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94.7 win gives Nashua Toyota perfect season ending
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio’s victory in the women’s race at the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge on Sunday was just reward for Team Nashua Toyota’s investment in South African female road cycling talent over the past year.
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio celebrates after outstprinting Cherise Taylor to claim the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge title.
Moolman Pasio outsprinted defending champion, Cherise Taylor to clinch the coveted 97.4km race title in a time of 02 hours 43 minutes and 10 seconds with Nashua Toyota teammate, Joanna van de Winkel claiming the final podium place. This soon after Moolman Pasio won other high profile South African races, the Durban Amashova and the OFM Classic, both for the first time.
That Moolman Pasio claimed three of South Africa’s top titles following a six-month stint racing in Europe speaks volumes for Nashua Toyota’s ‘Think global, act global’ rider development strategy, which saw a number of the team’s members racing for the Belgian-based Lotto women’s professional team during the past nine months.
South Africans have always been geographically disadvantaged in road cycling. Europe is the hotbed of world road racing and prohibitive costs as well as the inability to adjust to foreign languages and cultures have been the undoing of many a talented South African.
But with a formalised rider exchange programme, set up by Nashua Toyota’s Roy Gershow, with support from Cycling South Africa, talented South African females, including Moolman Pasio and Van de Winkel, have been able to compete and improve in European races during 2011.
Other Nashua Toyota team members, Lynette Burger and Lizanne Naude also spent time racing for Lotto at various times during 2011.
“You can’t expect to compete against – and beat – the world’s best at the Olympic Games and World Champs if you aren’t up to their standard. That’s why Nashua Toyota implemented this arrangement with Lotto, which is one of the world’s top-ranked professional teams with excellent infrastructure and support,” explained Burger, the Nashua Toyota team captain.
By giving South African racers the opportunity to compete in high-profile European races, Nashua Toyota and Cycling South Africa have effectively helped South Africa qualify two ¬– and probably three ¬– start places for the country at the 2012 road race at the London Olympics next year, due to riders being able to score International Cycling Union rankings points more frequently.
Moolman Pasio started 2011 ranked 286th in the world. She is now up to 37th. A significant improvement and probably the biggest rise of any Elite female racer in 2011.
“Like my other wins recently, that was no solo effort,” said Moolman Pasio. “Jo (van de Winkel) set it up beautifully. She rode hard to create the break of four early on, she drove the break with commitment and she took the initiative through the final few hundred metres and I just waited on Cherise’s wheel. When I saw Jo wasn’t going to get the win, I kicked hard to get around Cherise and just managed to edge her out on the line.”
There was moment of drama during the race when Moolman Pasio discovered that her rear wheel had buckled and was catching on the bicycle’s frame. With 30km remaining she changed bikes.
“I was relieved to see it was my bike and not me that wasn’t going well. It took a while to notice the problem with the wheel, but the bike change, my first ever in a race, was super quick, thanks to my very on-the-ball team manager, David Pieterse,” recalled Moolman Pasio.
It was Moolman Pasio’s biggest victory in South Africa, but while it was significant from a domestic perspective, it wasn’t her main goal in 2011.
“Success in European racing is far more significant in the big picture, but I must say that I am excited to have won a few big races over the past few weeks in South Africa. It’s great for our team and our sponsors who have invested in our development as riders.”
For Moolman Pasio, Sunday’s win completed a watershed year for the 25-year-old, who hails from Stellenbosch. In addition to the Durban Amashova, Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge and OFM Classic titles, she also won two stages and the overall at the LeCoq Sportif Tour de Boland in South Africa. And, in the last 10 days, she also won the African Championships road race title in Eritrea.
In Europe, her highlights included finishing second overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains title at the Tour de l’Ardeche, sixth overall and Queen of the Mountains winner at Iuretta Emakumeen Bira Tour (women’s Tour of Spain) and 13th place overall at the Giro Donne (women’s Tour of Italy).
