end of the year training

Hi there

The year is winding down to an end and we are still doing the miles on our mountain bikes. We are off to spain tomorrow and there we will be riding long hours, an average of 4 to 8 hours long rides. our goal is to do as many long climbs as we can.

The exciting part is that we will spend time with our families and at the same time we will ride in new places all the time and as many of you know one of the biggest challenges when you are doing the miles is not to get bored of riding at the same places.

so far we have done 6.411 km and over 400 hours on the saddle. we could have riddent to cape town and back a couple of times!

a merry christmas to everyone
Joaquin

24 Hours Mugg & Bean Race

Hi there

The training is going very well, going from strenght to streght and still riding the miles big time.

Last saturday and sunday we did a 24 hour race, something completely new for me yet.

The course was set in Northern farms and the laps were 17.5 km long. the whole idea was to ride on teams and to always have a rider riding for 24 hours non stop. Our team was formed by Carlos Valverde (my younger brother), Pamina (my partner in crime and epic riding partner) and I. We did in total 27 laps and we managed to win our category (three mixed team). We did win in the most amazing win, after 24 laps we had a comfortable lead of about 20 minutes so we thought it was done, but then Pam's chain broke half way into lap 24, some kind soul helped her (you know how women and mechanics are!) and she managed to finish the lap but by them the team behind us overtook us and had a lead of 15 min. Then it was my turn, I raced like crazy and manage to cut the lead down to 5 minutes. Pam did the last but one lap and managed to keep the distance to the same 5 minutes. The last lap was up to me, so i went, I pushed like crazy (after having done about 170km and 8 hours of riding) as I had to chase the guy and cat down his 5 min lead.

2 km to the end I saw him and I couldnt believe my eyes, I had managed to cut down their lead and now I had the opportunity of overtaking him. there wasnt much space for it and after two attempts I managed to evertake him going out of the single track and taking some chances.

The guy was astonished as he thought he had secure the win! I overtook him and despise being extremely tired managed to keep my lead and get to the finish line 20 seconds ahead of him.

Pam and carlos were waiting anxiously at the finish line, looking for my red helmet in the distance, and there I was! WE WON!

anyway, this race showed me that even when you are tired and you havent slept much you can still push, is all in our heads!

cheers

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Rest Week after the storm Nov 2007

Hi guys

The training for the epic is very hard most of the times but the good news is that now we are at the end of a cycle and therefore some rest for this week awaits us. That doesnt mean we dont train at all, but the longest ride is only 2,5 hours and it is time to have fun on the mountain bikes and to go to logwood to practice some single track skills.

From next week we are going to start for hill repeats and intervals, not something to look forward to but something very important in order to get more power on the legs.

i will keep you informed on the developments

cheers

Quino
joaquin@valverde.co.za

94.7 Cycle Challenge 2008

Dear All

Last sunday I had the privilege to ride the famous 94,7 race in johannesburg, I was a bit skeptical, specially with the number of people that had entered it, 20.000!. I must say that did not make the ride a bad ride although at times it was a bit of a nuisance.

It was great to be able to cycle on those roads where normally you would be risking your life with crazy taxi drivers and stressed housewives trying to get to work on time while they anser their cell phones and do the make up looking into the rear mirror.

for once it was safe and it was fun, the route was great, not too hard with only about 1200 meters of climb so we got a nice work out and lots of fun, there were people all over with customes, I saw superman, teddy bears, spiderman, etc.

The result, 3 hours and 5 min of riding and in the end we even got a free massage and a free chiropractor consultation.

I would recommend everyone to join us next year, it will worth your while

cheers

Much more than just a Cycle Challenge - Wynand de Villiers << Back
Saturday, November 17, 2007

From its very recent beginnings in 1997 when 4 000 cyclists decided to take on the challenge of ‘Joburg’s toughest race’ (back then), more than 25 000 cyclists will take to Joburg’s streets this weekend in the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge.

In its brief history, the race has played a major role in positioning Johannesburg as the continent’s major sports and business destination. The City of Johannesburg’s slogan is ‘A world-class African city’ and after 11 years there can be no doubt that the Cycle Challenge represents this slogan in every way.

Throughout its history, the safety of the cyclists has always come first and the race will once again go all out to prove that it really is ‘Joburg’s Safest Race’.

More than 25 000 cyclists will take part in the Cycle Challenge road race on Sunday, 18 November, while 2 500 mountain-bikers have entered the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge, presented by Energade, which takes place on Saturday, 17 November.

Add the 3 000 kids that will take part in the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Children’s Cycle Challenge, presented by Spur Steak Ranches, also on Saturday, and the weekend adds up to a cycling extravaganza of worldwide significance.

