Knox, Green to race for Team Decca Ghost

Top South African bicycle racers, Max Knox and Jock Green will form the foundation of the Decca Ghost mountain bike racing team that was launched in Johannesburg, South Africa at the weekend.

Decca Ghost is a South African registeredteam, but will follow an international strategy in 2012 in order to boost the awareness of the international brands associated with the team, including Belgium-based Decca performance cycle clothing, German-based Ghost-Bikes and Taiwan-based Bryton Sport GPS.

Despite only being 24 years old, Knox is one of the world’s leading marathon racers. His achievements include four stage wins with teammate and current marathon World Champion, Christoph Sauser, at the recent Cape Pioneer Trek stage race in South Africa. Knox has also won stages at the BC Bike Race in Canada as well as other South African stage events and is a multiple winner of the Barberton Classic, one of South Africa’s premier marathon events.

“My main focus for 2012 is the South African National Marathon Series, which starts off with the first round of the UCI’s new Marathon World Cup in Sabie, South Africa in February. This is one of my favourite races as I live in Sabie and do most of my training there,” said Knox.

Green is a former South African national road race champion who raced professionally for the Barloworld team. He made the transition to mountain bike racing two years ago and although still improving, has been a regular podium challenger in marathon and stage racing events, which are incredibly popular in South Africa. Green will also shift his focus this year and compete in duathlon and trail running events and has his eyes set on winning the 2012 Otter Africa Trail Run amongst other events.

The Decca Ghost team will be managed by Jason Theunissen of Ballistic Bike Trading, an established distributor of bicycles and accessories in Southern Africa, including the Ghost, Bryton and Decca brands.

“We have achieved great success in professional road racing both in South Africa and abroad over the past two years and have now targeted the growing discipline of mountain biking,” said Decca’s Quinton van Loggerenburg.

“In addition to the Decca Ghost team, we will also be supporting the Milka Trek team of Dutch former Olympic and World Champion, Bart Brentjens. We have an amazing new fabric that actually repels mud and look forward to showcasing that on some star riders at major international mountain bike events.”
Decca will also be increasing its custom offering to clubs, corporates and teams in 2012 through Ballistic Bike Trading’s established Southern African network.

“With Decca, we’re offering top quality international performance cycle wear at local prices. This is something that’s been lacking in the South African market particularly but now limited budgets won’t mean poor quality clothing,” said Theunissen.

Ghost-Bikes, a respected German bike brand, has achieved international success in Olympic Cross-country racing over the past few years, but is now making a push at marathon racing success through its support of Team Decca Ghost. In 2011, Knox won more than 80% of the races he started, mostly on a 26-inch Ghost, but will now compete on Ghost’s new 29-inch models when relevant.

“Max is one of the few riders able to remain competitive on all courses on a 26-inch bike, so we’re excited about the arrival of the new 29er which should remove any disadvantage on the less hilly, less technical race routes,” explained Theunissen.

Team Decca Ghost will also have the sponsorship support of other leading brands, including Continental tyres, SRAM components and the Fury Motor Group, a leading Chevrolet, Isuzu, Opel, VW, Suzuki, Toyota, Honda, Ford and Mazda vehicle brand dealership group in South Africa.

Warren Foyn and Craig Absalom of the Fury Motor Group jumped at the opportunity to support the Team: “We offer a wide range of motor vehicle brands that will meet the specific needs of our clients and Team Decca Ghost,” said Foyn.

For more information on Team Decca Ghost and its premier brand sponsors, visit www.ballisticbiketrading.co.za.

Results – Babba’s Lodge MTB Event #1 – 8 January 2012

The organisers put up an excellent race, with a well-marked track, a live singer to entertain, delicious food stall, with a lovely setting in the bush and a great finish line (including plenty of shade under the trees)!

Congrats to all who participated in either the 70km, 35km, 12km and the kiddies 1km fun ride.

Results – Babbas Lodge – 8 Jan 2012

Please feel free to give us your feedback for the race by leaving a comment.

Some MiWay brand representation spotted at Babba's Lodge over the weekend!

 

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.

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!

Results: 94.7 MTB Challenge 2011

Congrats to all who participated!

Official race results will be available from 21 November 2011.

