cyclingnews - september 2012

Vol 13 No 6 SEpTEMBER 2012

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

FREE

Spring classics!

KIA Val de Vie Estate MTB Challenge

The FedGroup Berg & Bush

The Bestmed Campus2Campus

Moon to Noon Endurance Race

Sondela SuperClassic

CANSA MIlESToNE AT 15thloST CITy FESTIVAlI had the privilege of again being part of the organisational team at the Powerade/BestmedLost City Cycling Festival at the end of last month. It was a special year for all of us. Theevent, now in its fifteenth staging, surpassed the R3 million-mark in funds raised for theCancer Association of South Africa.In its historic 15th year, proceedings went off like clockwork with my friend and col-

league Johan du Toit doing a fantastic job of coordinating the weekend’s festivities. Morethan 4000 cyclists enjoyed a fun-filled weekend at Sun City.While the road race has a long history, the mountain bike event only took place for the

6th time, and I believe we’ve finally shaped the route into something that will stand theevent in good stead for many years to come.I’ve been tasked with the mountain bike event from the outset and it has evolved from a

25km circuit lap to a fully-fledged 60km (okay, 54km this year!) challenge. The short routestill remains 25km and it’s a lovely ride around some of the most picturesque spots on theSun City grounds.We tweaked the route for the long ride and had no bottlenecks with riders zipping

through the Valley of Waves with spectators cheering them all the way!Thanks to everyone who has made a contribution to the event and to our sponsors,

Bestmed, Powerade and Sun International. After 15 years the event is still very special andremains close to my heart.

Wynand de Villiers

Contents

01Cyclingnews September 2012

Editorwynand de Villiers

[email protected]

Consulting editorGerhard Burger

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

picturesPhotosport International, Michelle Cound,Frank Bodenmueller, My Picture

printerColorpress pty (ltd)

Ryan Lotter – 011 493 8622/3/4/5

DesignCinnamon Graphix C.C.

Chris Dawson – [email protected]

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

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

click on the subscribe buttonThe magazine remains free of charge at major

bike shops and races throughout the country, butbecause our print run is limited we inevitably getreaders that miss out on some of the issues. Ifwould like to ensure that you don’t miss an issue,a subscription charge of R85 for ten issues willsecure a copy of Cyclingnews Magazine in yourpostbox every month.

CoVER pIC: There couldn't have been a more deserving winner of the Olympic roadroace than Alexandre Vinokourov. In his monthly column, In the Bunch, Coetzee Gouwsputs Vino's victory into perspective on page 8.

REGulARS

2 phil’s Brew: British riders pumped up my 40th Tour celebrations

6 Nutrition: Choose proven supplements

8 In the Bunch: Cycling explodes in Britain

12 phil’s Brew: British riders pumped up my 40th Tour celebrations

20 pulse pages: The Polar H7 heart rate sensor: Smarter and smarter

30 product review: New Rudy Project collection crystal-clear leaders

32 Technical: Size is everything when you select a bike frame

FEATuRES

18 BikePlus in Constantia: One-stop super-shop

22 Legends of the Pedal: Von Ruben – a master cyclist

RACE REVIEwS

14 Yes, it’s true what they say about the Jock

24 Brandon burns off the rest to win KIA Walkerville Classic

26 Everyone’s a winner at the Lost City

RACE pREVIEwS

34 KIA Val de Vie Estate Mountain Bike Challenge: Neethling splashes out

36 The FedGroup Berg & Bush: Join the Great Trek for a taste of history

38 The Bestmed Campus2Campus: Tribute to Ertjies

40 Moon to Noon Endurance Race: Aim for the Moon to Noon on the Garden Route

42 Sondela SuperClassic (presented by ASG): Fast, flat and perfect fine tuning

phil’s Brew with Phil Liggett

02 Cyclingnews September 2012

picture: Photosport International

“Africa is Froome’s first love and when he retires he intends to return to help Africans take to cycling in larger numbers and toachieve success as professionals.”



THE 2012 Tour de France was the 40ththat I attended. As always, it unfoldedin a delightful way.For instance: on the second rest day, in Pau,

with the final stage still five days away, BradleyWiggins had already lived up to his status asrace favourite – the first time a British rider hadstarted the Tour in that position.The Tour organisers had made a special

presentation to me in Pau, where I had to saya few words in which I thanked Wiggins forleading the race. It was a pleasant change

after I had spent 39 years praising riders fromevery other country except the UK.We did not know yet that Wiggins would

win the greatest cycling race on earth, but bythen the four British stage wins were undeniably the highlights of the opening days.The first came from the Isle of Man’s Mark

Cavendish, the second from Nairobi-bornChris Froome and then two from Belgium-born Wiggins and Malta-born David Millar. But all hold British passports, so loyalties

were never in doubt!

Froome was the find of the Tour at thatstage. And it was no surprise after his secondplace in the Tour of Spain last year. He hadsaid he could one day win the Tour, but thisyear he would race at the side of Wiggins. Attimes he was clearly stronger than his leader.Africa is Froome’s first love and when he

retires he intends to return to help Africanstake to cycling in larger numbers and toachieve success as professionals.The 99th Tour took a step back in time

when someone threw tacks and nails on the

British riders pumped up my 40th Tour celebrations

date: 29 and 30 September 2012

racing format

• Rhodes opener: Night-ride on the Friday, starting at18:30. It is a 15km festival ride around the village and afun ride only. It won’t count towards anyone’s overall time in the Saturday’s “Grandmother” event.

• The Grandmother: It starts at 06:00 on the Saturday and consists of 85 km of extreme alpine ascents andthrilling downhill racing.

entry fee: R2 500 (entries limited to 200 riders)

Included In your entry

• Customised special edition Rhodes Xtreme Rudy Project helmet• Rhodes Xtreme fleece jacket• Rhodes Xtreme cycling shirt• Bike light and saddle bag• Draw-string bag stocked with ample energy aides to get your through the journey• Well stocked refreshment points with eats and drinks.• Famous Rhodes hospitality including healthy meals, clean spring water and free beer after each event• Membership of the Rhodes MTB Club for 12 months, enabling you to ride the trails and routes described on www.wetu.co.za

• World-class disaster management support, including a helicopter route escort.• The satisfaction of testing your body against the elements like in no other mountain-bike event.

road during the 14th stage. It was nothingshort of disgraceful. It almost ruined the racethat day until Wiggins stopped the attacksand waited for everyone to catch up.In all, 48 riders had flat tyres. Television

motorbikes limped home and team cars wereleft behind, all with flat tyres. The damagewas estimated at over R90 000.In 1904, the second year of the race, there

was a similar incident on the stage to Nantes.Henri Cornet was forced to ride the last 40km with both tyres flat. Only 20 years old, heeventually became the youngest winner of therace after the 1903 winner, Maurice Garin,was disqualified for taking a train.Lady Luck was not smiling on Robbie

Hunter, the South African road race cham-pion. Hunter was riding in his ninth Tour; theonly SA rider to have won a Tour de Francestage, which he did in Montpellier in 2007.This year he spent the first week of the race

on the floor. On stage 6 another heavy fall lefthim unable to start the next day. But he was not alone. During this opening

week this year, more than 20 riders wereforced out with broken bones.One of 37 first-timers was another South

African, Darryl Impey. With five days to go hewas looking good to finish strongly in Paris.His job was as a super domestic on the newAustralian Orica-Greenedge team and he wasriding stronger every day.