Click here for all results and photos from the 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2011.
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Results & photos: 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2011
Congrats to everyone who participated!
Results are in. Simply click here and search using your name or chip number.
Want results from all previous 94.7 races? Click here.
Photos – click here and search by chip number.
Results for the 94.7 MTB Challenge 2011 can be found by clicking here.
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94.7 Cycle Challenge 2011 – event & expo information
Event info
- Date: Sunday, 20 November 2011
- Venue: For the fourth year running, the 94.7 Cycle Challenge is taking place at the Waterfall Country Estate & Village, in Sunninghill.
- Start: The start of the 94.7 Cycle Challenge is on the R55 before Maxwell Drive in Sunninghill, from 05h30 until 09h21.
- Distance: 94.7km
- Cost of entry: R241,20 + R33,80 VAT + CSA Rider Levy of R5,00 = Total R280,00.
- Photographs: R110 – pre-ordered when you entered
Sorry – Entries closed on 3 October 2011!
Downloads you may find useful
- 94.7 Route Map: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Route map 2011
- 94.7 Route Profile: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Route profile 2011
- Start Groups & Times: 94 7 Cycle Challenge Start Groups 2011
- 94.7 Kids start times: 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2011 kids start times
- Cut-off times and Sweep locations: 94 7 Cycle Challenge Cut-off & Sweeps 2011
- Waterpoints: Medical assistance and physiotherapy support is provided at all ten waterpoints along the route. There is also a hospital and physio area located within Waterfall Country Estate and at the Finish. Click here for Waterpoint info: 94 7 Cycle Challenge Waterpoint info 2011
- Parking map: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Parking Access 2011
- Road closures Map: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Road Closures 2011
- Road closures List: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Road Closures and Times 2011
- Woodmead Area map of the route: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Woodmead map 2011
- Alternate routes for cricket fans & those living near Wanderers Stadium: 94.7 Cycle Challenge 2011 Alternate routes near Wanderers stadium
- Gautrain info: 94.7 Cycle Challenge Gautrain info 2011
Source of all downloads and info: Cyclechallenge.co.za
Race number collections & Expo Details
The Cycle Challenge Expo is taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 17 – 19 November 2011. This is where you can collect your race number and browse the stalls!
- Where: Sandton Convention Centre
- When: Thurs, 17 Nov from 10am – 6pm | Fri, 18 Nov from 10am – 6pm | Sat, 19 Nov from 8am – 3pm
- What to bring: Please ensure that you have your SMS/email confirmation with your Race Number and Start time in order to collect your race pack!
- For more info regarding the Race Number Collection, please email cyclechallenge@highveld.co.za.
Good luck to everyone participating!
Results – 94.7 MTB Challenge 2011
- Click here to see provisional results for the 94.7 MTB Challenge which took place on Sunday, 13 November 2011!
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MacDonald, Woolcock win 94.7 MTB Challenge
Team RE:CM riders, Neil MacDonald and Waylon Woolcock finished their debut mountain bike racing season on a high note when they crossed the line together ahead of a large field at the Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge in Johannesburg on Sunday.
From left Bryce Munro (third), Neil MacDonald (first) and Waylon Woolcock (second) celebrate their podium positions at the Momentum 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge on Sunday.
The teammates crossed the finish line of the 50km race in baking hot, dry conditions with arms raised and broad grins in a time of 02 hours 08 minutes and 39 seconds. Bryce Munro (Mankele Mountain Biking) followed them home in third place. The event is one of the largest mountain bike races in South Africa, attracting over 5000 participants in the four distances.
As is the protocol, the Cycling South Africa officials had to allocate positions to the riders and MacDonald was deemed to be the winner, although he felt otherwise: “We weren’t exactly even crossing the line, but I’m pretty sure Waylon’s wheel was a bit ahead of mine. It’s not a big thing though. Team RE:CM finished first and second and that’s important,” smiled MacDonald, who is still not fully recovered from illness.