Among the field, for the first time this year, will be the world’s greatest-ever road cyclist, Eddy Merckx. Known as ‘The Cannibal’ in his racing career - which spanned a period of 16 years from 1961-1977 - Merckx is taking part in the event as part of a five-day social visit to South Africa.

The great Belgian has close personal friends in Tshwane and is a regular visitor to South Africa. For the first time his trip coincides with the Cycle Challenge, which he will ride with the Tshwane-based Queens Club.

Merckx won the Tour de France five times and rode to victory in the Tour of Italy on five occasions. He also boasts a victory in the Tour of Spain and he became the world road race champion an amazing four times during his illustrious career.

While Merckx will be using the opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery and great atmosphere, South Africa’s cycling press will be mulling over the question of who will lead the field across the finish line at Waterfall Equestrian Estate.

The miraculous comeback from injury by South African champion Malcolm Lange (MTN/Microsoft) has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons in the elite race.

A steel plate has been inserted into Lange’s shoulder to keep the collarbone in place following his crash in the PowerAde Dome2Dome Cycling Spectacular in September. Against all odds the ‘Man of Steel’ has been up and riding for the past month and there is every chance that he will ride away with the victory on Sunday.

Lange’s nickname hails from the fact that he now boasts steel plates in both his shoulders as a result of crashes on the road.

With the riders of Barloworld not going to race the Cycle Challenge competitively, the table is set for a huge battle in the men’s race between the teams of MTN/Microsoft, Neotel and Konica-Minolta.

The Colorpress Cyclingnews team are the dark horse following the victory of their sprinter, Arran Brown, in the Bakwena Post Office Classic this past Sunday.

The Cycle Challenge professional race showcases the veritable who’s who of South African cycling and besides the dangerous Lange, his MTN Microsoft team-mate Darryl Impey is also a hot favourite to win the event.

Impey has battled somewhat without Lange at his side for the past two months, but Lange’s presence certainly makes them the most dangerous sprinting duo in the event.

Chris Froome, the Kenyan riding for Konica-Minolta, is another rider to watch. Froome was Konica-Minolta’s best rider in the recent Tour of Britain and he was Africa’s most consistent rider in International Nations Cup Series in Europe. He also won a stage in the Giro del Capo.

Ironically if Froome or Impey win the Cycle Challenge it can be claimed as a victory for Barloworld as both young riders have signed up for Barloworld for next year.

Looking at the results of the year’s local races it will be a surprise if a rider from MTN/Microsoft doesn’t win the Cycle Challenge. The boys in yellow have won more than 80% of the races they competed in this year.

Hanco Kachelhoffer (Harmony), who finished second in last year’s Cycle Challenge and third in the year before, says the race is notorious for foiling team tactics.

“Just look at what happened last year. I got away in a break with four riders from Barloworld, four from MTN/Microsoft, two from Exel and one from Konica-Minolta.

“Martin Velits, the only rider from Konica Minolta in the move, won the race and I finished second.

“The secret to having a good ride in the Cycle Challenge is to be very attentive and to take your opportunities when they arise.”

Kachelhoffer predicts that apart from Impey and Froome, the other riders to watch will be Nolan Hoffman and Jaco Venter (Neotel), Tiaan Kannemeyer and Christoff van Heerden (Konica-Minolta)

In the women’s race defending champion, Yolandi du Toit (Konica-Minolta), is the in-form rider.

The way in which she won last year’s Cycle Challenge will always be remembered as one of the most heroic rides by a South African woman. She attacked and rode away on her own for nearly 50km to hold on for the win.

“The Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge is one of the most exciting races in South Africa. I love the event,” said an excited Du Toit this week. “It’s really tough. If you are not riding uphill you’re going down, which means it’s a race where any rider with guts can win by riding aggressively. And that’s how I am going to race again on Sunday.”

Du Toit regards the Proline team as her main opposition. Proline consists of Anriëtte Schoeman, Marissa van der Merwe and Robin de Groot. “Lynette Burger (Cycle Lab) is also always a factor,” Du Toit added.

The biggest threat to her title might well come from her team-mate Cherise Taylor. “But I obviously won’t mind if she wins,” Du Toit smiled.

While the elite racing is set to attract a lot of interest, there are so many other aspects to look out for on the day, such as Tour de France stage winners Robert Hunter and Mauricio Soler (both Barloworld) in their charity ride.

Soler and Hunter had the South African sporting public on the edge of their seats during the month of July when they raced against the best and beat them during the Tour de France. Now, thanks to an initiative from the Cycle Challenge organisers, many entrants are riding with the duo in their charity group.

Hunter and co are riding for the Homeless Talk Pre School. It’s the official Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge charity and R1800 will be donated to the school for every cyclist riding in the Hunter group.

