when therace starts on March 2.The 465km tour has replaced the

Giro del Capo in the lead-up to theannual Cape Town Cycle Tour, and alsoin the imagination of the 700 expectedparticipants.Offering a serious challenge – and

great prizes – to South Africa’s topprofessional and amateur teams, theevent is meant to re-establish thetradition of the iconic road tour.Event coordinator Wynand de Villiers

says the Paarl climb has featuredstrongly in earlier versions of the Tourde Boland. “We have a wonderfulrelationship with DrakensteinMunicipality and wanted to give thema chance to be hosts for the finish thisyear.

“The finish ticks all the boxes as faras presenting a proper finale up to anepic Western Cape landmark goes,”says De Villiers.The 4km final climb will be shorter

and steeper than last year’s 9kmFranschhoek Pass finale, with the latternow part of the opening stage.“Our tour director, Carinus Lemmer,

is known for keeping things interestingand sometimes offbeat. We like hisapproach, which means we’ll try tochange things every year.” Lemmer says adding a fifth stage is

another step in building the traditionof a classic road tour. “We want tomake this an authentic tour of theBoland. We’ve had requests from manytowns to stop in at or pass by them, sowe try to showcase as much of theregion as possible.”The registration venue will again be

Solms Delta Wine Estate nearFranschhoek and the 113km openingstage takes riders from the centre ofPaarl to Worcester via Villiersdorp.On day two, the participants cover

111km to Op-die-Berg, climbing 1278m and ending with two signatureascents, Mitchell’s Pass and Gydo Pass.After two days of intense riding the

30km individual time trial betweenCeres and Tulbagh on day three offersa welcome respite. “It’s a flattish courseand almost like a rest day,” explainsLemmer.The “rest” will be much needed as

the 138km queen stage towardsRiebeek-Kasteel, the sole survivinghosting town from the 2014 tour,looms on stage four. The tour thenwraps up with a quick 74km dash back to Paarl, and up themountain, via Wellington. >

Tour de Boland riders

to finish on a highRiders and spectators at the 2015 Bestmed Tour de Boland can look forward to yet another thrilling mountaintop finish; this time at the Taal Monument near Paarl on March 6.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Capcha

For the elite riders, Lemmer says thiswill involve summiting Paarl Mountain viaa gravel road to finish at the TaalMonument.

“We’re going easier on the veteransand amateur bunches. Their ascent willbe on tar.”

De Villiers says the addition of anamateur team competition is anothernew feature that organisers havebrought in due to popular demand.

“The amateur category personifies thespirit of the Tour de Boland; workingtogether towards a common goal. Veryfew tours afford amateurs theopportunity of feeling and beingrewarded like the pros, and we’ll beannouncing some amazing prizes, worthmore than R250 000, shortly.”

The elite field will start later than theother groups to ensure everyone gets toexperience the thrill of seeing the proscome storming into the finish every day.

More than 60 international riders havealready signed up, including multipleCape Epic champion Christoph Sauser,who will head the Songo line-up thatincludes guest riders Erik Kleinhans andNico Bell.

“The top five elite men and womenoverall will receive cash prizes, as well asthe top three licensed vets. There are alsoprizes for the top three men’s elite teamsand top three amateur squads,” says De Villiers.

All open or seeded riders who finishwithin the allotted times will receive acommemorative trophy. All participantsalso receive discounts on selected cyclinggear from tour sponsors ASG SportSolutions and Bestmed.

Visit www.tourdeboland.com, [email protected] or phone076 621 1807. Alternatively, find therace on Facebook or follow@TourdeBoland. •CN

RACE PREVIEW


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Tel: 011475 0720Fax: 011 475 1389E-mail: [email protected]

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Tel: 021 914 5315Fax: 021 914 5311

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Tel: (012) 653 2288Fax: (012) 6532293Email: [email protected]

One of the pillars of the SpectacleWarehouse concept is the wide choiceof product presented in our stores.

We love the Rudy Project brand andwe are doing justice to it by stocking the full range of styles and colours. It will truly elevate your performance.

We have a great team of optometrists specialising in several aspects of optometry.Our stores can supply everything you can ever desire in eyewear and eye care.Visit www.spectaclewarehouse.co.za


When veteran cyclist Juanita Venter blazed to victory in the individual time trial at the amateurworld road championships in Slovenia last year,she did so the old-fashioned way.