Let’s get together in SandtonSomething very special I’d like to bring to yourattention is a weekend with Tour stage winnerDavid Millar, recently retired Australiansprinter Robbie McEwen and other celebritieswho will be in Sandton for theMind,Body,Bike conference.The dates are November 3 and 4 and the

occasion is a must for anyone interested in cycling. UCI president Pat McQuaid and top coach

Heiko Salzwedel will also attend. Everyoneshould bring a bike for a communal ride. Tofind out more, go to www.mindbodybike.co.zaI’ll see you there. •CN


David Millar added to the British Le Tour celebrations thisyear by snatching a stage win for the Garmin squad.


YELLOW JERSEY:

Country Team Time Gap

1. Bradley WIGGINS GBR SKY 87h34'47'' 00''

2. Christopher FROOME GBR SKY 87h38'08'' 3'21''

3. Vincenzo NIBALI ITA LIQ 87h41'06'' 6'19''

4. Jurgen VAN DEN BROECK BEL LTB 87h45'02'' 10'15''

5. Tejay VAN GARDEREN USA BMC 87h45'51'' 11'04''

6. Haimar ZUBELDIA ESP RNT 87h50'28'' 15'41''

7. Cadel EVANS AUS BMC 87h50'36'' 15'49''

8. Pierre ROLLAND FRA EUC 87h51'13'' 16'26''

9. Janez BRAJKOVIC SLO AST 87h51'20'' 16'33''

10. Thibaut PINOT FRA FDJ 87h52'04'' 17'17''

oVERAll RESulTS

GREEN JERSEY:

Country Team Points

1. Peter SAGAN SVK LIQ 421

2. André GREIPEL GER LTB 280

3. Matthew Harley GOSS AUS OGE 268

4. Mark CAVENDISH GBR SKY 220

POLKA DOT JERSEY:

Country Team Points

1. Thomas VOECKLER FRA EUC 135

2. Fredrik KESSIAKOFF SWE AST 123

3. Chris Anker SORENSEN DEN STB 77

4. Pierre ROLLAND FRA EUC 63

Nutrition


WHEN Mario Cipollini won the worldchampionship on a flat course in Belgium in 2002, I was more than a little confused.Was the flamboyant Italian really the best

rider in the world, or merely the fastestsprinter?The wearer of the rainbow jersey should, in

my mind, embody the best of what the sporthas to offer. He should be able to hold hisown against anyone, on any terrain and in allconditions. He should always be a factor; always be

feared. When he wins, it is with panache.When he loses, it is with panache, too.Mario the Magnificent (one of his many

self-proclaimed nicknames) retired a fewmonths before the worlds championships thatyear after one of his fall-outs with the organisers of the Tour de France. But he was

coaxed back by national coach Franco Balleriniwho spotted loopholes that could lead togold.Pointing at the unchallenging course in

Zolder, Ballerini promised to build a teamaround Super Mario, who, known for his keen fashion sense, accepted quicker thanone could say “Armani”.So, exactly as planned, the Italian TGV

delivered The Lion King, first class, to the finishing straight at the head of the field andhe became champion of the world withoutbreaking much of a sweat.The tactics were “all for one” and Mooie

Mario was basically a spectator until asked tofinish off the job, which, granted, he could dobetter than anyone else of his generation.Execution of the plan was beautiful to

watch, but, for me, it felt a bit like a guest arriving late at a party and stealing the show

Vino a worthy winnerof olympic road race

In the bunch with Coetzee Gouws





“pointing at the unchallenging course in Zolder, Ballerini promised to build a team around Super Mario,who, known for his keen fashion sense, acceptedquicker than one could say “Armani”.”

when the rest are under the influence and unable to fend for themselves.The question is whether he would have

been equally impressive had he been knocking back cold and short ones with hismates for hours? In cycling terms: Can he gomano-a-mano with his rivals and be the lastone standing?Cipo had won more than fifty Grand Tour

stages in his controversial career, but he wasequally famous for abandoning as soon asthese races tilted upwards. He simply had nointerest in competing on playing fields thatwere not literally and figuratively level.When Tour organisers failed to invite Cipo

during his reign as world champion, basicallybecause they felt he was good only for thefirst week, I thought accusations of disrespect-ing the rainbow jersey were extremely richcoming from him.Ten years on, while watching the British

team’s tactics fail to unfold at the LondonOlympics road race, I found myself asking thesame questions.

Should Mark Cavendish (who,incidentally, became world champion with a carbon-copygame plan last year) take gold in asprint finish designed by his team,would he be a worthy champion orjust a phenomenal sprinter backedby a sacrificial team?As it turned out, that question,

mercifully, did not need answering.Alexandre Vinokourov, on a coursethat barely suited his strengths, tookthe race by the scruff of the neckand throttled the life out of the competition in the front lines.Always a factor and always feared,

Vino’s victory had panache written allover it. •CN

Coetzee is a cycling fanatic whose PR company specialises in sports communications. Visit www.inthebunch.co.za or follow @In_the_Bunch.



The Netherland's Marianne Vos claimed

the women's title in horrific conditions.

Alexandre Vinokourov presented himself with the perfectretirement gift by winning the Olympic road race.

CYCLING has become the hottest pastime in the UK following the success of Bradley Wiggins and ChrisFroome in the Tour de France whichwas followed a week later by the success of the British cycling team inthe Olympic Games in London.In all, Team GB won eight gold medals,

equalling their triumphs in Beijing four yearsearlier and along the way, Wiggins becameone of an elite group of athletes to winseven medals in all, while Sir Chris Hoyadded to his total to make him the most successful British athlete ever with six historicgold medals.

The success written into these two paragraphs has led everyone to turn to ridinga bike, and as a sport, all of Britain now talksabout the athletes in the same breath as Premiership football. In short, who needsme, as everyone is an expert now!Good funding, expert coaching and top

facilities has led to the unprecedented Britishsuccess and, says British Cycling, two millionpeople are now riding their bike at least oncea week. More than 4000 have joined BritishCycling since Wiggins won the Tour in July.With the retirement of Olympic Keirin

champion Victoria Pendleton and Hoy, therewill be no gaping hole left in the squad, just

a heap of youngsters waiting to get theirchance to ride in a World Championships orOlympics Games. Thousands more will befound before Christmas as BC moves aheadwith its “Go Ride” plans to introduce hundreds of under-16s to cycling first hand.The British system is working and South

Africa should follow, as here is a country thathas the talent waiting to move forward.Look at Reinhardt Janse Van Rensburg

who has had an amazing season with MTN-Quebeka. He has won races from March toAugust. He ranks third in the world as a win-ner and he doesn’t look like slowing down.He has done it without great support (apart

Cycling explodes in Britain






from his professional team) so how manyothers are there waiting to join him?At the Olympics, where I worked for

Australian television, I found myself feelingvery British, as I called gold after gold for thehome nation. But while working for a far-offland, I was conscious too of the SouthAfrican participation, as small as it was.Darryl Impey, after finishing his first Tour de

France rode a solid Olympic road race makingthis his most successful year, while Burry

Stander was absolutely brilliant in his failure towin a medal in the Mountain Bike event.Stander had a terrible start but fought

from 19th to the three leaders only to payfor his efforts later on a course that took noprisoners. He sagged over his bike at the finish,

where he was fifth, and left us in no doubtthat this great talent will progress to be thevery best in the seasons ahead.

