Top SA teams on way
The Herald Continental Cycle Tour a big national attraction
ALL eyes will be on the professional teams as their riders go head to head in fierce competition on the road and trails in next year’s The Herald Continental Cycle Tour.
A force to be reckoned with is Team Giant. They have a new weapon in Rohan du Plooy, who has been signed up for next season.
He is a multiple race winner, the current Western Province road champion and he took home the sprinter’s jersey at this year’s Tour of Maurice.
“Rohan will elevate our team on a regional and national level,” Team Giant manager Hannes van der Walt said.
“We also have Bernard Esterhuizen, who is a 2010 world champion on the track in the 1km time trial discipline.
“Bernard just won the Stellenbosch Cycle Tour and the national madison team champion with Evan Carstens.”
Esterhuizen is an Olympian, who competed at the 2010 Games in London.
Commonwealth Games cyclist Carstens was also someone to watch out for, Van der Walt said.
“They are our two main sprinters.”
The team’s goal for next year is to be competitive at the top races in the country, such as the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge and both the national road and track champs.
The Herald Continental Cycle Tour is one of them.
“I think we have a real good chance,” Van der Walt said. “We have the riders to beat Nolan Hoffman [Team Telkom] in the sprint and we have cyclists who can ride the breaks.”
Bestmed ASG women’s team manager Steven Sergeant believes a high podium spot is realistic for them.
“The Bestmed ASG team have undergone a change from the previous years as some members left and new riders have joined,” Sergeant said.
“One of them is the 2016 national champion, 2016 Argus winner and Olympian An-Li Kachelhoffer,” Sergeant said.
“She will obviously be someone to be considered for a podium spot.
“An-Li is also part of a European team and she does a part of the UCI calendar, so she has an enormous amount of experience, which she can bring over to the Bestmed ASG team,” he said.
Another big threat will be Team Telkom, who have top riders such as defending champion Hoffman and Reynard Butler – the team’s sprinters.
Hoffman has been around for a long time, team manager Magnus Gouws said, and as a result, had to be one of South Africa’s most experienced cyclists.
“We have a well-balanced team, where every rider knows his place and job.
“Riders like former Argus winner Clint Hendriks will be a threat, as well as Willie Smit.
“We have also signed some new guns for next year.”
Thule Sport & Cargo SA are looking forward to being involved with the Eastern Cape’s largest cycling event and they are excited about their partnership and involvement with The Herald Continental Cycle Tour.
Thule, as a brand, has partnered and supported many South African cycle races and they are happy to see the growth in the sport.
Thule marketing manager Jamie Owen said: “Our products help cyclists get their bikes to their destination safely and simply. Seeing bikes on the road shows us that South Africans are getting out there, being active and embracing the beautiful surroundings.”
ý To enter for The Herald Continental Cycle Tour, go to www.heraldcycletour.co.za
Queries can be directed to the race office at (041) 504-7911, or by e-mail at heraldcycletour@timesmedia.co.za
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