PULSE PAGES

SHE scooped the champion’s rainbow jerseyin the 35-to-39 age category without thehelp of a heart-rate monitor or powermeter.“Unlike the rest of the cycling community,

I have an old-school approach when itcomes to the time trial,” she admits. Going purely on feel, also referred to as

“perceived rate of exertion”, seems to havepaid dividends for Venter. Last year, shetook the national title in her specialist eventand won the time trials at the Bestmed Tourde Boland and Lowveld Tour.“I know my body quite well and on the

day I give it everything I have,” she explains.As a seasoned professional cyclist and

spinning instructor, Venter has listening toher body down to a fine art, if not science.“From the start, I watch my speedometer topedal most efficiently.”At the world championships, for example,

she battled a strong headwind on theoutward-bound part of the course. Shestruggled to keep her speed above 40kmper hour and was nine seconds behind theleader at the turn-around.

TAKE TIME-TRIAL RACING TO HEART

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Capcha

“I, of all people, saw that a time trial canbe won or lost by less than a second. ”

PULSE PAGES

But on the return leg, with the wind ather back, she pushed her speed up to anaverage of 45km/h and sprinted home totake gold on the flattish 18.6kmout-and-back course in 26 minutes 53.2 seconds.

She firmly believes in using data toimprove performance, but only after thefact, not during the race itself, she says.

With an international champion’s medalas the dangling carrot, the 38-year-oldsays the urge to ignore the data wouldhave been too strong anyway. “If I sawmy heart rate bordering red line, would Ihave slowed down? I don’t think so.

“I, of all people, saw that a time trialcan be won or lost by less than a second.”

Venter won on the streets of Ljubljanaby just 0.7 of a second.

Called the Race of Truth a time trialdemands from competitors to ride as fastas they can over a set distance without

the safety net of the bunch.But just how fast is “as fast as they

can” and how do time-trial cyclistsdetermine their limits?

Super-fit riders at the sharp end of therace may find their heart rate playingcatch-up to their efforts and second fiddle to their judgement. But for mostsocial riders a heart-rate monitor can be a valuable training and racing tool.

Inexperience often results incompetitors overdoing their efforts andgoing out too hard at the start of a timetrial. Any early time gains could benullified by muscle fatigue later on.

A heart-rate monitor will provide betterpacing feedback than a power meter orsimply trying to gauge by “feel”.

Everyone’s heart rate is different andfinding a sustainable threshold for riding a time trial at your limit is the key to agood performance.

The maximum heart-rate zone used tobe the yardstick, but the concept of thelactate threshold has gained popularity.The latter is about finding that exactdanger point at which your musclesproduce lactate (lactic acid) faster than the body is able to neutralise it.

In other words, it is about discoveringthe highest intensity and fastest pace atwhich you can continue to ride withoutfeeling too much of the burn that willeventually cause you to slow down.

A sudden increase in the heart rate isusually a good indicator of lactateaccumulation as this is the threshold atwhich aerobic energy production becomes anaerobic.

A heart-rate monitor can helpdetermine intensity and pacing. You maynot grab the rainbow jersey as Venter did,but you could achieve your best time-trialperformance. •CN

An entire weekend of

cycling activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

RACE PREVIEW


HILLSNACKS FOR STARTERS

Top SA teams to lead Berge en Dale bunchWith its highest climb looming within the first ten kilometres of the race, the Action Ford Berge en Dale Classic near Krugersdorp lives up to its name.

Words: Coetzee Gouws

DATESaturday 31 January 2015

VENUECradlestone Mall, Muldersdrift

DISTANCES102km, 55km

ENTRY FEES102km: R280, 55km: R150

STARTING TIME06:00

MORE INFORMATIONFor further information [email protected] or phone076 621 1807

THE West Rand’s biggest road race startsat Cradlestone Mall in the Muldersdriftarea of Mogale City on January 31 andtakes participants over a challenging102km course of hills and valleys.

Starting with the infamous Hillsnacksclimb, riders quickly warm up as theyascend to over 1 750m above sea level.The 6km ascent registers a gradient ofseven per cent in places and sets the tonefor the route, which presents four climbs.

On the last one, tired riders have to dig deep as they climb back to the finishin the closing 10km.

But the suffering will be worth it as the race passes the Sterkfontein Cavesand pristine nature reserves in the Cradleof Humankind.

As a premier seeding event for theCape Town Cycle Tour, the race attractsSouth Africa’s top teams, with the addedincentive of cash prizes for the pros andlucky draws for the more social types.