I am looking forward to my return to theRSA in October and with a number of eventsplanned - not least another Momentum 94.7Cycle Challenge - I am hopeful that I will seemore and more cyclists filtering out on to theroads and fields of your beautiful country.With warmer weather around the corner it

is time to start enjoying yourselves again! •CN

“The British system is working and South

Africa should follow, as here is a country that

has the talent waiting to move forward.”

Race review


words: Coetzee Gouws • pictures: Action Photo

MTN-Qubeka on the attack at the famous Boulder fromwhich the Boulders climb on the Jock derives its name.

THIS year’s BESTmed Jock Cycle Classique onceagain lived up to its reputation as South Africa’stoughest one-dayer for riders and organisersalike.About 1 500 riders, supported by scores of hardy

officials, braved extreme temperatures, a veld fire andseemingly endless climbs in the 29th running of the154km three-stage race, presented by ASG, through theMpumalanga Lowveld at the end of July.Pieter Seyffert of Westvaal BMC took the first stage

between Barberton and Nelspruit, but the superior muscle of MTN-Qhubeka and Bonitas came to the fore asthe course took its toll.Jacques Janse van Rensburg won stage two from

Nelspruit to Kaapmuiden, with his MTN-Qhubeka team-mate Ferekalsi Debesai first on the final stretch betweenKaapmuiden and Barberton.In the end, it was Janse van Rensburg and Debesai

who stood on the top steps of the podium, with DarrenLill third overall for Bonitas.In the women’s race, Toyota CSA Academy rider

Lynette Burger took overall victory by a mere two seconds from MTN-Qhubeka’s An-Li Pretorius, with thelatter’s team-mate Karien Alberts third.

After the race, cycling forums were abuzz with com-munal groaning about the freezing start at Barberton,the suffering on stage two’s notorious 7km Bouldersclimb and the agony of the final stage.However, the general consensus was that the event

was once again well organised and many riders promisedto return next year.For race organiser Wynand de Villiers, now in his third

year at the helm of the country’s second oldest classic,this is validation indeed.“The most fulfilling thing for me is seeing the Jock

take its rightful place on the local calendar. Our moveback to its traditional three stages is paying dividends.”De Villiers says the massive logistical feat required to

achieve this success can sometimes be more challengingthan riding the race itself. “The challenge with the Jock is that it comes down to

organising three races simultaneously. We have three setsof start/finish areas and three different routes. We alsohave three separate crews because things happen tooquickly for one team to handle.“But I have a passionate and very loyal crew that help

us throughout the day – and four race controllers that areall race organisers in their own right.”

Race review


yes, it’s true what theysay about the Jock

De Villiers says it has been great to see howthings have improved from an organisationalperspective, “with everyone just gettingslicker as the years go by.”Timing is of the essence in a race such as

this and the timing company especially isunder huge pressure to deliver results asquickly as possible.“We advertise cut-offs, but very rarely

enforce them. Stage starts are set up in such away that riders can still finish while we startthe batches for the next stage.”Naturally such an extensive operation also

becomes more expensive than an ordinaryone-day race. “There are many costs involved,with too many line items to mention. Itwouldn’t be possible without our sponsors.“Catering for the cyclists on the day, for

example, amounts to more than R150 000.”De Villiers says the breakfast and lunch

stops, arranged by the parents’ committee atBergvlam High School in Nelspruit, operate onan “all you can eat” basis.“The food is absolutely delicious. The only

complaints we have every year is that riderseat too much and are too full to take on thenext stage!”The stopover points all have easily

accessible ablution facilities, but extra portabletoilets are just one of the additional items thatmust be provided en route.The major organisational challenge is plan-

ning for every potential risk, says De Villiers. “We have the best medical events disaster

management company in South Africa onboard. They (MMC Event Medical Specialists)have protocols for every eventuality, which includes having a helicopter on standby to

perform medical evacuations.“Then our fifteen Road Rangers, or

motorbike marshals, are all trained in life support and play a massive part in keeping cyclists safe. We also have physio stations ateach stop.”Crashes do happen, especially when riders

race down Boulders, but the most treatedproblems include dehydration and a suddendrop in blood sugar.“The most common incidents are riders

who simply suffer and depend on the medicalcrew to help them get their Jock medal.“I suppose you can’t be ready for every

eventuality,” shrugs De Villiers. “But afterdoing this for many years I don’t think manythings can surprise us anymore.”This year, the organisers had to contend

with a massive veld fire on the final stage thatcaused some delays for riders but it wasquickly brought under control by the Barberton fire department.“We also have wonderful support from the

local and provincial traffic authorities, withample pointsmen on duty and more thanenough escort vehicles to control proceedingson the road. The Jock is an institution in theLowveld and everyone supports it.”Despite the positive involvement of

participants and community, De Villiers saysthe Jock is still his single biggest logistical effort of the year.“We try our best to leave nothing to

chance. The weeks leading up to the event involve fifteen-hour workdays and on race daywe start at 3am and finish around midnight.”But, like the majority of the field, De Villiers

will be back to do it all over again. •CN

Race review


STAGE RESulTS

STAGE 1:

1. Peter Syffert Westvaal BMC

2. Jaco Venter MTN-Qhubeka

3. Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg MTN-Qhubeka

STAGE 2:

1. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg MTN-Qhubeka


3. Hanco Kachelhoffer Bonitas

STAGE 3:

1. Ferekalsi Debesai MTN-Qhubeka

2. Darren Lill Bonitas


OVERALL RESulTS


2. Ferekalsi Debesai MTN-Qhubeka

3. Darren Lill Bonitas


5. Hanco Kachelhoffer Bonitas

6. Tsgabu Grmay MTN-Qhubeka

7. Dennis Van Niekerk MTN-Qhubeka

8. Jaco Venter MTN-Qhubeka

9. Jani Tewelde Weldegabir MTN-Qhubeka

10. Peter Syffert Westvaal BMC

“we try our best to leave nothing to chance. The weeks leading up to the event involve fifteen-hour workdays and on race day we startat 3am and finish around midnight.”

SPEAK to any owner of a bike shop andhe’ll tell you the most important characteristic one must have to be successful in the business is passion.A passionate owner is exactly what adven-

turer and mountain biker Xavier Scheepers is.Scheepers represented South Africa in

cross-country cycling on many occasions andalso won the SA sub-veteran cross-country titlemore than once. His résumé includes the Absa Cape Epic, with

a best overall finish of 13th. And he won thegruelling Camel Trophy in Tonga and Samoa atthe turn of the century.Off the bike, Scheepers found his niche when

he opened BikePlus in Constantia, Cape Town.“I love the sport and the lifestyle that goes withit. I love meeting people and creating the envi-ronment and opportunities to share the lifestylewith as many people as possible,” he says.He used to arrange events and travel

packages before moving to Switzerland, wherehe lived with his wife Judy until 2010. They returned to South Africa for him to set up andrun Weiss and Appetito, a Swiss telecommunications group. “It got too much; it was not at all in line with

my passion,” he says. I decided to changewhen our first little girl, Kayla, was born lastyear. “In the previous business I was never at

home. I was unable to pursue my passions andthere was a lot of stress. I battled to get up at7am to go to work. Now I have the energy toget up at five and go riding before I open theshop at seven.” Travel will form a large part of the business.

