Isuzu Three Towers - Race Report by Max Knox

After five long years away for various other commitments it was finally time for me to ride the Isuzu Three Towers stage race.

In the short period I have missed the race, the event has grown so immensely. Mankele is one of the more famous mountain bike parks, I wont go into detail but basically three solid days of racing lay ahead of us around the mountains.

It was fantastic to have every pro rider on the line this year and guys all looked fantastic in their build up for the pioneer. To have such a quality field racing is so inspirational and it really gets the school kids fired up to race seeing there heroes in action. So to have such a quality field was a real honour for Mpumulanga

Naeem from Valencia very generously sponsored both Kevin and myself so we could race the event. With out his backing and help we would not have been able to do it. A huge thanks for that Naeem and Valencia. I am sure many of you racing saw the wonderful hospitality at the Valencia gazebo.

Having had a four day stint in hospital recently with the fantastic Malaria virus I knew I was in for a real suffer fest. After racing the event twice and winning all the stages I just had ambitions of being in the top 10 this time around..

Kevin was in fantastic shape and he ripped the bunch to pieces up the first hill where a small mushroom cloud occurred in my head and from there on out it was just survive for me. Thanks to Kev for nursing me for the next three days, it means a lot to me. I could not ask for a better partner. I thoroughly enjoyed the remainder of the tour, and just the perfect way for me to end my season and continue on the road to good health.

I wish I could report a little more action from the front but sadly the lead group disappeared early daily and i cant give you a report on that end of the racing but Im sure the racing was of an absolute top class. Congrats to all finishers and trophy winners.

To Mark and Geoff thanks for putting on such a wonderful show. Naeem, once again thank you my friend for the support with bikes equipment and entry. Having your support made it all possible..

Happy trails to all and good luck to all RSA riders doing the Pioneer Trek. I will be holding thumbs for you all.

Cheers

Max  

                                     

Spur Schools Finals Ends in Victory. - Race Report by Monique Swart

With low temperatures and a cloudy day, with some drizzles here and there, I started getting ready for the finals.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6...........(the whistle goes). And off we went. I started pedalling as hard as I could to open a gap for myself. Without knowing, the second girl was just a few metres behind me. With barely a kilometre into the race, we came to one of the most exciting parts of track: a small downhill with bumps where I could bunny-hop over with speed. Now that was fun! After the bumps, some single track and through a small gate, we started climbing. I looked over my shoulder and saw her. With just a boy dividing myself from her, I started speeding up my pace just a notch. And so we rode for a whole lap.

When we came for our second lap, people were starting to turn up their voices. My Dad, who was standing there was ready to give me my nutrition for what I needed for a lap. The 2nd girl also started to turn up the heat. She rode a bit faster and she was finally on my back tyre, we rode like that, for a whole second lap. We came on to the rugby field, over the bridge with a small drop, which was also fun, through a small single track and again onto the field, for our last and final lap.

This last lap was crucial. People were waiting anxiously, as we disappeared into the far side of the track. So many things flashed through my mind. Am I going to make it till the end? Will I be able to keep my pace strong? And I just told myself not to give up and just grid my teeth together, keep my pedals rolling and don’t look back.

The moment of truth arrived, as we rode for the last time over the bridge and through the small single track. As I exited the single track, with the 2nd girl so close on my wheel, I started speeding up my pace. We were coming onto the field, for the very last few metres, everybody that knew me and the girl, started shouting as loud as they could and I started sprinting as hard as I could.  With only so little to go, we came around the turn and I knew I won. With throwing my hands into the air and screaming of joy, I took the overall lead for the school’s series. I won the race with just a second. I sat down, still not believing that it was so close, my sister came running and hugged me. I couldn’t have done it without all the support I got from my friends, my dad, my sister, some of the Lydenburg High School team, Barry the mechanic, Naeem who was standing next to the one bridge and cheered me and every other Valencia cyclist on. Some people told me that it was a nerve wrecking race for them seeing me and the 2nd girl so close, but the race for me was the best experience I had ever had. With having such a close race, I could see how strong I actually was and how well I handled all the pressure.