Download the provisional results in the meantime:

• All participants: 94.7 MTB Challenge results 2011
• Category Winner Results – 94.7 MTB Challenge – 13 November 2011

Quick links to other info you might be interested in:

• Click here for press release on the winners!
• All event info, road closure maps, route maps, race number collection info etc. on the 94.7 Cycle Challenge – 20 Nov 2011

South Africa’s Stander wins opening stage in Malaysian event

Stander outsprinted four-time Cape Epic champion, Karl Platt of Germany to clock a winning time of two hours 24 minutes and 20 seconds for the 61km stage that started and finished at the Langkawi Sports Complex. Former European champion, Thomas Dietsch of France, was third.

Switzerland’s Nathalie Schneitter (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) won the women’s category in 2:56:40. South Africa’s Yolande Speedy (MTN Qhubeka) finihshed fifth just over eight minutes back.

Stage 2 on Wednesday is an Olympic Corss-country (XCO) race to be help on laps around a 4.7km course. The unique five-stage tour, designed to test rider versatility, ends on Saturday.

South Africa's Burry Stander celebrates after outsprinting Germany's Karl Platt to win Stage 1 of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge. Photo credit: Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge

Langkawi International MTB Challenge

Stage 1: 61km Marathon

Men

1. Burry Stander RSA (Specialized USN) – 2hr 24min 20sec
2. Karl Platt GER (Team Bulls) – 2hr 24min 20sec
3. Thomas Dietsch FRA (Team Bulls) @ 1:52
4. Wolciech Halejak POL (Mroz Activejet) @ 4:13
5. Johnny Catteneo ITA (Full Dynamix) @ 5:11
6. Lachlan Norris AUS (Giant Global Factory TEam) @ 5:17
7. Adrian Jackson AUS @ 5:28
8. Bartosz Banach POL (Mroz Activejet) @ 6:24
9. Daniel Gathof GER (Craft Rocky Mountain) @ 6:38
10. Kohei Yamamoto JPN @ 6:50

Women

1. Nathalie Schneitter SUI (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) – 2hr 56min 40sec
2. Vivienne Meyer SUI (Colnago Farbe Sudtirol) @ 0:06
3. Jodie Willet AUS @ 2:12
4. Michela Benzoni ITA (Lissone) same time
5. Yolande Speedy RSA (MTN Qhubeka) @ 8:04
6. Masziyaton MOhd Radzi MLA (Kedah SBS Giant) @ 12:32
7. Jenny Fay IRE @ 12:41
8. Katherin O’Shea AUS @ 12:57
9. Eszter Dosa HUN @ 14:28
10. Naomi Hansen AUS @ 16:02

For more information, visit www.mtbmalaysia.com

Buycycle.co.za partnership gets MiWayMTB fans special discounts

Looking for  October’s specials on Helmets?

Sorry! This offer expired at the end of October 2011. We’re working on the next deal!

More about our partnership…

MiWayMTB has recently teamed up with Buycycle.co.za to bring MiWayMTB fans special discounts on MTB-related products. Buycycle.co.za is a popular online cycling store where all things cycling and MTB-related can be purchased simply and effectively online! Their competitive prices mean that not only do they offer great service and convenience for consumers, but also great rates…

Now, thanks to MiWayMTB, fans and supporters of MiWayMTB will be able to have access to top quality products from Buycycle’s online store with savings of up to 50% on selected products!

What is a MiWayMTB fan?

Follow MiWayMTB on Facebook and get up-to-date info on specials and discounts! The great news is that anybody can take advantage of this special deal, but by joining the MiWayMTB Facebook page, you can find out about specials sooner, enter competitions, and engage in conversations with your fellow MTBers in a friendly online community.

Follow @MiWayMTB

Need any info? Email the MiWayMTB Team on mtb@miway.co.za now!

Bicycle donation creates cycle park development initiative

Since its launch almost two years ago, the Toyota Cycle Park in Bryanston has helped boost the popularity of recreational bicycle riding among children in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs. This is due to the park’s location, high level of safety and variety of facilities, catering for all age and skill levels.

Toyota has provided the vehicle to transport the children.

But now, following the donation of bicycles from bicycle empowerment groups operating in Southern Africa, children from disadvantaged communities beyond the surrounding suburbs have also begun to enjoy the facilities.

BikeTown Africa and Specialized Bicycles have donated 19 BMX bicycles to the Cycle Park for use by children that don’t have access to bicycles. Qhubeka, another socio-economic bicycle initiative, facilitated the bicycle donation, logistics and warehousing.

Bionic BMX Club has partnered with the Cycle Park to ensure that the donated bicycles are used to develop skill and talent consistently and under appropriate guidance so that sustainable development happens, all while ensuring that the element of fun is always maintained.