“I have just finished a third course of antibiotics for bronchial and sinus infections over the past few weeks. It’s been very unpleasant and I wasn’t planning to race any more this year. But I went for a ride a couple of days ago and felt good and thought I’d come and support Waylon here,” explained MacDonald.
Woolcock and Munro made an early break and on a long climb, Woolcock pulled clear of Munro to lead alone. MacDonald was in the chasing group of seven and decided to try and ride across to Munro and Woolcock on a climb.
“I got away from the group and set off to try and catch up with Waylon. But he’d missed a route marker and had to turn around and rejoin the route. By then I’d actually taken the lead without even knowing it. I saw someone chasing me so pushed harder, before realising it was Waylon. We rode the last 10km together and decided to cross the line at the same time.
“We wanted to make a statement. We started racing mountain bikes this year with the launch of Team RE:CM and there were many who felt we’d not be able to successfully make the conversion from road racing pros to mountain biking pros. We still have room to improve, which is exciting, but we didn’t d badly at all,” smiled MacDonald
Among Team RE:CM’s highlights for 2011 was winning six stages and the overall title at the Old Mutual Fairbairn Capital joBerg2c, second overall and one stage win at Subaru Sani2c, first (Woolcock) and second (MacDonald) places at the Pennypinchers Die Burger Karoo-to-Coast and first (Woolcock) and third (MacDonald) overall in the Nissan Trailseeker Marathon Series.
“We get the attention when we win, but we couldn’t do it without the support of all our sponsors as well as our supporters behind the scenes at Lang Sports, Malcolm Lange, Kandice Buys and our mechanic, Magnus Gouws,” said MacDonald. “We’re looking forward to more success in 2012!”.
Click here for provisional results!
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TREAD Ladies Trail & Tea
TREAD Ladies Trail and Tea, presented by MiWayMTB, is an initiative aimed at making mountain biking more accessible to women! It’s an opportunity for women to ride without any ‘barriers’ and will cater for all levels of rider, from beginner to more serious.
“Unlike most men, who grew up riding bicycles, most women didn’t and lack the confidence to just get on a mountain bike and ride. Our Ladies Trail & Tea events are designed to remove any intimidation elements and make mountain biking fun for all women,” said Joanne Badenhorst, publisher of TREAD Magazine and founder of the Ladies Trail & Tea initiative.
Riders are arranged into groups according to skill and/or fitness levels and guided appropriately by experienced female riders. “As the name suggests, we always follow the ride, which is between 90 minutes and two hours in duration, with a social gathering that includes eats, drinks and a gift. Most women enjoy the social side of mountain biking and we ensure that is firmly in place at all our Trail & Tea events,” said Badenhorst.
Upcoming dates
TREAD Ladies Skills Clinics – first Wednesday of every month.
Upcoming 2011 rides: Wednesday, 5 October; 2 November; 7 December
- Time: 08h30 (ride starts, weather permitting)
- Meeting place: Fratelli Car Park, Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Cost: your time and energy!
- Space is limited! The maximum number of riders for the Ladies Trail & Tea is 16 and places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
- Email joanne@treadmag.co.za to book now!
Booking information
- For booking and information on the Skills Clinics and Confidence Clinics, visit www.treadmag.co.za and click on the TREAD Skills tab.
- For booking and information on the Ladies Trail and Tea events, email joanne@treadmag.co.za.
Did you know?
In addition to the Ladies Trail & Tea events, TREAD also hosts TREAD Skills 101 Clinics, 201 clinics and a TREAD Confidence Clinics. These are held throughout the country at various intervals at a low cost. The Confidence Clinics are ideal for those new to mountain biking (male and female), while the 101 and 201 Clinics are aimed at improving the skills of those who have been riding mountain bikes for at least six months (male and female). Visit www.treadmag.co.za for more info!
Already a MiWay Client?