Last year’s race, which was won by Namibian Costa Seibeb of theMTN-Qhubeka feeder team and An-li Kachelhoffer of Activate Drinks –attracted more than 4 000 riders. >

ROUTE PROFILE

Distance (km)

Elevation (m)

1755

1700

1650

1600

1550

1500

1450

1400

1350

1317

7.5 15 22.5 30 37,5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75 82.5 93.6

Fourways

Robert BroomRobert Broom

Hill Snacks

Rustenburg Rd

Rustenburg Rd

To Magaliesburg

Orient Hills

To Hekpoort

Cradlestone Mall

55km Route right102km Route left

Race director Wynand de Villiers ofASG events says the success of the 2014event at the spacious new venue on theR28 convinced organisers to retain thestart/finish venue and route unchangedfor 2015.

“Because it is situated at the mall,there is plenty to keep the familyentertained once the racing is done.”

A 55km short-course option isavailable for those who might find thefull route too daunting.

ROUTE DESCRIPTIONThe race starts at Cradlestone Mall onthe R28 and heads straight up thefamous Hillsnacks climb.

At the top of the mountain (4km),riders take the Robert Broom off-rampand head West. After crossing three4-way stops the route takes a right pastthe Sterkfontein Hospital and ProteaRidge School.

It carries on straight past the Zenexgarage at the Hendrik Potgieterextension junction. About 1km after thejunction the 102km event forks left onthe N14 towards Ventersdorp while the

55km riders carry on straight towards theSterkfontein turn-off.

After descending for more than 5km,the 102km route flattens out and is onlymildly undulating until the right turn atthe access road to the R24 (the second4-way stop after the fork).

Then it’s mostly downhill until the racecrosses the R24 between Magaliesburgand Krugersdorp.

Riders have to negotiate a railwaycrossing shortly before this intersectionand will be advised to slow down andtake caution.

After the R24 intersection it’s astaggered 8km climb towards Maropeng.Then it’s right onto theHekpoort/Krugersdorp road and a long downhill past Greensleeves.

The 102km route then takes a left at the Sterkfontein turn-off where theyjoin up with the 55km event.

It’s flat and fast riding to the Kromdraaicash store T-junction and also after the left turn there which then takes the race past the Rhino andLion Park.

The section from the Rhino and

Lion Park to the right turn on BeyersNaude is challenging, but mostly onlybecause it comes at a late stage in theevent with more than 70km covered.

The first 2km on Beyers Naude isdownhill followed by a very challenging2km climb past Valverde.

It flattens out at Ekudeni but risesgradually all the way from there to theintersection with the N14.

The race then hops onto a lovelydecent past Drift in through Muldersdrifbefore hitting the final 2km climb on theR28 to the finish line from Muldersdrift.

The race finishes in front of BergvalleiEstate and riders trickle back toCradlestone Mall where refreshmentsand medals await.

Enter at www.cycleevents.co.za beforeJanuary 19. Late entries will be acceptedat registration but not on the morning ofthe race.

For more information, phone 076 621 1807 or [email protected]. •CN

RACE PREVIEW


FEATURE


Winning the Momentum 94.7 CycleChallenge in your maiden outingseems to be an unexpectedly greatend to what has been a bit of arough season, wouldn’t you say?Most definitely! It was so unexpectedafter I actually thought I wouldn’t beracing again this year, but it was exactlywhat I needed.

The real lowlight was probablycrashing out of Tour de l’Avenir. Tellus about that, your injuries and howit altered your plans for the season.I had a few crashes this year. One of themwas around July when I slid on a wetroad and took a piece the size of a golfball out of the side of my hip. I missedout on a big Tour (Giro Valle d’Aosta)because of that injury and it took mequite a while to get my motivation andtraining back up. Shortly before Tour del’Avenir, I was feeling good again. Imanaged to get through the flat stageswithout crashing or losing time andactually started thinking this might be agood tour for me. But then it was overbefore I reached the mountains. My planwas to qualify for the world champsthrough a top-20 on GC and also get theattention of one or two pro teams.Obviously neither of those goals waspossible and I must admit it was a toughmental blow. It took me a long time toget over it. I actually said my season wasdone after the crash, because thereweren’t any big races left and if I startedtraining again immediately I would peaktoo late for the last races of the season.But then our team coach, Andrew Smith,asked me to come down for theMomentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge anyway,even if I didn’t race. I’m happy he askedme to do that, even if I hadn’t won. >

20 QUESTIONS FOR TILL DROBISCH

After the hole in the hipall’s well that ends wellCyclingnews caught up with the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team’s Till Drobisch, who snatched a surprise victory in his first Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. The 21-year-old Namibian talked about this season’s crashes, challenges and changes, and about ending his African chapter on a high note.