This year’s Cycle Challenge also sees a group of Zimbabweans riding to highlight the desperate circumstances in their country, and to raise much-needed funds for various charities in Zimbabwe.

The group of 18 Zimbabweans representing the Miracle Missions Trust have set themselves the goal to collectively beat 57 hours on Cycle Challenge Sunday.

Miracle Missions raises funds for nine selected charities and last year they raised R75 000 with their efforts in the Cycle Challenge.

One thing is certain in South African cycling: wherever there is a challenge, you’ll find television personality Andrew McLean (Cycle Lab).

At the age of 43, when many of his contemporaries are starting to take it easy, McLean is still racing at full tilt and enjoying every moment.

So it should come as no surprise that he is one of the 630 riders who are competing in both the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Mountain Bike Challenge on Saturday and the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge on Sunday.

‘Mighty Mouse’, as McLean is known in local cycling, has taken part in every Cycle Challenge since its inception 11 years ago, with the exception of last year’s race. “Last year was the first time that I didn’t compete. I had to do television commentary, but this year I’m back,” said McLean.

“I am going to race with the professionals. I like the challenge of testing myself against the best,” the past Rapport Tour and four-time Giro del Capo winner explained.

Another rider who is doing the double and has every chance of winning both events is John Paul Pearton (Mazda/Merida).

After winning the mountain-bike race last year he surprised everybody the following day when he got away in final selection with nine riders in the road race. He managed to stay with them for 70km.

“I astonished myself over that weekend because I didn’t really train for the Cycle Challenge races at all. After the Colorpress Crater Cruise I took a break,” says Pearton.

“But this time I did things differently. I kept training and competing in road races after the Crater Cruise.

“The Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Mountain-bike Challenge over 40km is perfectly suited to my ability. It is not too hard but it’s got a lot of single track sections which I really enjoy. The distance is also perfect for the end of the year. You don’t need to be super fit to be able to finish well, even as a fun rider.

“On that subject; the 20km fun ride is an event that anybody can complete. It is actually just a nice ride on dirt roads.”

Cyclists competing in both the Cycle Challenge and its sister mountain bike event will be honoured with a special medal commemorating their participation in both events.

The Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge affords Joburg residents a wonderful opportunity to share in a day of celebration of all that is good about Joburg. The race is so successful because of the overwhelming support it receives each year, not only from the cycling fraternity, but from the city’s residents too.

It remains ‘Joburg’s Safest Race’ due to the full road closure it enjoys. Permission has been granted by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department for the event, which has also been sanctioned by Johannesburg executive mayor, councillor Amos Masondo.

In fact this year, councillor Masondo and Johannesburg city manager, Mavela Dlamini, will be officially starting the race.

The City of Joburg – a world-class African City – hosts the 2007 Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge. This year the City has also come on board as a co-broadcast sponsor of the event’s live transmission, which takes place on Cycle Challenge Sunday on SuperSport 1.

This has further entrenched the partnership between the City of Joburg and the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge, which showcases the city’s ability to stage sporting events of this stature.

Training for November 2007

Hi there

This month of november has been so far a bit tough on the training, we have done a total of 38 hours and 800 km thus far.

WE are winding down to the end of a cycle so next week is rest week, we have only 8 hours scheduled.

cheers

Joaquin Valverde
joaquin@valverde.co.za

Training week of the 15th October

This last week was a bit of a disaster as flu hit me on sunday evening after the 117km race for victory race starting at gold reef city. Today I went back to the saddle at Robbies for the first time but I only did 45min easy training in roder to gauge my performance and see how i feel.

The race on sunday went really well, lovely route and a very good vibe. First race over 100 km and it felt great, it took me 4hours to complete withouth pushing too hard. I am still struggling with nitty gritty stuff that happens on a road race, strategy, bunch riding, etc. I kept jumping from one bunch to the next as all of them were very slow. I guess I will have to push harder in the begining to try and stay with the main field were the strong guys are.

I will keep you guys posted in the training.

cheers

Training in october 2007

This has been my training in the past 1 or so:

30-Sep-2007 Sunday Sterling Light race at northen farms 8 172 2223 83.2 02:55 43th 19th 56
1-Oct-2007 Monday Flat out 45 minutes 9 150 758 83.5 00:45 19
2-Oct-2007 Tuesday Training at Robbie's + flat out 45 min afternoon 8 146 84 01:50 60
3-Oct-2007 Wednesday Flat out 54 minutes on mtb 9 156 904 83.2 00:54 1
4-Oct-2007 Thursday mtb on the road cradle 132 2226 84 02:32 56
5-Oct-2007 Friday
6-Oct-2007 Saturday Mogale spring classic 8 153 3185 84.2 02:25 38st 31st 72
7-Oct-2007 Sunday
8-Oct-2007 Monday Sterkfontein and trainer 8 138 83.5 03:00 70
9-Oct-2007 Tuesday Robbie and trainer 8 83.5 03:00 70
10-Oct-2007 Wednesday magaliesburg climb 8 1925 03:19 35
11-Oct-2007 Thursday
12-Oct-2007 Friday loop, quarries, logwood lammermoor 8 82.8 02:14 40

AS you guys can see the training is getting to a point were we are building quite a number of hours on the saddle. From next months we are starting to do some 6 hour rides!

keep it up

Meet Gary Fisher, the father of Mountain biking.