“I’ve taken groups to the Tour de France for thepast seven years, and will keep doing this aspart of BikePlus. “There are also other tours, such as the

Joburg to Maritzburg trek we do in Octoberevery year to go to the Amashova. We will alsooffer mountain-bike tours in the Swiss Alps,

BikePlus in Constantia

one-stop super-shop

Feature


pictures: Slingshot Media

which is a great alternative to the Epic from acost and experience point of view.” Bookings for the tours can be done on the

BikePlus website at the end of September.The BikePlus shop is open from 07:00 until

18:00 during the week and from 09:00 to15:00 on Saturdays and public holidays. Theyare also open on some Sundays, dependingon cycling events and also pick up and dropoff bikes.“We have a professionally kitted out

workshop,” says Scheepers. “Chris de Wet,our main mechanic, has completed variouscourses in the UK at Cytech. He is really a professional.“And he’s not just a nice guy. He is a very

good road racer with huge ambitions.”BikePlus stock all the major brands in spares

and accessories. Their clothing brand is PearlIzumi. Among the bikes they stock arePinarello, SWIFT and GT. They are also the warranty and service

centre for Fulcrum wheels in the WesternCape, with resident expert De Wet at the

helm. They also stock Rudy Project and arelooking at having prescription lenses for Rudy Project done through their partner optometrists in Constantia.The BikePlus website allows people to book

in their bikes on a live booking system formajor services. “We also have a live on-line bike rental

capacity. People can select from our range ofgood bicycles,” explains Scheepers. Roadbikes for rent have a minimum of Shimano105 componentry and mountain bikes are kitted with an XT and SLX mix. The online shop offers all the bikes and

main parts, components, accessories andclothing, as well as secure online payment. The shop also offers group rides. Mountain

bikers leave the shop at 16:00 daily, cycling toTokai and back. The times may vary, depend-

ing on the season. On Saturday mornings theydo a road ride from the shop, starting from06:30 and riding towards the Peninsula. The shop has been operational from the

first week in August, but the grand opening ison the weekend of 31 August to 2 September– just in time for spring.During these three days the shop will offer

various specials. There is also a competitionwith a major prize. Follow their facebookpage (www.facebook.com/bikeplus.sa) for details. •CN

Find BikePlus at:Corner of Constantia Main Rd and GrootConstantia Rd Constantia (Cape Town)Telephone: 021 794 7973Or email Xavier at [email protected]

Feature


The Polar H7 heart rate sensor

Smarter and smarter

pulse pages words: Wynand de Villiers • picture: Photosport International

pulse pages

ALMOST 20 million mobile sports andfitness training applications weredownloaded to smartphones in 2011. It has been predicted that the numberwill double this year as cyclists (andgadget lovers) strive to get more information about their training.There is also a real demand for a proven

and reliable heart rate sensor that connectswith smartphones. With a Polar H7, you can get your live heart

rate on your mobile training application tomake the most of every session. It enables youto see your training intensity while you workout and to analyse and share it later.Bluetooth smart is the first truly open

wireless standard for sports and fitness. Thenext generation of Bluetooth standard offerslow energy consumption, robust and reliableperformance and fully open compatibility withBluetooth smart ready devices. This will enable the comfortable H7 heart

rate sensor to relay your heart rate data wirelessly to a mobile training application inyour smartphone, tablet or any Bluetoothsmart ready device. In addition, the heart ratesensor’s battery will last longer.Worn around the chest as you exercise, the

H7 adapts to your body shape, providing fullfreedom of movement while you train. A chest strap remains the most reliable

heart rate measurement method. It performsconsistently even during the most intenseworkouts. Thanks to its hook mechanism, thesoft textile strap is just as quick to put on as itis to take off. The Bluetooth smart transmission ensures

that the mobile application picks up yourheart rate signal and not someone else’s. A replaceable battery increases the ease-of-use.And in addition to Bluetooth wireless technology, the H7 uses coded 5 kHz transmission to connect with most of thePolar training computers on the market.The Polar H7 heart rate sensor is a great

addition to the product portfolio. It givesECG-accurate heart rate to any Bluetoothsmart ready device. This greatly expands thepossibilities of heart rate tracking, includingfitness assessment. And, according to Polar, itwill even add new dimensions in video gamesin the near future. •CN

AFTER almost three decades of podiumfinishes in road and track races, lifelongcycling aficionado Theo von Ruben finally laid his hands on what he considers the ultimate and, to him, the most elusive prize – a nationalchampion’s jersey.The former Springbok and 1993 World

Masters Games champion, who started cyclingas a 15-year-old in 1967, counts 22 nationalchampionship medals in his collection.But it was the green and gold strip that

plagued his dreams until he finally pulled itover his head after winning the individual pursuit at the national champs in 1995.He prized that jersey more than his

Springbok jersey. “It had always just eludedme; I was always the bridesmaid,” he explains.On paper, his gold medal two years earlier

in the 10km scratch event in Perth, Australia,was the highlight of his career. He alsoclaimed silver in the road race, but his achievements felt incomplete.“Here I was, aged 41, winning internation-

ally, but I’d never had a national title.”Von Ruben had begun to feel increasing

desperation and in 1994 his hopes faded evenfurther when he fell and broke his right collarbone in a crash with Jack Lester in the5km in Port Elizabeth.The local rider was so determined to take

gold in any event that he got on his bike withhis arm strapped for the 3km individual pur-suit. “The officials called it off and awardedme the silver.”But years of hard work finally paid off when

he got his jersey the following year, the first offour national titles.In true Von Ruben fashion, more drama was

to follow on the eve of the ’95 world masterschampionships in Manchester, England. While

working on his track bike as he prepared topack it, he sliced off the top of his finger.Emergency surgery and an international

flight later, he was at the competition, still inimmense pain. “Two days later I started feeling terrible; the thing had turned septic.”Undeterred, he sought treatment, strapped

up the hand and came sixth in his event.Fiercely competitive to this day, the 60-year-

old admits that he still wants to win his agecategory in every race he enters.“I started riding in the golden era of track

cycling when the whole grandstand waspacked on a Friday night. Mass participationwasn’t the thing it is today; it was competitionand nothing but first, second and thirdcounted.”Von Ruben says it wasn’t natural talent that

saw him represent Eastern Province fromUnder-16 level to the present, and win all thesenior provincial track titles barring the sprint.“I was always a little guy, so I developed a

keen sense of tactics. I learnt not to be physical and to ride through the bunch; Icould see where a race was going to go.”Although his size was often an advantage

in cycling, it did not help him on the rugbyfield. He was almost expelled from school because of his lack of interest in the game.“The headmaster called me into his office

and said I wasn’t playing any sport, which wascompulsory those days. I said, ‘Really? BecauseI just captained EP to the Tour de Jurgend.’ “I was in the newspaper almost every

weekend!”Participation in cross-country saved his

school career and also helped him with his fitness for cycling. He counts former Springbok Henry Smith

and Olympian Rowan Peacock among hisfriends and mentors. “I rode both road and

track. Because I enjoyed it so much, I rodeeverything from sprints to 1 500 metres.”Off the bike, Von Ruben also immersed

himself in the administrative side of the sport.“I’ve spent lots of time on committees, sincethe age of 17. I don’t like things being badlyorganised or run; I’d rather just get in thereand fix it myself.”He has been a member of the PE Cycling

Club since he first started riding. Establishedin 1880, it is South Africa’s oldest club andwhen numbers started dwindling, Von Rubendecided to do something about it.“I had this terrible sense of responsibility to

keep such a historical organisation alive.We’ve probably produced more Springboksthan any other club in the country, includingWayne Pheiffer, Blayne Wikner, AnriëtteSchoeman and John-Lee Augustyn.”Last month, the club relaunched with a

new strip bearing the traditional Maltese crossdesign featured in its logo.“The response has been good and

hopefully it will snowball. I’ll stay on as actingpresident but we need people with fresh ideasto take the club in a new direction.”In 1990, Von Ruben also co-founded the

