Cape Peninsula University of Technology's Timo Cooper showed his class when he won the national student mountain biking title at the Bestmed USSA cycling championships in Port Elizabeth today. Cooper, who rides professionally for Team Bridge, demonstrated his technical skills on an undulating 50km cross-country circuit at Hopewell Trails just outside the city. He crossed the line first in 1:36:08, 39 seconds clear of the University of Cape Town's Greig Knox, while CPUT team-mate Adriaan … [Read more...] about Classy Timo Cooper wins USSA Cycling Title
Cycling
The battle for the yellow jersey (and low GI pasta)
As former University of Johannesburg student Chris Froome prepares to launch his title bid at the Tour de France on Saturday, his alma mater will be doing the same at the national student cycling championships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, this week. Although the university won the overall team category two years ago, UJ cycling manager Karel Mouton said his riders were focused on the individual titles this year. According to him, geology honours student Fitzpatrick, who won the … [Read more...] about The battle for the yellow jersey (and low GI pasta)
Augustyn eyes PE National Champs win
The Shukuma-NMMU squad will be aiming to add a second victory to their name when they host the Bestmed University Sport South Africa cycling championships in Port Elizabeth next week. The event starts with the mountain bike discipline on Tuesday, June 25, followed by the three-day road tour from Wednesday. Although not the defending champions - that honour belongs to the University of Pretoria - the local team set a winning precedent when they last hosted the championships five years … [Read more...] about Augustyn eyes PE National Champs win
National student cycling champs headed for Port Elizabeth
Nine of South Africa's top universities will gather in Port Elizabeth next week when the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University hosts the national student cycling championships. The University Sports South Africa event, presented by Bestmed, starts on June 25 with the mountain bike events and the opening stage of the three-day road tour. The reigning champion men's and women's teams, from the University of Pretoria and the Potchefstroom campus of North-West University respectively, will … [Read more...] about National student cycling champs headed for Port Elizabeth
Port Elizabeth’s Anriette seeking to conquer the mountain
Cape Argus champion Anriëtte Schoeman will make her first foray into serious mountain biking at the world's largest fully serviced stage race, the 251km Nedbank sani2c, in KwaZulu-Natal from Thursday. The seven-time Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour winner and eight-time national road champion will take on the three-day race from Underberg to Scottburgh alongside another converted dirt roadie Gary Marescia. Riding in the colours of Aca Joe, for whom she is a brand ambassador, Schoeman said … [Read more...] about Port Elizabeth’s Anriette seeking to conquer the mountain
Mixed Showing for PE Pair in Knysna
Renay Groustra of Cape Town and Daniel Gathof of Germany won the third and final stage of the Rocky Mountain Garden Route 300 mountain bike race in Knysna on Sunday to secure a comfortable overall victory. The Rocky Mountain-RSA Web team's time of 3:10:11 over the final 80km was two seconds faster than that of stage-one winners Timo Cooper and Adriaan Louw (Bridge), who had relinquished their overall lead the previous day. Billy Stelling and Rob Dormehl (V&A Market on the Wharf) … [Read more...] about Mixed Showing for PE Pair in Knysna
Three in a row for Van Heerden on Cycle Tour
Former national road champion Christoff van Heerden completed a hat trick of early season wins when he claimed victory in the 106km Classic at The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. The Bonitas rider capitalised on a lead-out by team-mate HB Kruger to come out on top in a six-man sprint. Van Heerden tussled with Tasol-GT strongman Johann Rabie all the way to the line to place a split-second ahead in 2:34:48, with Kruger a further second back. British road champion … [Read more...] about Three in a row for Van Heerden on Cycle Tour
Beukes wins and two in a row for Neethling
Matthys Beukes came back from a tough first half to chase down the leaders and snatch a surprise victory in the 80km Extreme mountain bike race at Addo just outside Port Elizabeth today. Beukes (Contego-Giant), who last won The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour in 2008 when it was a 65km event, proved he could go the distance in scorching conditions, crossing the line in 3:01:18. After riding off the front for most of the race, African cross-country champion Philip Buys (Scott) outsprinted James Reid … [Read more...] about Beukes wins and two in a row for Neethling
Will these pros still be smiling on Sunday?
Top South African riders Charles Keey (Cannondale-Blend), James Reid (Trek) and Candice Neethling (BMC-SA) have been fine-tuning their preparation in Port Elizabeth ahead of The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour this weekend. The three are just some of the elite cyclists who will be competing for the Ultimate Quest title – a new super-category for those who do both the 80km Extreme mountain bike challenge in Addo on Saturday and 106km Classic road race in Port Elizabeth on Sunday. Keey, who managed … [Read more...] about Will these pros still be smiling on Sunday?
A fight for survival at cycle tour
Professional road team Tasol-GT will be fighting for more than just the win at The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour in Port Elizabeth on Sunday, they will be fighting for survival. The 28th edition of the 106km Classic marks the start of the riders' campaign to save their squad, following the announcement that headline sponsor Tasol will only fund them until the end of the current financial year. Team principal Dean Edwards said the race now had extra meaning for the team, which boasts former winner … [Read more...] about A fight for survival at cycle tour
If I say ‘outfits’ do you think cycling?
Multiple former winner Kevin Evans will be in a different outfit when he defends his title in The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour's 80km Extreme mountain bike challenge at Addo on Saturday. Evans, who started his mountain biking career in Port Elizabeth, has joined FedGroup-Itec Connect in the wake of the much-publicised demise of his former team and will bring teammates Brandon Stewart, who won in 2011, and Bridgette Minnaar-Stewart along for the ride. "It's very early in the season for us but it … [Read more...] about If I say ‘outfits’ do you think cycling?
Family cycling festival fun
Organisers of The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour have promised to deliver yet another action-packed, family-oriented festival of cycling and entertainment when the 28th edition of the event rolls out in Nelson Mandela Bay from February 1 to 3. The programme starts on the Friday with an all-day expo and registration (9am to 9pm) on the exhibition level of The Boardwalk International Convention Centre opposite Hobie Beach. Then, on the Saturday morning, the racing kicks off with the mountain bike … [Read more...] about Family cycling festival fun
Cycle tour gives Gain for your Pain
As the total prize purse for The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour surpasses the R400 000 mark, participants in next weekend's event will walk away with more than smiles on their faces. Officially the Eastern Cape's richest race, the cycle tour kicks off with the mountain bike events in Addo on the Saturday and culminates with the road races in Port Elizabeth on the Sunday. According to event coordinator Linda Harwood, the lucky draw prize value currently stands at R290 000 and counting, with a … [Read more...] about Cycle tour gives Gain for your Pain
Cycle tour bids farewell to Slanghoogte
Organisers of The Herald VWSA Cycle Tour have made a minor adjustment to the 106km Classic route, following a request from the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, which runs the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour. South Africa’s second oldest national classic, which takes place in Port Elizabeth on February 3, is an official premier seeding event of the Cycle Tour. As such, race director Tony Cooney said they would bypass the short but challenging 1km Slanghoogte climb to bring the course in line … [Read more...] about Cycle tour bids farewell to Slanghoogte
Keeping the cycle tour hearts beating
Longstanding partners Life Healthcare and Gardmed Ambulance Service have reconfirmed their commitment to providing full medical support for The Herald VW Cycle Tour in Addo and Port Elizabeth on February 2 and 3. Life St George's hospital manager André Bothma said the group was once again proud to be associated with the event. "We have an excellent working relationship with Gardmed and participants can rest assured that they will receive the best possible medical care should they require … [Read more...] about Keeping the cycle tour hearts beating