The globally acknowledged Father of Mountain-biking, Gary Fisher, is arriving in South Africa on 6 October and the Just Fun Cycling, the local distributors of Gary Fisher and Trek bicycles, have put together an itinerary for his South African visit.

• Northern Farm - Saturday 06/10/2007 from 08h00 to 11h00
o The public can come and meet Gary Fisher from 08h00 to 09h45
o There will be an outride leaving at 09h45 where the public will be able to go for a ride with Gary Fisher. The ride will be about an hour in length.
o Contact - Wayne Flood (082) 300-7437

• Logwood - Saturday 06/10/2007 from 13h00 to 16h00
o Public will be able to come and meet Gary Fisher, entrance fee to Logwood including a days riding is R50.

• Cycle Lab Nicol Grove - Monday 08/10/2007 from 08h00 to 10h00
o Fourways Johannesburg
o Contact Bryan or Johan on (011) 707-2700

• Cycle Lab Centurion - Monday 08/10/2007 from 11h00 to 13h00
o Centurion Pretoria
o Contact David on (082) 335 1425

• West Rand cycles - Monday 08/10/2007 from 14h00 to 16h00
o Johannesburg
o Contact Eben on (011) 955-4342

• Johnson's cycles - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 08h00 to 10h00
o Edenvale, Johannesburg
o Contact Kim or Bassim on (011) 453-9586

• Illovo cycles - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 11h00 to 13h00
o Illovo, Johannesburg
o Contact Anthony on (011) 268-6839

• Sweat and Gears - Tuesday 09/10/2007 from 14h00 to 17h00
o Farrarmere, Benoni
o Contact Lee on (011) 425-1152

• Bowmans Cycles - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 08h00 to 11h00
o Cape Town
o Contact Shane on (021) 423-2527

• Cycle Lab Westlake - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 13h00 to 15h00
o Westlake, Cape Town
o Contact Richard or Gary on (021) 700-1060

• Tokai forest - Wednesday 10/10/2007 from 16h00 to 17h30
o The public can come and meet Gary Fisher from 16h00 to 17h00.
o There will be an outride leaving at 17h00 where the public will get a chance to ride with Gary Fisher.

• Crater Cruise - Saturday 13/10/2007 from 08h00 to 12h00
o Parys
o Contact Wayne on (082) 300-7437

Training 28th September 2007

Nice and tough ride to sterkfonteing with pam coming along on the road bike. 4 hours of non stop pedalling on a tarred road, a total of 82km. The hard week is almost ove, tomorrow we are racing at Northern Farms, 60km route, lets see how we feel.

News from the Karoo to coast

Speedy wins comfortably at Karoo to Coast - Own Correspondent << Back
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
South African champion, Yolande Speedy, secured a comfortable victory at the Talisman Karoo to Coast Mountain Bike Challenge in the Western Cape at the weekend to move within striking distance of claiming the prestigious 2007 Mazda Series title.

Speedy (IMC Mongoose) rode a steady race to lead from start to finish in the tough 100km event that started in Uniondale and ended in Knysna, clocking a winning time of three hours, 41 minutes and 30 seconds.

Top Western Cape rider, Hanlie Booyens (Jeep Specialized), claimed second place in 03:46:03 with Ischen Stopforth riding a strong second half to finish third in 03:48:53. Carla Rowley (Raleigh MTN Energade) and Christie Pienaar (Fritz Pienaar Cycles) rounded out top five in a large field of almost 200 female finishers.

“I just wanted to have a steady race with no problems and it worked out just perfectly,” smiled Speedy, who is having her best year yet.

It was Speedy’s fourth Mazda Series victory from just five events and it moved her from fourth to second place with just one event remaining. Tania Raats (Maverick Momentum), who has led the Series since January, did not compete at Karoo to Coast and could well see her Series title hopes fade at next month’s Colourpress Crater Cruise where she and Speedy will go head to head in a battle for crucial points.

23-26th September Training.