“As the Cycle Park’s BMX track is a world class standard track, every opportunity will be given for the next Sifiso Nhlapo to stand out,” said Jeremy Wood, Chairman of Bionic BMX Club.

“To this end, Themba Hlophe one of our senior club members, will be the resident development clinic co-ordinator and will be running clinics at least weekly to teach the basics of bike handling, racing and of course the all-important fun, fun, fun that is riding a bicycle! Our international Elite rider, Dean Holdstock, will also be giving input and time into the programme, as his racing commitments allow,” added Wood.

“Because of the tight management of the initiative and the safe, top class facilities, we have access to, this is a fantastic opportunity for corporates to get involved in this and to give just a little to make a big difference in the these youngsters’ lives,” Wood pointed out.

“It’s thanks to visionary people like Brad Schroeder of BikeTown Africa, Meurant Botha of Amarider and Anthony Fitzhenry of Qhubeka that we now can offer the gift of riding a bicycle to kids that wouldn’t normally be able to due to economic reasons,” said Cycle Park co-founder Andrew McLean.

BikeTown, Amarider and Qhubeka are all non-profit organizations whose purpose it is to facilitate the use of appropriate bicycles to improve the mobility of rural southern Africans in order that they may improve their economic status.

Toyota has provided the vehicle to ensure the children are transported to and from the Cycle Park, while Cycle Lab and the Toyota Supercycling Club are sponsoring the bicycle maintenance and supplying riding gear, food and drinks to the children on the programme.

“A BMX bicycle is the ideal entry for any child into the cycling world. With a single gear and an easy, relaxed riding position, a BMX bicycle teaches skills that will endure for years to come, whether they remain involved with BMX or move into another discipline of cycling,” said Wood.

New bike for mountain biker hit by buck

Van der Spuy is a final year learner at South City Christian College in Ramsgate on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. The incident occurred 6.5km into the 38km race at the Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve. Van der Spuy was lying in second place overall at the time, around 30 seconds behind the leader. “There were actually two buck that I saw. The one crossed over the race route ahead of me and this one was obviously following that one,” recalled Van der Spuy. “I was riding at about 35kph and the Hartebeest was running at an angle and so must have been going quicker than that.” Van der Spuy was concussed and his helmet was shattered by the impact. “My helmet probably saved my life,” said Van der Spuy, adding. “The footage shows me moving on the ground, but I don’t remember anything at all. I don’t even remember standing in front of the camera afterwards! The irony is that I don’t do any road cycling because our roads are so dangerous.”

DNA by DataDot: Bicycle I.D. kit

A trusted security system gets involved in bicycle safety!

DataDot Technology is already trusted by car manufacturers and fit 100% of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Nissan, Suzuki, Renault, Jaguar, Land-Rover and Toyota vehicles in South Africa with their advanced Microdot security system. DataDot has decreased car theft by a massive 50%.

Finally! This technology is now available for your bicycle, and is catching on quick in MTB circles!

How does it work?

Each DataDot Bicycle kit contains 1000 Microdots. Each is laser-etched with a unique 10 digit PIN which is registered to your name. The kit also contains a specialised adhesive which has UV properties. The Microdots are applied using the adhesive in an easy DIY process, in the comfort of your own home!

Your registration information is stored on the DataDot Database which 10 000 trained Police officers across the country have direct access to. These police officers are of detective level and have recieved special training from DataDot Technology!

Benefits:

• Peace-of-mind knowing that after a theft, your bike is less likely to be sold or used for parts
• Peace-of-mind knowing that you can unequivically prove ownership of your bike and its parts
• Unlike a bike’s serial number which can be tampered with, the DataDot Technology’s 1000 Microdots are unseen to the visible eye and spread all over your bike, making it difficult to remove
• The 1000 microdots ensure that multiple parts of your bicycle are identifiable and registered to you

Stats from vehicle theft investigations show that organised crime syndicates quickly become aware of manufacturers who use DataDot Technology, which results in those car types being less desirable to steal. DataDot Technology is hoping that bicycle manufacturers catch on and begin using DataDot Technology as standard practice at factory-level.

MiWay is giving away 100 FREE DataDot bicycles Kits to the first 100 registrants at the MiWay Big5 MTB series Kwambo Lion race this Sunday in KZN. Valued at R143 each! Click here for more info on this race!

For more information, please email mtb@miway.co.za.