I will be representing my school and Mpumalanga at the SA’s in Magaliesburg from the 4th-5th of October.

Valencia Cleans up in Round 2 of the Spur Schools XCO Series

Last weekend, the 3rd round of the XCO Spur School Series took place at Curro College. With the first rains of the Lowveld pending, it was overcast and intermittently drizzly. This did not deter the 300 eager participants. All age categories were well represented and thanks to Derek Putter, the course at Curro was prepared for a stellar day of racing.

The Junior Men’s race was close and exciting; Franco Pelser from Rob Ferreira High pulled a gap on his fellow Valencia teammates: Ryan Clarke (Uplands), Damon Halderman (Hoërskool Bergvlam) and Martin Oosthuizen (Hoërskool Bergvlam) in the second lap. He increased the gap with each lap taking the overall win by 2 minutes. The chasing duo of Ryan Clarke and Damon Halderman finished in an exciting sprint finish, Clark took the win by a split second.

The talented, up and coming Valencia rider, Ryan Terry from Uplands, won the Sub Junior boys race by a notable 4 minutes!

Mandie Swart (Hoërskool Nelspruit) took the win in the Junior Ladies race with Valencia teammate Tyneale Terry of Uplands in 2^nd and Leigh Torre in 3^rd

The Sub Junior girls race was dominated by Valencia’s Monique Swart (Hoërskool Nelspruit) with Kyla Hamer and Stephanie Fritz in 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

Liam de Klerk (Penryn) and Andreas Kuhn (Uplands) shared gold after a riveting photo sprint finish.

The standard of racing was very impressive in this tough Olympic discipline of mountain biking.

The final race of the series will be held on the 13^th of September at Mankele Bike Park.

Press Release: The Wildevy MTB Challenge

Last Saturday the Wildevy MTB race was held in the small town of Burgersfort for the second year running. Race organisers and owners of Kusile guest house Pieter and Driekie Heyns’ hard work payed off as participants raved about the quality of the riding and vibe of the race. “It is very special and definitely worth your while to go there any weekend, get permission and do them over and over and over… It is clear that the organisers went to a lot of trouble to make it a special event with a big marquis tent to rest our weary limbs. A face cloth to wipe the dust from my face at the finish line is quite original. The food tent that had a stream of “boeries” and pancakes coming the riders way, did a very good job. [Pieter and Driekie] ensured that riders enjoyed great single track and with 300 entrants, it is growing in popularity.” Jan Delport.

In the 35km half marathon, a quartet made up of Franco Pelser, Moima Blessing, Martin Oosthuizen and Reyno Beukes finished within seconds of each other, 8 minutes ahead of the closest contender. Pelser, Oosthuizen and Beukes, all of Team Valencia worked well as a team to maintain the gap on their rivals. In the ladies race, Mandie Swart showed great form by taking the overall win. Tyneale Terry took 9^th overall and 2^nd Junior behind Valencia teammate Mandie Swart.

In the 70km Marathon ladies race, Valencia’s Samantha Sanders came 2^nd to Yolandi Du Toit by a few minutes. Both ladies, who raced in the Marathon World Champs held in Pietermaritzburg a month ago, showed their class coming 9^th and 11^th in the field and beating their nearest competition by just under an hour.

Sanders experimented with the “in between” wheel size, riding her teammate Amy McDougall’s Scott Scale 650B “It is plenty faster out of the corners with a smaller wheel to turn and climbing is definitely easier. The 29er does however out run it on the long flats & of course it rolls over anything!” Says Sanders

In the 20km race, Ryan Terry won the race overall in an impressive time of 46:59, 6 minutes ahead of second place. Monique Swart took gold in the Sub Junior category.

The men’s race finished in a sprint between Lowveld Locals: Nico Bell and Max Knox with Ben-Melt Swannepoel of Heidelberg rounding up the podium.

Drieke and Pieter Heyns will definitely be hosting the Wildevy next year and expect an even bigger field of riders from across the country.