23-Sep-2007 Sunday Cradle Road race 7 158 84.7 03:55 98
24-Sep-2007 Monday Race at bultfontein 6 171 84.5 02:15 49
25-Sep-2007 Tuesday Ride along the cradle 10 127 84.4 03:11 68
26-Sep-2007 Wednesday ride in magaliesburg with climb to mountain 8 84.2 03:15
This week so far has been very very hectic, with lots of training but I must say with lots of fun too. Sunday started off with the road race at the cradle, I rode it on the Mtb in 3:55, not too bad given the circumstances (my knee was a bit sore then). The following day, Monday, we did the race at Babbas Lodge, Vit-t-Go series and it was fun, very flat and fast. Pamina came third! Not too bad for beginners.

yesterday we did 3:15, again Pam rode her Road bike and I rode on the Mountain bike. It is interesting to do it that way because I was forced to push harder to keep up with the pace, specially on the climbs.

today we finally went to magaliesburg looking for some serious climbing, we found a dirt road that leads to the Mountain Sanctuary park with a nice little climb of 4 km with a 10% inclination.

94.7 Cycle Challenge

A world-class African race - Wynand de Villiers << Back
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

“I would have to be seriously ill in a hospital, or rather to be treated in intensive care, for me not to race the Pick ‘n Pay 94.7 Cycle Challenge. It is the best race in South Africa and it is no exaggeration that it is ‘Joburg’s safest race’.”

These sentiments from Lynette Burger, one of South Africa’s top professional cyclists for the past four years, perfectly sum up where the Cycle Challenge has positioned itself after 10 editions of the race.

The brief history of Gauteng’s biggest cycle race, which takes place on 18 November this year, is a story of unequalled cycling growth and phenomenal individual participation and it has showcased the immense organisational and hosting abilities of the City of Joburg like very few events have been able to do.

From its very recent beginnings in 1997 when 4 000 cyclists decided to take on the challenge of ‘Joburg’s toughest race’ (back then), the event has mushroomed into a race which, in 2006, attracted 28 000 entries.

And it’s a team effort all the way from every one of these individuals who take part and in particular the hard-working members of all the departments of the City of Joburg who, together with the event organisers, Harford Sports Promotions, make sure the Cycle Challenge is a total success.

In its history the race has always promoted the ideal of positioning Johannesburg as the continent’s major sports and business destination. The City of Johannesburg’s slogan is that of a World-Class African City and the Cycle Challenge fits in very nicely with the ideals of this slogan.

Throughout its history – this year will see the 11th running of the event – the cyclist has come first and the race will go all out again to do itself justice as ‘Joburg’s Safest Race’.

Burger goes further to say that the Cycle Challenge is organised better than the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour.

“What makes the event special for me as a cyclist is the fact that the race is organised by people who will go out of their way to ensure that the day is an utterly enjoyable experience for every cyclist that enters.”

The one thing that bothers Burger, however, is the fact that she has not managed to win the race yet. Finishing 7th last year is her best performance to date.

Clint Curtis, a thought leader in cycling who has shaped the careers of most of South Africa’s current top professionals, says he loves his day out in the streets of Joburg on Cycle Challenge Sunday. “You do get to see parts of Johannesburg from the saddle in a way you would never be able to. It’s also a little tougher than most fun rides, and I love the challenge in the safe environment that’s created for the day.”

According to Andre Taylor, a veteran who races nearly every weekend, he wouldn’t miss the event for the world.

“It’s just one of the most amazing races because of the full road closure. It is definitely the safest race in Gauteng. Apart from the cat eyes in the road, it is the most perfect hassle free race,” Taylor joked.

“I raced and still enjoyed every moment. Things really got better with the road closure and what I really appreciate as a veteran is the fact they split the veteran’s classes in 30-34. 35-39, 40-44.

“It makes for more exciting racing because it then boils down to strength versus strength.

“The atmosphere during and after the race is just amazing. It is like one big cycling carnival,” he said.

19-09-2007 Training

Yesterday training was again an easy 2 hours without pushing much. 50-60% Heart rate off road we headed to logwood and spent a little bit ot time there playing around in the single tracks sections they've got.

Today training at the lab with Rob. hopefully my knee will feel a bit better.

19-09-2007 Training

Yolande Speedy - Report from the World Champ

Hello to Everyone,

We arrived in Scotland the Monday before the World MTB XC Champs in Fort William and I spent an overcast, wet end to the week practicing the course, preparing myself mentally for the challenge ahead and making much needed repairs and replacements to my poor Mongoose which had taken some serious strain in the last few weeks of training and racing in Europe.
SA was definitely one of the most spirited teams at Worlds and I was proud to be a part of the team! Brian Strauss and all those involved in the teams plans and arrangements going forward to Worlds did an excellent job, everything ran very smoothly which especially considering the size of our team was a great achievement. Thanks to all involved and to Rob Cunnington, our team mechanic who did an excellent job taking care of the teams bikes and giving me the all important peace of mind that come race day my racing machine would be 100% ready.