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Did the enforced break fromcompetition do you a favour inthat you were able to peak intime for this late-season race?Yes and no. I was definitely not in peakshape and, honestly, also wasn’t tryingto achieve that in training. I was doingmostly strength intervals rather thanspeed intervals, which is not theoptimal choice if you want to be racingfit. However, it gave me the advantagein that I was still motivated and freshin my mind, unlike most of the riderswho had a long season behind themand were looking forward to a bit ofrest.

You didn’t go into the 94.7 asdesignated team leader. Did youthink you could win, or at whatpoint did you realise it waspossible?I was feeling pretty good in some ofthe hillier training sessions, but I neverthought about actually winning untilour director, JP van Zyl, told me I hadan outside chance. I didn’t believe himat first but I later thought he might beright because in cycling you neverknow what will happen. But I was stillfocused on working for our teamleaders.

Would you say the hillier newroute played to your strengthsas a good climber? Or did youalso have to employ yourtime-trial skills in the closingstages?

The new route definitely suited ourteam, and me. All the sprinters whowere still there at the end were tootired to get over that last bit quicklyenough, which gave me the gap Ineeded to hold them off. But I alsohad to use my time-trial skills when theothers attacked on the climbs. BecauseI wasn’t strong enough to follow thosehard accelerations I got dropped a bitbut kept the power high and alwaysreeled them back in.

Do you think the tougher newroute elevates the 94.7 to aclassic that’s really challengingfor the pros and not just anordinary mass-participationevent?It is a very challenging route, even forthe pros, but it still favours thesprinters a bit more than the climbersbecause most of the climbs are notlong enough. The sprinters can still usetheir power to get over the top and ifthey are still there at the finish it willbe difficult to beat them; but notimpossible. .

The win certainly put you in themedia spotlight. How havethings changed for you in termsof your public profile andconfidence?The only thing that has changed is thatI got a million congratulations. I’vebeen in every newspaper and for thefirst time in my life I had to give a fewinterviews on television. But let’s stay

realistic. It’s not going to make me apro if I win the 94.7, so my confidencehasn’t changed much. I know what Iam capable of and I also know myweaknesses. A win here is somethinggreat, but it won’t change the factthat I still have a long way to go to bea pro.

How big is the cycling sceneback home and whatopportunities are there foraspiring young pros?Cycling in Namibia is not very big. It isgrowing but we lack events and riders.For young riders who want to make itbig it is not a good idea to stay inNamibia. The racing is different ... notso many tactics, not a lot of sponsorsand not the best racing. Mountainbiking is a bit better, but the best is ifyou try to race in SA or overseas asmuch as possible.

How long have you been withthe MTN-Qhubeka feeder team?Two years. Before that I spent a yearwith World Cycling Centre Africa.

How has your time inPotchefstroom shaped yourcycling?My time in Potchefstroom made me acyclist. Before, I didn’t know anythingabout training, tactics and nutrition.But after being in Potch andSwitzerland for three years, I havelearned a lot and can actually callmyself a bike rider.

FEATURE


“The only thing that has changed is that I got a millioncongratulations. I’ve been in every newspaper and for the firsttime in my life I had to give a few interviews on television.”

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FEATURE


You’ve signed with French teamNantes Atlantique for the 2015season. How and where did youfirst grab their attention?When I was racing in Switzerland forCMC (Centre Mondial duCyclisme/World Cycling Centre), theirsoigneur helped us out in one of theraces and told me they were interestedin signing me. Since I planned to leavethe centre after this year and mycoach in Switzerland was looking for aFrench team for me, I thought whynot this one? They are a well-knownfirst-division amateur team linked totwo professional teams. It’s not easygetting into a team like that as aforeigner.

Tell us a bit about your new role and opportunities in that team.I don’t know what my role in the teamwill be because I don’t know any ofmy teammates yet. So we will have towait and see. The opportunity I willget is a lot of tough European racing,which will hopefully make me a morecomplete rider. The races aroundNantes are very windy, cold and wet. Iam still struggling a bit in thoseconditions, but I am eager to learn. Iam also hoping to make contact withthe two pro teams they are linked to(FDJ and Bretagne-Séché) and see if itwill be possible to get a ride there. >

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Where will you be based? It’sobviously even farther fromhome than Potch, so are youexcited or already a littlehomesick at the thought?I will be based in Nantes. Yes it is faraway from home, but I am alreadyused to it. I’ve spent six months inSwitzerland each year for the pastthree years, which is not as long as Iwill spend in Nantes but it comesclose. I think once I’ve settled thereand figured out how things work itwill be okay.