Masters and Ladies Cycling Club, which is thebiggest in the Friendly City today.“It’s great,” he says, “but the downside is

that people are competing far longer than theyused to and now we don’t have officials!” Von Ruben, a father of two, runs his own

biochemical solutions company but he stilltrains at least twice or three times a week. “I still ride road and I do mountain biking, butpoorly. I fall off too much. Your bones getfragile as you get older.”Given sufficient time and encouragement,

we suspect this particular Legend of the Pedalwill add an off-road win to his wish list... •CN

Legends of the Pedal

Von Ruben – a master cyclist

Feature


words: Coetzee Gouws

Feature


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

BRANDON Stewart turned on the afterburners to claim his maiden victory in the KIA Walkerville Mountain Bike Classic in sub-zero conditions in Johannesburg in July.The FedGroup-Itec Connect pro, from

Hilton in KwaZulu-Natal, made an earlybreak in the 60km main event and was laterjoined by RE:CM’s Waylon Woolcock.They matched each other all the way to

the Walkerville Showgrounds, where the15th edition of Gauteng’s largest and coldestwinter race, presented by ASG, finished on aslippery speedway circuit.Stewart duly outdragged his breakaway

companion to take line honours in a fast 1hour 55 minutes and 55 seconds. Woolcock,a former Old Mutual joBerg2c champion, finished three seconds back. Neil MacDonald,a team-mate of Woolcock, finished in2:02:02 to take third place. Stewart said the shale surface, which is

meant for motorbikes to slide on, had made

the final stretch particularly challenging –and exciting. “It was almost like a mini-Paris-Roubaix finish.”The victory rounded off a successful week-

end for the 31-year-old, who also took thirdin the Nissan TrailSeeker Series race in Cullinan on the Saturday.“It’s always fantastic to win, especially

when the event is backed by one of ourteam sponsors,” said Stewart. “Obviously,Walkerville was my big focus but I think itwas good for me to do the Cullinan race because it loosened me up a bit.”He felt his form was good enough to

make an early break on the big Platbergclimb, which came after just 10 km of pedalling. “Neil and Waylon were alwaysgoing to be my strongest competition, so Ithought I’d give it a go while everyone’s legswere still a bit cold.”The gamble paid off and Stewart opened

a gap. “Then I was on my own and I justcarried on making the race really hard.”

MacDonald, riding alone in extremelywindy conditions, managed to catch up onthe renowned fast single-track sectionsthrough Eikenhof. “So then it was just thetwo of us who worked together for the restof the way,” said Stewart.The former national cross-country

champion described the route as well balanced. “It had that big climb at the beginning, some tricky rocky downhill sections, nice sparse single track, open sections and a bit of tar.”Nicci Grobler of bizhub-FCF won the

women’s race in 2:18:22. She was followedby Carolyn Smith of Complete Cyclist in2:28:24 and Nataly Barbosa in 2:45:26.Walkerville was the first of five mountain-

bike races in the new KIA series. The next isthe KIA Val de Vie Classic near Paarl on September 15.Contact ASG Events on 076 621 1807

or [email protected] for moreinformation, or follow @CyclingnewsZA. •CN

Brandon burns off the rest to win KIA walkerville Classic

Race review


THE Powerade/Bestmed Lost City Festival certainly wasn’t a lost cause forthe 4000 cyclists that took part in theroad and mountain bike races on August 18 and 19.With over R3 million now raised over the

past 15 years and many lives saved in the ongoing race against cancer, race directorJohan du Toit says the weekend is aboutmore than just great riding.“I believe everybody must be a winner –

from the Cancer Association of South Africato the people who work on the event, thelocal Bafokeng community and the riders.”Although Du Toit is the mastermind be-

hind the event, which he has been running

since 1998, he is quick to reject sole credit. “I look good because my team makes melook good.”The anchor events are the 115km

Powerade Lost City Cycle Classic on the Saturday and the 60km Bestmed Lost CityMountain Bike Challenge on the Sunday,with shorter distance options and kiddies’races in each discipline.An indoor spinathon also took place on

the Saturday.“We give participants free entry to Sun

City and the Valley of Waves on race daysand there are special accommodation packages on offer, so families make a wholeweekend of it,” says Du Toit.

The top men’s pro teams turned out inforce with defending champion, MTN-Qhubeka’s Arran Brown, again claiming thewin in the road race. Neil Macdonald(RE:CM) won the mountain bike event.Changes were made to both the road

and off-road routes to improve the safety aspect and the results were brilliant. “On theroad, we had only two falls out of 2 500people.“The most dangerous ride was the kiddies’

event because they rode into the parents’ ankles!” Du Toit says, laughing.The 115km feature race took riders past

the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, the palace andrural villages and into the mining area.

Everyone’s a winner at the lost City

Race review


words: Coetzee Gouws • pictures: Action Photo

“we give participants free entry to Sun Cityand the Valley of waves on race days and thereare special accommodation packages on offer,so families make a whole weekend of it,”

Race review


Neil Macdonald races through the Valley ofWaves on his way to victory in the MTB event.

A capacity field of 1 500 mountain bikerstook to the fast course. Among them were anumber of international riders who used theLost City event as a warm-up for the follow-ing week’s UCI mountain-bike masters worldchampionships.The 60km event does a 30km loop in the

mines across the main road and then joins upwith the 25km route to do a spectacularloop around the Sun City Resort. HeartbreakHill is the big obstacle in the long ride, takingriders up and down into the Valley of Waves.

Race winner Macdonald managed to ride allthe way up and down this year without getting off his bike once.“The shorter distance is perfect for the guy

who is just starting out. It’s not technical andit’s great for sightseeing. We go through theLetsatsing Game Reserve and riders oftenstop to take photos of the elephants, rhinosand giraffes,” says Du Toit.Keeping it interesting has become Du

Toit’s speciality. After starting with just theroad race, he added the mountain-bike

component six years ago and has neverlooked back.“Some people said it wouldn’t last, that it

was just too far to travel, but it’s become oneof the biggest events in the region. We’ve hadto limit numbers to 4 000 riders across allevents, just to keep it safe and manageable.”Du Toit says the “Cycle 4 Cansa” weekend

is something all cyclists should support because most people have been touched by the disease in some way, either personallyor through someone they know. •CN

Race review

RUDY Project’s new 2013 collection,which is being launched next month,makes it crystal clear why the company is one of the leaders in the design and production of sportseyewear.Combining technically cool design with

exceptional craftsmanship has become ahallmark of the brand, and the latest concept continues this tradition.The limited edition “The Will To Win”

Diamonds Artist Series will comprise selectedproducts incorporating luxurious design withSwarovski crystal elements.Included in this series are the Hypermask

Performance sunglasses, new-model DeeWhy sunglasses and the Wingspan aerohelmet.The latter was the helmet most

participants wore at the 2011 IronmanWorld Championships in Kailua-Kona,Hawaii. It is also the equipment of choice for riders of the Liquigas-Cannondale cyclingteam.The sunglasses are available in dramatic

black gloss and the helmet features a stealthmatte black finish.When it comes to designing head-turning

concepts and products, Rudy Project is al-ways a few steps ahead of the competition,says Steyn du Plessis, CEO of local distributors ASG Sport South Africa.“A few years ago we introduced

fluorescent colours into our product line andit turned out to be immensely successful.“This time, Rudy created something that,

until now, consumers had to custom make –a stunning concept incorporating fashionable, edgy skull designs withSwarovski crystals.”Since its inception in 1985, Rudy Project

has used the most advanced materials tooffer sportsmen and women performance,durability and lightness in everything fromeyewear to helmets and more.The newly unveiled eyewear collection

also features a number of mid-range modelssuch as the Spaceguard, Stratofly andStratofly SC with Rudy Project’s famous pho-tochromic clear lens at an affordable price.