The 7.9km course was really well prepared for wet weather with the majority of it covered with building sand and only a few really muddy sections thrown in for good measure. With 277m of climbing, a long slalom like downhill and an uphill drag with a short steep climb to the finish it was a tough course but not nearly as technical as the World Cup courses I have ridden this year.

It was another cool, overcast morning that welcomed us to the start of Worlds. With an hour to go to the start I went and started my warm up and arrived at the start line ready to give everything. Having earned precious UCI points during the year from both National and International events definitely helped us with our start positions. I was seeded 31st, Amy 34th (which put us in the 4th row), Tania 49th and Sara 58th, a big improvement from last year where we started right at the back of the bunch.

The start was fast but not as hectic as I had expected, we started on a fairly long broken climb and got caught in a 'traffic jam' on the first single track uphill. We soon got going again and I pushed hard on the next open dirt road section before the last technical climb and long downhill as I knew it would be very difficult to pass during these. I sat patiently behind the slower technical riders ahead of me on the downhill (I have learnt to do this after crashing in my 1st World Cup race trying too hard to pass a slower rider) taking advantage of any opportunity to pass, unfortunately there were not many and it was pretty frustrating!

I tried to push my pace as hard as I could on the climbs in my second lap passing a few riders and having a relatively clean run on the downhill. On my 3rd lap I lost a few places on the uphill and again got stuck behind a slow technical rider in the downhill loosing precious time. Going over a tricky rocky section she took a wide right line and I quickly cut in to the left passing her and soon had a decent gap. I caught and passed a group of 4 riders on the last uphill drag and pushed hard to keep my advantage on them.

Going into my last lap I was able to keep a consistent pace and caught 2 riders that were obviously starting to feel the effects of the tough course.
Reaching the last steep climb there was a lady just ahead of me, giving it everything I had left to try catch her I unfortunately pushed it a little too hard on the last corner and my front wheel washed out. After quickly paying my respects to the ground I jumped back on my bike and crossed the finish line in 31st place 10:46 behind the leader. Amy, Tania and Sara all had a good race finishing 44th, 53rd and 60th respectively, Tania unfortunately having cut her knee quite badly in her 1st lap.

I was very happy with my result, one I could not have achieved without the International experience I gained during the year, my sponsors and the amazing support and guidance from my coach.

It was great to spend the next day relaxing after 5 tough but amazing weeks of European racing. Sara and I hit the trails on Ben Nevis (the mountain we raced on) trying to avoid the uphills as much as possible and then joined the rest of the SA team to watch and support our downhill riders.

After a night of celebrating it was time to return to a sunnier SA to rest and prepare for my next race the Karoo to Coast Drifter.

Cheers till then...

Yolande

Yolande Speedy - Report from the World Champ

Hello to Everyone,

We arrived in Scotland the Monday before the World MTB XC Champs in Fort William and I spent an overcast, wet end to the week practicing the course, preparing myself mentally for the challenge ahead and making much needed repairs and replacements to my poor Mongoose which had taken some serious strain in the last few weeks of training and racing in Europe.
SA was definitely one of the most spirited teams at Worlds and I was proud to be a part of the team! Brian Strauss and all those involved in the teams plans and arrangements going forward to Worlds did an excellent job, everything ran very smoothly which especially considering the size of our team was a great achievement. Thanks to all involved and to Rob Cunnington, our team mechanic who did an excellent job taking care of the teams bikes and giving me the all important peace of mind that come race day my racing machine would be 100% ready.

The 7.9km course was really well prepared for wet weather with the majority of it covered with building sand and only a few really muddy sections thrown in for good measure. With 277m of climbing, a long slalom like downhill and an uphill drag with a short steep climb to the finish it was a tough course but not nearly as technical as the World Cup courses I have ridden this year.

It was another cool, overcast morning that welcomed us to the start of Worlds. With an hour to go to the start I went and started my warm up and arrived at the start line ready to give everything. Having earned precious UCI points during the year from both National and International events definitely helped us with our start positions. I was seeded 31st, Amy 34th (which put us in the 4th row), Tania 49th and Sara 58th, a big improvement from last year where we started right at the back of the bunch.

The start was fast but not as hectic as I had expected, we started on a fairly long broken climb and got caught in a 'traffic jam' on the first single track uphill. We soon got going again and I pushed hard on the next open dirt road section before the last technical climb and long downhill as I knew it would be very difficult to pass during these. I sat patiently behind the slower technical riders ahead of me on the downhill (I have learnt to do this after crashing in my 1st World Cup race trying too hard to pass a slower rider) taking advantage of any opportunity to pass, unfortunately there were not many and it was pretty frustrating!