Do you see yourself racing foran African pro team and whatare your long-term careerplans?I could definitely see myself racing foran African pro team. I was supposedto be a stagiaire for MTN-Qhubeka thisyear but then had my series of crashes.But we will see what happens andkeep the options open. My long-termplans are making the jump to the prosand riding a few Grand Tours. It ismore like a dream though; anachievable dream nonetheless.

What would you say are yourtop three career highlights todate?Difficult to say. I’ve had a few decentresults but nothing that stands outmuch. I would say my third placeoverall in the Tour de Franche-Comtéwas a highlight because of the difficultstages and tough competition. Werode up to La Planche des Belles Filles,the same last two climbs on whichNibali won his second stage at thisyear’s Tour de France. A secondhighlight was participating in the Tourde l’Avenir three times. I love that tour,

but it’s a love/hate relationship,because I never achieved what Iwanted to. Obviously, I can’t leave outthe 94.7 Cycle Challenge win. I’venever had this much media attentionand the congratulations from people Idon’t even know haven’t stopped. Iwould also like to mention myNamibian national road and time-trialtitles from 2013. It is somethingspecial to wear your country’s coloursfor a year. Unfortunately, this year Icould defend only the time-trial title.

How old were you when youfirst got on a bicycle?I started riding properly around theage of nine. We had training sessionsafter school every Monday andWednesday and I think that’s where itall started.

When did it first occur to youthat you could make a careerout of riding a bicycle?Actually, only last year! After school Ididn’t know what to study, so Idecided to take a gap year and ride abike at the WCCA in Potch. I struggleda lot and actually didn’t think I couldmake it, but decided to try for onemore year. Apparently I learned a lot inthat year of struggling and made a bigleap forward. That was the first time Iactually believed I could make it.Before that I thought about it but itwas more like a dream; it didn’t seemas I would be able to do it.

Complete this sentence: WhenI’m not on the bike, I . . .. . . think about when I will be able toget back on the bike. But I might startstudying through Unisa next year, somaybe that will change.

What’s your next race? Are youdoing the Sharjah InternationalTour?Unfortunately there have been somecomplications and the Namibianfederation will not be able to send ateam, so this year there will be nomore racing for me. I will start doing alot of cross-training now and preparefor 2015.

Will we see you back for theAfrican champs in February2015?I am not sure yet. It will becomplicated, because I have to be inFrance on January 5 and we have atraining camp in Spain at the sametime. But if there is a possibility I woulddefinitely like to come. •CN

FEATURE


“My long-term plans are makingthe jump to the pros and riding afew Grand Tours. It is more like adream though; an achievabledream nonetheless. ”

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LEGEND OF THE PEDAL


CATHY stormed on to the scene in themid-eighties and dominated SA women’scycling for the rest of the decade.In that time she notched up five Argus

titles (now the Cape Town Cycle Tour),another fistful of wins in the 250km BaysideMarathon and three victories in the Star 100,forerunner of the 94.7 Cycle Challenge, inaddition to more than 300 fun ride wins.Among many other achievements, she

smashed the Argus record by 15 minutes, setan SA record on the track over 3 000m andwon the first national road championships.Having hit the proverbial glass ceiling,

and frustrated by the ban from internationalcompetition, Cathy went looking for a freshchallenge and found it in raising a familyand opening a physiotherapy practice.She resurfaced in the new millennium,

returning to the top of her game andeventually becoming a world champion.Cathy’s trail-blazing accomplishments

have earned her a rightful place among theLegends of the Pedal, and the distinction of being the first female member of thisnational hall of fame.“It’s so sweet of them to ask me,” says

Cathy, now 52. “It’s really a fantastic conceptbecause he (Johnny Koen) is making us oldpeople feel good. And it benefits others!”All of this would have seemed

unimaginable back in 1984, as she lay in a Cape Town hospital with her leg in a plaster cast.Then a successful middle-distance

student athlete, with provincialcolours in her favourite sport, Cathyhad struggled with knee problemsfrom a young age.“I’d had so much trouble with my

left leg. I had operations in standardfive, standard seven and matric for adislocated patella. And they messedmy poor little leg up, so I’ve always hadto fight to get back into my sport.”Having set the University of Cape Town

800m record, which still has not beenbroken, Cathy was just back on track when a head-on car crash ended her promisingathletics career. >

CATHY CARSTENSThe leading lady of SA cycling Before there were Anriette Schoeman and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, there was Cathy Carstens.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Picture: Femina

KIDNAPPED BY MATIES“Our rivals, Maties, had actuallykidnapped me for fun and I told themthey should just bring me back beforethe koshuis closed. We were driving inthe mist and there was a guy reversingon the N2 . . .”