ASG Sport Solutions director HeinrichDannhauser says this is good news forbudget-conscious consumers.“These models share most of the great

characteristics that have made the ImpactXphotoclear lenses so popular but they aremade from a polycarbonate-based materialand will retail for almost 40% less than theImpactX range.”Rudy Project’s innovative ImpactX™ is a

family of patented polyurethane opticalpolymers, transparent and unbreakable, andoriginally developed in the United States formilitary use in the early 1990s. This light-weight and impact-resistant material is alsoused in the windows of aeroplane cockpitdoors and for Apache helicopter windshieldsin the post-911 era.Rudy Project offers a lifetime lens

replacement guarantee and two-year framewarranty on all eyewear.The 2013 collection will be available for

purchase from mid-September. To locate your nearest stockist, visit

www.asgsport.co.za. •CN

New Rudy project collectioncrystal-clear leaders

product review


MANY cyclists, newcomers and veterans alike, have a hard time whenthey try to buy a frame or a bike ofwhich the size is exactly correct.First-time bike buyers are sometimes misled

into purchasing one that has, for them, aframe of the wrong size. Some retailers tellbuyers they will “make the frame work”. Thatis when the sirens should go off. By using a few guidelines and some simple

mathematics, it should not be too hard to select a frame of the correct size for you. Factors that should be considered when

you go shopping for a new frame or a complete bike are the make or brand,

geometry and angles. Keep in mind that frameshave different angles;sometimes even framesof the same brand.Different moulds areused for everyframe type.

Look, for

example, at a big brand such as Pinarello. Inormally ride on a size 52cm, but my Pinarellois a 50. When you measure the top tube it isactually a 51.5cm – and that fits me perfectly. The ways measurements are done

sometimes differ. Some manufacturers maymeasure from the bottom bracket to the seat-post clamp. This can be confusing anddoes not always give a correct indication ofthe frame’s actual size.I believe the most accurate way to measure

a frame is by measuring the length of the toptube from the middle of the seat-post tube tothe middle of the steerer tube (fork). This isthe actual frame size and the method eliminates confusion over compact and classicframe types. Using your inseam, you can get an estimate

of your saddle height. A simple equation is totake the inseam length and multiply by 0.883.Mine would be 83cm x 0.883 = 73.2cm. Thatwould give me a rough saddle-height figure. These guidelines should help a bike buyer

decide what frame size would be best. But todetermine your exact saddle height youshould visit a bike fit professional. One should also take into consideration

that no two people are built the same, even ifthey have the same inseam measurement.Other factors can also have an influence onyour saddle position. The relation between the length of the

femur and the tibia is different for each individual. Only once you are on the bike tobe fitted, can that be determined.The two most important rules I use when

doing a bike setup and looking at frame sizesare the seat setback and the stemlength/height. (Saddle height gives you arough estimate but when it’s a compactframe, it has less impact). Setback means the position of the saddle;

forwards or backwards. If the saddle is too farback, and your knee is in front of the pedalaxel when the crank is at the 3 o’clock posi-tion, the frame is too small. If it’s too big, thesaddle will end up being pushed right forward. The length of your femur therefore has a

big influence on your frame size. It can bechecked by a qualified bike-fit expert.There are things one should pay special

attention to when you buy a new frame – the saddle, the correct stem, the width of thehandlebar and the length of the crank. Abike-fit expert will provide you with the bestadvice after measuring you on the bike. Many people move the saddle forward if

the bike feels too long. What one should do isget the saddle position correct and then fitthe correct stem that will keep you in theright position over the cranks. •CN

Hanco is a professional cyclist, a member ofthe Bonitas team and a bike set-up specialist.

Size is everything when you select bike frame

Technical


words: Hanco Kachelhoffer

FORMER Olympic swimmer and goldmedallist Ryk Neethling will make asplash of a different sort when he getsinto the saddle for the inaugural KIAVal de Vie Estate Mountain Bike Challenge on September 16.As marketing director for the polo, wine

and lifestyle estate in the heart of the PaarlValley, Neethling says sport plays an important role in promoting its offering.“Val de Vie lends itself to an active,

healthy lifestyle with the equestrian activities,swimming pool, gym and tennis courts asthe focus.”Now mountain biking has been added to

the mix. “We are surrounded by beautifulmountains and have been exploring opportunities to present such an event for acouple of years now.”The estate’s management team is very

particular about its reputation, but every-thing fell into place when they hit on a win-ning combination in the form of raceco-sponsors KIA and experienced organisersASG Events.“We envisage this being a long-term part-

nership,” says Neethling. “With this race weaim to attract everybody, from the expertmountain biker to the novices, residents andyoung families ready for a great day out inthe winelands.”Race director Darren Herbst says the or-

ganisers have been working steadily on theproject since they were first approached fourmonths ago.“The area is so beautiful that expanding

into mountain biking is obviously a naturalfit. We’re very excited about it.”Herbst believes the “rough

and dirty” sport is a

fantastic vehicle for showcasing the more accessible side of the exclusive estate. “Valde Vie has this prestigious aura about it; it’san awesome aspirational brand but actuallyvery inviting.”Because the estate is aimed at luxurious

and secure family living, he says the eventwill be similarly family-oriented and provideentertainment and racing for everyone. Riders can opt for either the 60km feature

race or 30 km, depending on fitness levelsand technical ability. There will also be a 3km event for the little ones.Herbst believes mountain biking in South

Africa is coming to a crossroads stage. People are becoming more selective of theevents in which they take part.“The trails we’ve got there are

unbelievable. But that doesn’t help if the organisation and the activities

Neethling splashes outwith KIA Val de Vie race

Race preview


words: Coetzee Gouws

“with this race we aim to attract everybody,from the expert mountain biker to the novices,residents and young families ready for a greatday out in the winelands.”

KIA Val de Vie

MTB Challenge

surrounding the race are not something special.”The start/finish will be at the Val de Vie

Polo Club and the course covers the estateand fifteen neighbouring farms.“It’s going to be very festive. We will have

picnic areas in the middle of the field and asthe guys come to the finish they will actuallydo a loop around the spectators and theirsupporters.”Herbst says his crew is cutting new trails

and adapting existing paths. Riders can lookforward to taking on a section that is used inboth the Absa Cape Epic and ColumbiaGrape Escape.“Aside from that, the route is mostly on

private land. We have special permissionfrom the owners. It’s going to be somethingthat you don’t experience every day.”Both courses have a very rideable profile,

with fast-flowing single track and somethingfor everyone.Participants will pass paddocks and polo

fields, ride along the Berg River and variouslakes and canals. The course also goes

through forests, vineyards and citrus or-chards, among other surprises.The 30km ride is mostly flat with minor

undulations, although there are one or twochallenging climbs in the Drakenstein mountains.“It’s going to be tough getting up, but

once the riders are over there’s a 3km descent. They’re going to kiss us once theyget to the finish!”Herbst says the more challenging main race

will follow the shorter one’s route for the first15 km before veering off into the mountains.