I tried to push my pace as hard as I could on the climbs in my second lap passing a few riders and having a relatively clean run on the downhill. On my 3rd lap I lost a few places on the uphill and again got stuck behind a slow technical rider in the downhill loosing precious time. Going over a tricky rocky section she took a wide right line and I quickly cut in to the left passing her and soon had a decent gap. I caught and passed a group of 4 riders on the last uphill drag and pushed hard to keep my advantage on them.

Going into my last lap I was able to keep a consistent pace and caught 2 riders that were obviously starting to feel the effects of the tough course.
Reaching the last steep climb there was a lady just ahead of me, giving it everything I had left to try catch her I unfortunately pushed it a little too hard on the last corner and my front wheel washed out. After quickly paying my respects to the ground I jumped back on my bike and crossed the finish line in 31st place 10:46 behind the leader. Amy, Tania and Sara all had a good race finishing 44th, 53rd and 60th respectively, Tania unfortunately having cut her knee quite badly in her 1st lap.

I was very happy with my result, one I could not have achieved without the International experience I gained during the year, my sponsors and the amazing support and guidance from my coach.

It was great to spend the next day relaxing after 5 tough but amazing weeks of European racing. Sara and I hit the trails on Ben Nevis (the mountain we raced on) trying to avoid the uphills as much as possible and then joined the rest of the SA team to watch and support our downhill riders.

After a night of celebrating it was time to return to a sunnier SA to rest and prepare for my next race the Karoo to Coast Drifter.

Cheers till then...

Yolande

Sunday Training 16-09-07

On sunday we trained on a second hand road bikes as to get more power in your legs is good to alternate training between mountain bike and road bike. We joined the dome to dome race circuit for 60 km's and it was great fun. It was only 2:30 hours training but today we can feel it in our legs, they feel a bit tired due to the difference in the riding style.

This week is again not to hard in anticipation for next week where we are ought to do more thatn 20 hours training. I will keep you updated

cheers

Joaquin

South African Lady in the Tour de France! Well Done!

News from Yolandi at the ladies Tour de France

by YOLANDI DU TOIT

Posted on 10 September 2007 www.supercycling.co.za

It was an indescribable feeling to be one of the girls standing on the line to start the Woman’s Tour de France. It was a mixture of excitement, stress and adrenalin all together. The organisation of the tour was also really great; you knew every small detail about the stage, the events of the day, literally everything.

It was an 8day tour with 9stages. Mostly the stages were around 130km except for the one 160km stage and we also had a 100km race one day in the morning and then a 22km Time trail in the afternoon. My first 2 stages went well. I finished in the group. Here it works different than back home. If you drop out of the front bunch you get pulled out of the race. That way the can control the race and traffic better. Because every day we road from one town to the next.

The 3rd stage wasn’t so good for me, 30km into the race there were a cobble section on the road exactly in the middle where the white line normally is. The bunch reacted well and split into two passing it on both sides. It was 500m long. Except for this one girl, I am still trying to figure out what she was trying to do. But all I can remember was seeing her and her bike coming across to my side, straight into me. So I went down with her. I tried to get back on my bike as soon as possible but it was quite difficult because everything was shaking. I think it was because it was my first real bad crash and you have the doctor spraying you and patching you with stuff and your mechanic changing your bike and looking for your water bottles and me just wanting to jump back on to continue. I got back after chasing for 20km with my whole bum on the one side sticking out I was actually half naked, but didn’t care I just wanted to finish. It’s actually funny now when I think back about the whole incident. I was even shouting at the doctor because he didn’t want to leave me alone only to find out after the race he only understands French. No wonder he didn’t listen!

The 4th stage my mind was only set to push through the soreness of my crash and finish. And I succeeded. The 5th stage I got my motivation back, my bum and everything felt loads better, but unfortunately that feeling didn’t last long. It was a rainy day and a few of us took the corner too fast and I crashed again on the same side. When I picked my bike up from the ground my only thought was that this can’t be happening to me. It took me so long to get back into the group because my motivation was zero. Just to go through all the pain again just wanting to finish.

Stage 6 was long, 160km. It was the hardest stage and I knew if I can finish it, I will be able to finish the tour. I was so happy that day when I road over the line. My knee started hurting during the race but I thought it would be fine again the next day.

On that stage I also experienced a really funny part of woman’s cycling, 80km into the race they said over the radio that the race is being neutralised because the girls want to go for a toilet break. I thought they were joking at first, but the next moment half of the peleton turned off straight into the bushes. 5min later when everyone was back in the group. They started racing again. It was really funny.