Her troublesome knee hit thedashboard, rupturing the cruciateligament and causing a decompressionfracture of the knee joint.

“They just stuck me back into plasterfor the fourth or fifth time. I came out ofthat and I couldn’t walk properly for along time,” recalls Cathy. “The doctoractually said to me, ‘You’re going to be a cripple at 26 and I don’t even want tosee you at 40’.”

But a fighter by nature, she was morethan up for the challenge. “I think you’vegot this spirit inside you that just knows. I don’t know where I got these wordsfrom but I just said to him, ‘Don’t worry,I’ll be fine’.”

As it turns out, she was more thanfine. After all attempts at running causedthe knee to swell, Cathy took up tandemcycling with her boyfriend. Less than ayear later, she had won the mixedcategory in the Argus tandem event andwhen her partner couldn’t participate ina race, she decided to go solo.

“It was so funny, I insisted on riding aladies’ bike!”

After being convinced by fellow SAcyclist Francois du Toit to switch to amen’s bike, she never looked back. “Yourstability’s so much better, especially whenyou’re climbing. So ja, then I startedwinning after that.”

Unlike the fun-rider focus of modernmass-participation events, the emphasisback then was on the registered riders.She remembers starting with the men’s

pro field in her first solo Argus in 1986.“I was so mad because I stayed with

them all the way to the top ofChapman’s Peak but I couldn’t stay withthem on the downhills. They were justtoo hectic, so I thought everything waslost.”

But then the late Peter Hauptencouraged her, saying they could stillmake it in a sub-three-hour time, so theyworked together and did it.

“That was so special,” says Cathy, whofinished just over nine minutes behindthe winner of the men’s race, thelegendary Ertjies Bezuidenhout.

“They were all pros and I was just onthis funny old bike,” she recalls.

In her five-year reign as the queen ofthat race, she received notablesponsorships from the likes of Pickfordsand Le Coq Sportif. “It was quite harddoing it five times in a row. Once I got apuncture and another time somebody fellover me. There was a lot of competitionand the girls were good.”

Without the support of a modern teamstructure, the female riders did the bestthey could with the knowledge they had.“I didn’t have a coach, and didn’t knowwhat I should or shouldn’t eat. I just rode.We used to do short 40km bunch ridesevery evening – we really raced those –and long miles over the holidays.”

SPOTTED BY TALENT SCOUTShe was eventually spotted on theKillarney racetrack by a Belgian talentscout who offered her a place on theShimano team. The offer was contingenton her getting her Irish ancestralpassport, because South Africans werenot welcome in Europe at the time.

Unfortunately, the passportmaterialised only ten years later. “I would

so, so have loved to race overseas. It wasjust so sad that we couldn’t,” she says.

Her amateur efforts paid off on thedomestic circuit and she won the firstunofficial SA championship for women,and the first official one in herhometown of Bethlehem a year or solater.

“My dad was on the finish line andafter winning I said to him: ‘Okay, nowI’m going to have a baby’.”

It was 1990 and having woneverything she could locally, Cathythought it was time to settle into familylife. “Life is more than racing,” she says.

“At the end of that year the wholepolitical situation had changed and bythen I was pregnant.

“They sent the girl who came third atnationals to the ’92 Olympics and Ithought, ag man, I would have loved tohave gone. But I’ve got this awesomeson and I’d never change him foranything.”

Always on the hunt for a newchallenge, Cathy got the opportunity tostart her own practice while she waspregnant. It consumed her attention forthe next decade.

“I was totally immersed in building mybusiness and bringing up my two kids.When they were ten and twelve, Irealised they were bored with me, andone of my clients was on my case to startcycling again.”

A phone call from Pat White, askingher to attend the Argus’s 25th anniversarycelebrations, sparked her curiosity andshe entered for the race.

“I took my bike down from the raftersof the garage and dusted it off. I toldmyself I would stop only if I fell off fromcramping, but I made it in under threeand a half hours, without any training.”

LEGEND OF THE PEDAL


LEGEND OF THE PEDAL


Convinced she could get into an eliteteam, Cathy started training again atage 41. This time she took a structuredapproach, complete with a coach.