Wildevy MTB - Race Report by Samantha Sanders

Burgersfort in Limpopo is a town better known for its Platinum mines & surrounding farm regions. Why then did the V team find themselves in the area on 26 July? Well, this past weekend was the annual Clemen Gold Wildevy MTB Race. A relatively new race with its first event being held in 2012. The race takes place in the Watervalsrivier pass between Lydenburg and Burgersfort on the northern edge of Mpumalanga. What makes the race quite unique is the terrain. It is part bushveld, part subtropical. At times you find yourself winding along bushveld single tracks in between Acacia trees and the next along a river with magnificent Wild Fig trees shading you from the Lowveld sun. 

The route, in a single word, is FUN. With very little climbing and a fair amount of lekker single track, the race is a social riders dream. From the trails, it is very evident that the organisers put particular effort and care into the race and the trails. The single track was smooth and very flowing. The event was well organised, well marked & the vibe was light-hearted. With our very own Driekie & Pieter Heyns involved with the organisation, one can tell that they have attended a number of events and taken notes! They have catered this event around the rider and what we love! Good organisation, fun course, decent prizes for our efforts as well as a free bike wash!!

Kusile Guest House (owned by Driekie & Pieter Heyns) was the luxurious host to all riders registering for the race and they also offered discounted rates to all cyclists participating in the event! On arrival I was met by many familiar faces. There were enough local Pros present to make the race a Provincial Championship. Even the adopted Lowvelders, Benmelt Swanepoel & Yolandi Du Toit had arrived for the event. After a swift registration we sat down to dinner at the Guest House which, needless to say, was delicious.

The race started at a very reasonable 8am. There were 3 distances: 70km, 35km and 20km. This was a maiden voyage for me on a 650B Scott Scale. Yolandi and I were all smiles and banter in the start chute, and I myself was looking forward to a little more of a chilled ride. However, from the start it was clear that it was full on racing as normal with Landi pushing the pace hard. In the end, she beat me to the finish line with her frenetic cadence on the long flats and no epic downhills for me to take advantage of. 

The 650B was a super awesome ride. The most obvious difference between it and the 29er is its agility and super responsiveness. For someone of my stature it is a lot more nimble than the larger 29er. It is plenty faster out of the corners with a smaller wheel to turn and climbing is definitely easier. The 29er does however out run it on the long flats & of course it rolls over anything! Although I had a fat jol riding the bike, I would not say I am converted. I think that both have their application and their advantages and disadvantages.

In the end, the race was won by RECM rider Nico Bell, Max Knox 2^nd & Benmelt Swanepoel rounded off the podium. In the Woman’s overall Yolandi Du Toit was queen bee, myself 2^nd and Santie Van der Westhuizen crossed the line for 3^rd.

The half Marathon was totally dominated by the Valencia Juniors.

Ryan Terry was a cool 7 minutes ahead of his closest completion in the sub junior boys. And we had a V team 1/2 in both the junior boys and girl’s category with Mandy Swart 1^st & Tyneale Terry 2^nd in the girls. Franco Pelser and Martin Oosthuizen took 1^st and 2^nd in junior men and Reyno Buekes just missing podium to come 4^th. Even our Coach, Bosseau Boshoff enjoyed a day out on his MTB and finished 4^th in his age category- not bad for a Roadie! Big Mike Terry cruised home into 6^th position.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day out with friends in support of local racing.

The V team would like to thank our sponsor, Valencia Cycles for their ongoing support in the activity we love most- Racing Bicycles! Also a massive thank you to Kusile Guest House, Driekie & Pieter for their hospitality. And personally to all my sponsors: Valencia, Adidas Eyewear, Powerbar & Continental - THANKS!

SA XCO Champs 2014 - Race Report by Samantha Sanders

Saturday 19 July was the date set for the SA XCO Champs showdown. Thaba Trails in Alberton JHB was the host for the event and the venue was a hive of activity all week with riders popping in to to practice the course. 

The event, and particularly the course, had been a hot topic preceding the race with the rumor-mill churning out stories about the difficulty of the course. 

I was fortunate enough to get to ride the course a few weeks back and also to practice it for a few days before the race. It was definitely a worthy SA Champs course with plenty of climbing and plenty of rocks, drops and more rocks to test the technical skills of each competitor.