On the 7th stage, I rolled up to the line and I could feel my knee wasn’t 100%. But I wanted to finish so badly, it was the 2nd last day. I started, but my knee just couldn’t bend probably it caused a lot of pain trying to do so. I went back to my team car and my manager said I must stop; there was no point in trying to finish and end my season after this tour. So I pulled out. I burst into tears when I got into the team car, my heart really wanted to finish that tour. But I know that I did try my best. That’s the most important for me at the end of the day.

14th September 2007

Todays training was again gentle, 3 hours ride on the mtb. 50% of it was on dirt and the rest yet again around the cradle of humankind. Tomorrow rest and sunday we are meeting with Grand and Stuart at Northern farms to get some mud into our noblies. Below a very interesting article on bike cleaning!

Wash your bike - no fuss

Mike Naperlusky has been a full-time mechanic for the Volvo/Cannondale team for four years. His role is to prep both the cross-country and downhill rigs for such world-class athletes. In other words, he knows a thing a two about how to apply tender loving care to dirtied-up mountain bikes. We chased Naperlusky down at the World Championships in Vail to get his best tips on how to get your mountain bike clean-using water. Before Washing. "The best part of my day is when I get to wash a bike. It's my private time with the bike when I'm able to inspect it closely. Before I wash a bike, I apply Pedro's Bio-Degreaser or Clean Green on the chain. I avoid spraying any part of the bike with direct water pressure, and I always take extra precautions with the bike's electronics.

We use silicone around the water-bottle mounts to help prevent water from seeping into the frame. You can use soap and water, but I use Pedro's degreaser with the cross-country bikes. On DH bikes, I use straight water and Pro-Clean, which is a motorcycle cleanser that won't affect the disc-brake pads. We run carbon seatposts, so that's the first part of the bike I wash. That way, when I put the bike in the bike stand, it won't get scratched."

Brush Gently. "I use a sponge to wash down the frame, but the dirtier parts of the bike definitely need a brush-especially if you want to do the job right. My personal favorite is the Pedro's Big Brush. I use two brushes on the wheels: one for the chain and cogs and one for the rims and hubs. If you're running fork boots, it's a good idea to squeeze them to eject any water that might be inside." The Finishing Touches. "Lastly, make sure you dry the whole bike off-don't let it sit wet. I wipe the bike down right after I clean it with a clean, dry cloth, and then always lube the chain. I never bother lubing the cables because we replace them every two weeks. I've been washing bikes with water for years and I've never had a problem. Remember, a clean bike is the first step to having a well-maintained bike." For more useful tips on looking after your bike and to improve your cycling, visit our newly revamped website, http://www.bicycling.co.za/

13th September 2007

Today's training was very gentle, 2:40 minutes on the tarred road around the cradle of humankind, heart rate average of 123bpm, 19,2 km/h average speed and a total of 50,74km. This is a build up for the hard week ahead of us in two weeks time.

My Legs felt great all the time and I did a bit of power training on the climbs using a strong gear.

MAZDA HAENERTSBURG 82 KM MARATHON

As part of our training we took part at one of the Mazda Series race at Haenertsburg, 82 km of gruelling climbs in a very hot an dry conditions. I didn't do to badly considering that it was my first Marathon ever, it took me 5:30 hours in total.

SWANEPOEL WINS MAZDA HAENERTSBURG AND LEADS MAZDA SERIES

Melt Swanepoel lived up to his pre-race favourite status and charged to a dominant victory at the Mazda Haenertsburg Mountain Bike Challenge at the weekend, earning himself maximum points and becoming the new leader in the prestigious Mazda Series.
Hard Climb Drops Max KnoxThe Raleigh MTN Energade rider was on top form in the hot, dry conditions as he used the arduous 9km climb up the Wolkberg, half way through the race, to eliminate his main rivals before charging on alone to finish the tough 81km event in 03 hours 21 minutes and 03 seconds.Brandon Stewart (Raleigh MTN Energade) shrugged off the effects of illness, some mechanical problems and a spirited challenge from Max Knox (Adidas William Simpson Trek) and Francois Theron (Mazda Merida) to secure the distant runner-up place in 3:29:34.'Brandon and I knew we had to take the racing to the others so we went hard up the first climb and only Max was with us at the top. Then we set a steady pace until the big climb and Brandon saw Max was suffering so he surged. We dropped Max and I then went through and kept the pace high, getting away from Brandon in the process,' explained Swanepoel.

Week 5 into the training

we are in week 5 of our training, this week is an easy one, only 11 hours of riding at a moderate tempo. In two weeks time we start training hard again.

This time we spent a weekend at Graskop and Sabie, very good climbs and beautiful scenery.