“It has three or four extra hills with somegreat descents and technical sections.”The event promises to live up to the

quality and standards people expect from Val de Vie, with all the fun and adventure ofa true mountain bike race, he says. To enter, visit www.cyclelab.com. Late

entries will also be accepted on the morningof the race at the Val de Vie Polo Club. •CN

Contact ASG Events on 076 621 1807 [email protected] for more information, or follow @CyclingnewsZA.

Race preview

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

At Howzit, we supply the retail and corporate markets in thedesign and manufacture of club, team and corporate gear.The Howzit team prides itself on quality products, attention todetail and a friendly approach to business.

All designs & production are done in house which meansgood quality control. Our imported chamois range is thebiggest in South Africa with something to suit all riders frombeginner to professional.

THE FedGroup Berg & Bush, namedSouth Africa’s best race three yearsago, is rewriting its own history by expanding its offering to include thenew three-day Great Trek.The seventh edition of the event, which

starts late October, will once again cover thehistorical heartland of KwaZulu-Natal as theriders trace the wagon route that theVoortrekkers took in 1837 to cross the Drakensberg Mountains.In the pioneering spirit of these hardy folk,

race organiser and history buff Gary Greenhas created the new race to give individualriders as well as two-man teams an opportunity to step back in time.“The area is also rich in Anglo-Boer War

history, which adds something really special tothe race,” says Gary. “For example, on daytwo riders summit Spioenkop, the scene of abloody and significant battle.”Green started the original Berg & Bush

two-dayer in 2006 with just 56 riders, beforeadding the three-stage Descent due to popular demand in 2009. Both events areonce again bursting at the seams. “We now

host 1 800 riders, with capacity for 400 moreas we expand into a third race,” he says.The Descent was named South Africa’s top

event in its inaugural year and its significantprize money attracts some of the country’stop pro riders, such as last year’s winners,Brandon Stewart and Jacques Rossouw ofFedGroup-Itec Connect.The event gets under way on October 26

near Sterkfontein Dam in the Free State, before plunging down the escarpment intothe valleys of KwaZulu-Natal and finishing220km and three days later at WintertonCountry Club in the Central Berg.The Great Trek starts on October 30 and

follows the same route, with the 110km “original” Berg & Bush, for the more socialrider, rounding out the events on November 3.As is its provincial neighbour, the BoE

sani2c, FedGroup Berg & Bush is known for itsroute innovations. Riders and their bikes havecrossed dams on everything from speedboatsto zip-lines.“We are trying to build an even more

exciting route than the previous one,” saysGreen. “The route has changed every year to

meet the demands of the adventure-seekingmountain biker.”For those looking for a little more comfort,

he says the Great Trek is ideal, as riders willnot have to share their tented accommoda-tion. “All three events also have limited numbers of luxury tents, which offer beds,available for hire.”Although the other two events are already

fully subscribed, entries are still available forthe Great Trek until the end of September oronce fully subscribed.Those who secure a spot on any of the

events will be riding for a good cause, saysGreen. All 13 seconding tables and theovernight stop at Emseni Camp on the TugelaRiver are run by local charities.“This year, our main fundraising focus is on

protecting the 28 rhino within the SpioenkopGame Reserve from poachers. We ridethrough this area and the goal is to significantly improve the damaged fencing.”To enter the Great Trek, go to

www.bergandbush.co.za or find the race onwww.facebook.com/bergandbush and@bergandbush. •CN

Join the Great Trekfor a taste of history

Race preview


words: Coetzee GouwsThe FedGroup

Berg & Bush

THE new-look Bestmed Campus2Cam-pus SuperClassic will start and finish inPotchefstroom on September 23 to paytribute to Ertjies Bezuidenhout, whodied earlier this year.Bezuidenhout, a formidable and respected

Springbok cyclist, studied at North West University at Potchefstroom, where he gaineda degree. He won the King of the Mountainstitle in the Raport Tour seven times. The Campus2Campus previously started

and finished at the university’s Vanderbijlparkcampus. But after Bezuidenhout’s death, theorganisers decided to move it to the Potchef-stroom campus for this year in remembranceof an outstanding sportsman and a much-loved personality. Bezuidenhout suffered a stroke at the age

of 56 after completing the Carnival City Macsteel Classic in February.Besides a new venue and a new host city,

the seventh Bestmed Campus2Campus Super-Classic also offers two race distances – 95 and35 km.Riders who complete their event will receive

a special commemorative Ertjies Bezuidenhoutfinisher’s medal. All pre-entrants will receive a

Bestmed drawstring bag and complimentaryBestmed water bottle.Racing starts at the Old Rag Farm in Meyer

Street, opposite the MediClinic, where theR53 goes out to Ventersdorp. The riders turn right towards Ventersdorp

on a wide road with a lovely smooth surfaceuntil they reach the point where they have tomake a U-turn and return along the sameroad. The route offers a lot of flat riding andmild undulations. Most riders are likely to gethome a little quicker than in previous years.Licensed riders, and open or seeded fun

riders who feel up to the challenge, will takeon the 95km distance. A more manageable35km is the other option. The longer race is a perfect training ride for

riders taking aim at the Momentum 94.7Cycle Challenge. After the turn-around pointthe participants, including some highly ratedprofessionals, could well be assisted by a tailwind over the 47km stretch to the finish.The final 2km section of the ride in town

will present a hassle-free run to the finish withonly one left turn. This point, as well as thefinish in Meyer Street, will be marshalled byTlokwe Metro Police. •CN

Tribute to Ertjies

Race preview


words: Wynand de Villiers • picture: www.cyclenation.co.za

DATE23 September 2012

VENuEPotchefstroom University, Old Rag Farm (corner of Meyer St and R53 Ventersdorp Rd)

STARTING TIME07:00

DISTANCES95km: R210 35km: R130

oNlINE ENTRIESwww.asgevents.co.zaClosing date: 12 September 2012

MoRE INFoRMATIoNFurther information: [email protected] or phone 076 621 1807

wATER poINTSThere will be four water points along theroute.

ThE VENuEThe Old Rag Farm at Potchefstroom University is a perfect place to welcome and entertain the expected 1 600 riders.There is ample parking and eats and drinkswill be on sale.

DIRECTIoNS To ThE STARTComing into town from the N12 from Johannesburg, turn right into Louis leGrange Street and then right into MeyerStreet. The Rag Farm is a few hundred metres farther on the left.