With MTB Rewards, did you know that you can get 50% discount off of the TREAD Skills Clinics? Click here for more info!
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Windhoek Lager Namib Quest MTB Challenge 2012
Brought to you by WINDHOEK LAGER in association with African Extreme Promotions (AEP) & Promoted By RADIO WAVE 96.7 Namibia’s No.1 Hit Music Station
ENTRIES OPEN 1ST OCTOBER 2011
2012 will see the staging of the second edition of the Windhoek Lager Namib Quest Mountain Bike Challenge. After a highly challenging, but successful 2011 event, AEP and its event partners will ONCE AGAIN strive to provide an even better event in 2012. Over a period of six days, participants will traverse the mighty Khomas Hochland escarpment; pass through the majestic Namib Desert and finish in Swakopmund on the cool Atlantic coast. The route will encompass unspoilt wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery and include rustic race villages.
Format:
- Six stages (5 nights)
- Distance approx 370km (distance may vary according to physical / climatic conditions)
- Entries limited to 100 “two person” teams. No single entries
Costs & inclusions:
- N$ 17 000.00 per team (Limited number of packages available for those who want to take own vehicle and family, or 4×4 hire. Watch web site and news updates for details)
- Dinner from Sunday night through to Thursday.
- Breakfast from Monday through to Friday
- Daily water points (x2) with replenishments
- All drinking water requirements throughout
- Limited malt refreshments in the form of Namibia’s very own Premium Beer – Windhoek Lager
- Race village includes suitably sized tent per team, main tented area, hot showers & VIP Ablutions
How to enter:
- Go to: www.africanextremepromotions.com
- Under the menu option for the “Namib Quest” will be a sub menu
item “Entries” - Select this option and you will be directed to the entry page which will give full instructions
- NB: there will only be 100 online entries for teams, so don’t delay to avoid disappointment!
Bar facility and lunch offer will be provided for at each race village on a cash basis.
For more information, please visit: WWW.AFRICANEXTREMEPROMOTIONS.COM
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Race results: MiWay Big5 Series – Kwambo Lion MTB Challenge – 25 Sept 2011
Results are in!
Click on the below links to view.
Congrats to all who participated in the series!
DataDot Giveaways!
MiWay gave away 100 FREE DataDot bicycles Kits to the first 100 registrants at the MiWay Big5 MTB series Kwambo Lion race, valued at R143 each! For more information on this product, click here.Photos
Click here to view our photos or visit the MiWayMTB Facebook Page! You can also visit Big 5′s website to see other result info, as well as find info on photos for sale.
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Namaqua MTB Challenge 2011
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Race results: MiWay Big5 Series – Monzi Hippo Challenge – 4 Sept 2011
Results
Results are in! Click on the below links to view.
25km:
50km:
Overall results: Monzi overall positions – 50km and 25km
Congrats to all who participated! We look forward to seeing you at the last race in the series, The Kwambo Lion MTB Challenge on 25 September! Click here for more details.
The Series gala dinner is on 1 October – click here to book your seat!
Photos
Click here to view our photos or visit the MiWayMTB Facebook Page!
You can also visit Big 5′s website to see other result info, as well as find info on photos for sale.
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Race results: MiWay Big5 Series – Hluhluwe Rhino Charge – 31 July 2011
Results
Results are in! Click on the below links to view.
25km:
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 25km overall results
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 25km category results
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 25km Prizegiving Results
50km:
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 50km overall results
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 50km category results
- Race #3 – Hluhluwe – 50km Prizegiving Results
Congrats to all who participated! We look forward to seeing you at the 4th race, The Monzi Hippo Challenge on 4 September! Click here for more details. Click here to Tweet to your friends.
Photos
Click here to view our photos or visit the MiWayMTB Facebook Page!
You can also visit Big 5′s website to see other result info, as well as find info on photos for sale.
The Hluhluwe Rhino Charge took place at the Hluhluwe Protea Hotel & Safaris on 31 July
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