“I tried so hard, did the wholenational circuit and finished secondoverall. But I was invisible because I wasolder. It was a bit depressing.

“In 2004, I was just half a secondbehind Anriette (Schoeman) in the Argusand I was on a high. I went for a trainingride and then a vehicle rode into me andI smashed my hand.”

History had repeated itself just asCathy seemed to be gaining groundonce more. But, just as before, the endresult was more good than bad.

TWO SILVER AND A GOLDAfter being out of action for threemonths, she got back into form for the2005 national road champs; this time asa veteran. She received national colourson the strength of her performance and

was selected to race at the worldveterans road championships in Austriathe following year.

“I finally got overseas and with myIrish passport; the first time I used it!”

She won two silver medals therebefore snatching the gold in 2008.“How beautiful was that? I’m just so, sograteful. Being a world champ wasawesome. The experience of standing onthat podium . . . you can’t help it butyou just cry; it’s just too much.

“It’s just so amazing that you get tostand there and your own country’s flagis being raised and your anthemplayed.”

Asked whether she still has any aimsleft, she laughs. “Mastering thetechnical skills of mountain biking. I loveit. I was up in the Bottelary Hills thismorning and it was just like heaven.”

One of the founder members of theLadies’ Cycling Association, Cathy saysshe’s thrilled to see women’s cycling

being treated with more respect all overthe world.

“Ashleigh’s doing so much for thesport and there are some fantastic ladies,like Mariske Strauss, also competingnow. I’m really proud of everyone.”

As one of the leading contributors onthe local front, she is looking forward tohaving her son Deon, daughter Margie,her father and loved ones around her atthe official Legends of the Pedal functionin December.

“My dad is going to drive all the wayfrom the Free State; he’s just turned 80.When I used to ride, he didn’t reallybother about my cycling. So I sent himmy CV to show exactly why they wantedme to be a Legend.

“He said: ‘Oh my gosh! I didn’t realiseyou did all that.’ It was so funny . . .” •CN

“I’m just so, so grateful. Being a world champ wasawesome. The experience of standing on that podium . . .you can’t help it but you just cry; it’s just too much.”

TO handle the burgeoning cycling sideof the business, the group established anew division called MoreCycle. “It was a great fit for us. We’re

finding that a lot of people who playgolf also cycle,” says chief executiveStephen Reardon. “It’s also a veryfast-growing sport in South Africa,especially on the mountain-biking side.”When Cycle Lab opened its doors in

Mclean’s garage 17 years ago, it wouldhave been difficult to foresee thesuccess story that the chain became. Mclean says in those days all he knew

was cycling, so the focus was mainly ontraining. “People came to my garageand I had a couple of indoor trainersand I trained them.”Once he realised that retail was the

key to expanding the business, hemoved it to Woodmead. In a later movethe store relocated to Paulshof, andfinally Design Quarter. The opening of the Fourways

megastore in 2013 signalled MoreCycle’sintention to become a force to bereckoned with in the market.From the previous 500 square metres,

the floor space was expanded to awhopping 2 000, a strategy thatallowed the shop to stock a wide arrayof merchandise and carry the title oflargest cycling store in the southernhemisphere.“The megastore really caters for

everyone. We stock 1 000 differentmodels of bikes alone, with a plethoraof accessories, nutritional products, gearand more,” says Reardon. “Whether someone is interested in

road riding, mountain biking, fat bikesor even a unicycle, it’s important to usto fit the customer with the perfectbike.”The staff, which totals about 50,

comprises 25 sales assistants and 15workshop staffers, with administrationand support staff rounding out thenumber.

Reardon says retail is only part of thebigger picture, as the group prides itselfon taking a holistic approach to cyclingby investing in facilities that supportcycling as a sport. “The Toyota Supercycling club is a

very important part of what we do;we’ve built up a community oflike-minded individuals and that reallyalso drives the brand. The club has over4 000 members nationwide.” In addition to the cycling club, the

MoreGolf group also runs the PwC CyclePark in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Itoffers riders a safe place to enjoy thesport and test out their Fittrack trainingprogrammes, another one of thegroup’s acquisitions.When it comes to sponsorships, the

group looks to what they call “reallygood amateurs”.“We enjoy giving average riders a

chance to go and really enjoythemselves. We’d like to make cyclingnot just a sport but a large part of theirlife.” Although Mclean spends time racing

and presenting the Supercyclingtelevision show, he is still very muchhands-on in the business. With all his experience, Mclean “has

really guided us in the industry. He’sstill, very much, the face of the business.He tests our products and has been anamazing partner,” says ReardonThe group has one megastore and

seven franchises countrywide butReardon is tight-lipped about possibleexpansion plans, except that moremegastores are definitely on thehorizon.“We would like to be in Cape Town in