REGISTRATIoNOn Friday 21 September at Cycle Lab in Fourways, Sandton, from 10:00 to 16:00On Saturday 22 September at Fanie du ToitStadium, Potchefstroom University, from10:00 to 14:00

The Bestmed

Campus2Campus

AT midnight on Friday, October 26,around 300 thrill-seeking mountainbikers will set out on the inaugural170km Moon to Noon endurance racearound Knysna.Other long-distance events finish in the

dark, but Moon to Noon turns the conceptof night riding on its head, rolling on intothe early hours of Saturday morning.“It’s all about seeing that there’s a

different way to ride these events,” said raceorganiser Patric Mosterd of Garden RouteEvents, who is also the mastermind behindthe Rocky Mountain Garden Route 300 andRE-CM Knysna 200 three-day stage races.“It really levels the playing fields for pros

and backmarkers, because from 12 to 5 o’clock they all have to deal with the challenge of darkness. Usually the pros finishsoon after sunset, leaving the rest to struggle all night with their lights.”Mosterd says the midnight start also gives

out-of-town cyclists the chance to get racingimmediately. They then have more recoverytime to enjoy the sights of the Garden Routebefore starting their trip home. “Nobodysleeps the night before anyway!”Riding under the stars presents some

special challenges for riders, he says. “It’s allabout you, your bicycle and your thoughts.You have to focus on this little patch in frontof you, with this big darkness all around andlearn to trust yourself and your partner.”Because of safety concerns, Mosterd says

no solo riders will be allowed.“There are bush pigs about and this is a

leopard-friendly area. There’s also a bigdrop-off on the Uniondale Road, so youhave to watch each other. It’s risky but that’swhat makes it so exhilarating.”The danger aspect also makes logistical

arrangements a challenge for organisers because the race is divided between darkand light, with a compulsory halfway stop atthe foot of the Outeniqua Mountains.“The first half of the route is marked with

reflective tape and arrows. We’ve also got tostop the animals from eating our marshals,”Mosterd says with a grin.“We go over the mountain at first light.

It’s rather difficult logistically because no vehicles or even lead bikes can go over. Soour whole infrastructure is split in two on either side.”Medical support, with four-wheel drive

vehicles and a helicopter on standby, is onhand to make sure all riders are kept safe.“There will also be three water points, fivefeeding stations and technical back-up alongthe route.“We’re not enforcing cut-off times but we

will make sure that nobody goes over themountain in the dark and that the compulsory stop is enforced. Anyone whodoes will be asked to withdraw; it’s a safetyissue.”About 1 100 metres above sea level, riders

will summit in a section of a hiking trail belonging to Garden Route National Park.“There’s a part where we actually abseil

the bikes down and the riders climb down.On the other side, there’s a 10km downhill,

Aim for the Moon to Noonon the Garden Route

Race preview


words: Coetzee Gouws • picture: ??

DATE26 October 2012

VENuETotties Eatery, Rheenendal Road

STARTING TIME24h00, 27th October

DISTANCE190 km

ENTRy FEESR650 per rider

oNlINE ENTRIESwww.gardenrouteevents.co.za Closing date: August 30 2012

Moon to Noon

Endurance Race

so we want everyone to be fresh and makesure their brakes are working.”Mosterd says the route starts in the

Rheenendal area just outside Knysna. “Itgoes through indigenous forest and thenthere’s a nice open road for about 10km soeverybody will have a chance to find theirpositions.”Serious racing is set to start with the

descent into the well-known Hydro, which ispart of the original Absa Cape Epic route,before making its way up to Buffelsnekthrough more forest.“There’s a full moon that night, which

turns the mountains into silhouettes. It’s incredibly beautiful. All the roads are whitein the moonlight, so a light is almost unnecessary.”Almost but not quite, says Mosterd. Front

and rear lights, as well as a cellphone, arecompulsory items of kit.“Once you hit the Uniondale road, you

ride on to De Vlugt and then turn and goalong a riverbed for 24 km at the start ofthe Keurbooms River, before passingthrough the Kykoe and Noll settlements.”Riders can check in with their loved ones

at the compulsory stop at Louvain GuestFarm, which is also a spectator point. Theycan also wash bikes, lube chains and refuelwith a Spur burger before disappearing overthe mountain.“On the other side, you’re back into typi-

cal Garden Route vegetation, with beautifulsea views and lots of river crossings.”The old Seven Passes farm road takes

participants all the way back to the race village. “The whole race takes place in thefarming community and the farmers have allbeen very supportive and excited about theconcept,” says Mosterd.The race venue, Tottie’s Eatery, will be

transformed into a country-style cycling village and everyone is welcome to campthere. “We will charge a nominal fee and all

proceeds go to our beneficiary, the KnysnaSports School, for the development ofyoung local cyclists.”Enter online at

www.gardenrouteevents.co.za until August 30.For regular updates, like the Garden

Route Events Facebook page or follow @gardenroutelive on Twitter. •CN

Race preview


“we’re not enforcing cut-off times but we will makesure that nobody goes over the mountain in the darkand that the compulsory stop is enforced. Anyone whodoes will be asked to withdraw; it’s a safety issue.”

SONDELA Nature Reserve, only 45 minutes’ drive on the N1 north of Pretoria, is where the inaugural Sondela SuperClassic road race takesplace on October 27.Participants can choose between two

distances on a flat and fast course, offering aperfect last training ride two weeks prior tothe Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge.The long ride covers 104 km but there is

also a 40km option. The roads are quiet andthe surface good, presenting an excellent opportunity to riders who are looking for agood morale booster before the Cycle Challenge. Sondela has been a popular Bushveld

getaway for many years, maintaining a highoccupancy rate. The resort excels in playinghost to mass-participation cycling events, asevidenced by the Sondela Mountain BikeChallenge, which attracted 1 500 riders inwinter this year.The resort’s management are putting

everything in place for a wonderful familyweekend with lots of entertainment for children, a massive beer tent and all sorts ofdelicious eats and drinks.A secure bike park is available. Participants

will receive wrist tags at registration, whichwill ensure the safekeeping of bikes while theowners enjoy the festivities over the weekend.The event starts at the entrance to Sondela,

which is off the main slipway into Bela-Bela.Ample parking is cordoned off from the entrance back towards the N1. More than 25 ushers will be on duty to help drivers parktheir vehicles. The ushers will look after thevehicles all day.

Route description There are only two right turns on the long rideand one on the short distance.The 104km route goes out towards Settlers

on the R516, then through Settlers beforeturning right back on the R516. Riders carryon along this road until they turn left at CrecyRoad. The smooth road surface continues tothe T-junction where the route takes a leftturn again on to the R33. This section doeshave potholes, which have been filled, but riders should look out for uneven sections.Just after the 70km mark another left turn

awaits before the route joins up with theR516 left and right back towards Sondela.The short ride goes out to Settlers and

immediately turns left and back on the R516towards Sondela.There is one water point on the short ride

(at the R516 joining) and three on the longride.As at all ASG events, medical specialists

MMC will be on hand to look after any medical requirements and emergencies. RoadRangers bike marshals will also be on duty toensure safe passage for cyclists. Suzuki Montana will supply lead vehicles to lend assistance.

Mountain-bike fun rideCyclists who fancy taking part in a doubleheader over the weekend can enter the Son-dela MTB fun ride the day after the road race.Date: 28 OctoberTime: 08:00Distance: 25 kmCourse: flat, jeep track and single trackEntry fee: R120

Sondela SuperClassic (presented by ASG)

Fast, flat and perfect fine tuning

Race preview


words: Wynand de Villiers

DATE27 October 2012

VENuESondela Nature Reserve, 45 minutes fromPretoria on the N1

STARTING TIME06:00

DISTANCES104 km: R20040 km: R120

oNlINE ENTRIESwww.asgevents.co.zaClosing date: 12 September 2012

MoRE INFoRMATIoNFurther information: [email protected] or phone 076 621 1807

ThE VENuEFor further info on Sondela and for directionsgo to www.sondela.com

REGISTRATIoN24 October: Cycle Lab, Fourways, Sandton –10:00 to 16:0025 October: Suzuki Montana – 10:00 to 16:0026 October: Sondela Nature Reserve CaravanPark – 14:00 to 18:00

Sondela

SuperClassic

cyclingnews - september 2012

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