2015, and possibly look at other majorurban centres after that.”Cycle Lab Fourways is open from

09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, from 08:00to 17:00 on Saturdays and from 09:00 to13:00 on Sundays and public holidays.Give them a call on 011 707 4700. •CN

Cycle Lab Fourways caters

TO ‘NEW GOLF’

BIKE SHOP FEATURE



The popular saying “cycling is the new golf” was taken to a new level by the MoreGolf group last year when they acquired the well-known Cycle Lab retail chain from the founder, former professional cyclist Andrew Mclean.

BIKE SHOP FEATURE


OUR SERVICES INCLUDE:

Ocean & Air

Imports & Exports

Warehousing

Customs Clearing

Road Freight

Distribution

Courier

Proud logistics partner of

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

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

E-mail: [email protected]

“The megastore really caters foreveryone. We stock 1 000 differentmodels of bikes alone, with aplethora of accessories, nutritionalproducts, gear and more.”

RACE REVIEW


THE event, presented by the City ofDrakenstein on November 16, proved to be a pearler.

The field flowed out from the PaarlArboretum on the banks of the BergRiver and over a challenging course thatincluded some serious climbing up PaarlMountain to the iconic Taal Monument.

Stenerhag and Sim won the 60kmfeature race and Ana Sampson and David Botha were first in the 30km event.

Sim said he had been amazed by the quality and diversity of the route.“The single-track coming down off thetop of Paarl Mountain was a revelation.It was actually world class.”

With nine stage wins in the Cape Epicmasters category under his belt, the48-year-old said the race had been theideal start to his base training for the2015 campaign alongside NicoPfitzenmaier.

“The Epic has two or three days ofsimilar riding in the Wellington area, so this terrain is very good for that.”

Race organiser Wynand de Villiers said the collaboration between the citymunicipality and locally based businessessuch as Rhodes Foods and Cape BrewingCompany had contributed greatly to the success of the event.

The water points were “fantastic”, he said. >

Paarl delivers a pearlerMore than 1 200 riders turned out for the inaugural Bestmed Paarl MTB Classic, inwhich Swedish marathon champion Jennie Stenerhag and cross-country specialistRobert Sim took the honours.

Words: Coetzee Gouws • Pictures: Jetline Action Photo

There was even CBC craft beer andlocal wines for tasting.

De Villiers said participants in nextyear’s event could look forward to atleast another 10km of free-flowingsingle-track on the Rhebokskloof WineEstate section of the trails.

“We’ve already had our post-mortemmeeting and decided on a number ofchanges for next year’s classic.”

First among these would be the totalclosure of the Paarl Mountain NatureReserve for the duration of theevent.“The walking trails on the reservewill be the sole preserve of ourparticipants on the day; the only time ofthe year that mountain bikers areallowed on these trails.”

Feedback from the riders wasextremely encouraging. “We received anine-out-of-10 rating in the post-eventsurvey, which we’re not quite happywith,” De Villiers revealed.

His his team would focus on ironing out the kinks before the 2015 event.

Mild congestion near the TaalMonument would be eradicated by

rerouting riders in a slight detour aroundthe landmark.

Entries for the second Paarl MTB Classicwill be opening in July.

“We’re limiting the field to 1 700 ridersto guarantee a fantastic routeexperience,” said De Villiers, adding thatall entrants would receive goodie bagsworth more than R600 and discounts onRudy Project eyewear, as well as a

branded T-shirt, courtesy of ASG SportSolutions.

“We’ll also have our customary freeCBC lager waiting for you on the finishline and an ‘I conquered Paarl Mountain’medal.”

To enter, visit www.asgevents.co.za. For more information, follow@PaarlMTBClassic or find the race onFacebook. •CN

RACE REVIEW


RESULTS

MEN – 60km1 Robert Sim 2:44:08

2 Billy Stelling 2:45:26

3 Craig Gerber 2:47:12

4 Corey Johnson 2:50:56

5 Cornelius Muller 2:51:02

WOMEN – 60km1 Jennie Stenehag 3:01:13

2 Marleen Lourens 3:11:13

3 Nadia Visser 3:12:52

4 Katie Viljoen 3:14:54

5 Alma Colyn 3:24:30

cyclingnews january 2015 digital

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