I found it to be a very fun course but I am good on the brakes and so riding rocky & sandy trails doesn't phase me. The course did however prove too much for many riders with some spectacular falls and even tears.

My race lasted a whole of 2.5km. The start sprint was intense and I knew I wanted to be first into the single track because I wanted to have a clear line over the gap jump and through the rock garden. This much of the race went very smoothly for me. But a sidewall cut to my tire after the first climb ended it all very abruptly. I bombed it to no avail. By the time I had got back to the tech zone I had lost too much time. My Tech team put in a new wheel and I went back out and just enjoyed the fun course. The title was claimed by Mariske Strauss and in the men's race Rourke Croeser clinched the win convincingly.

Full results here: http://www.cyclingsa.com/App_Resources/Uploads/FILE00003842.pdf

Losing out on a chance to compete is not easy and I was bitterly disappointed. A lot of hard work and preparations go into these events, not only by the riders themselves but also the team behind the riders. The sponsors, the coaches, parents and crew all come out to support us at these events so it is never pleasant when you cannot give them the result that you all came out to achieve. But, it is the nature of the sport we love, so on a positive note, I am super Proud to say that the V team is definitely on the up and coming. With the help and guidance of Bosseau Boshoff from Infinita Academy and the support of Valencia Cycles, our little team has become a well oiled machine. 

We had a kitted out set-up with Turbo trainers & rollers available to warm up on. A fully equipped toolbox and a feeding station for the riders. All these small amenties are what it takes to produce top results and I would like to thank all those involved in generating a professional and positive atmosphere for the team to thrive on. Most importantly Bosseau who gives his time endlessly to his athletes and the riders of the province in their pursuit of gold. Valencia Cycles not only supports the growth and development of the sport but also supports the individuals of the sport.

With the National XCO season wrapped up, my focus will now shift to a short rest and then you can look out for the V team dominating your local race scene and especially The Isuzu 3 Towers!

Peace Out. 

Sam

Race Report by Samantha Sanders: SA National XCO, PE

21 June was the final leg of the SA National XCO Series held at the Hayterdale Trails in Addo, PE. This was the course which hosted the SA XCO Champs last year, and it remained much the same but a switchback climb was added with some step drop-offs.

The elite Woman started at 11am; a late start but starting with the sunshine and the ground being heated up was definitely welcomed by all when racing in the middle of winter in the Eastern Cape!

The field was well represented and I was happy to see the likes of Candice Neethling & Cherie Vale on the start line. The National XCO Series this year has Cat 1 UCI points up for grab as well as UCI regulated prize money available; this was good incentive to race hard!

Nick Flores, the commissaire for the day, started our 6 laps of racing at 11am sharp. The whistle blew and I took the whole shot into the first corner. The first 300m or so of the lap through the start finish area was grassy and bumpy - not ideal for a sprint. I wanted to get into the single track first as the climb was followed by a technical decent into a drop-off. I knew many of the girls would ride the B line at the drop and I wanted to try open up a gap for myself before the next climb started. The climbs on this course are mostly single track making passing impossible. 

This is advantageous if you are in front because you can dictate the pace up, but if you are stuck behind a slower rider- it is frustrating and you will lose time.

I managed to execute my plan well but Cherie and Candice were breathing down my neck still as we went through the start finish together. By Lap 4 Cherie and I had pulled a gap on Candice. Cherie was attacking on the climbs and I decided to let her ride out front, I knew that we had 6 laps and she was not pulling away from me. We approached the Rock Garden on the course and Cherie was having trouble with it on the day so I made a flash decision to take the B line here to try get around her and through the section safely- this turned out to be a bad decision on my part and one which ruined my chances of a win. 

Going down the B line, I took a dive over my bars. This was the game-ender for me- I lost precious time straightening my bars and my derailleur was damaged in the incident. 

Candice caught me and passed while I struggled to get back into a rhythm. Both Cherie and Candy put the hammer down on lap 5 & 6 and I just hung in for 3^rd.

I was happy to still put myself on the podium and get my sponsors the exposure but exceptionally frustrated with the course of events. Lesson learned on the day: only ever take calculated risks!  The final standings of 

the series saw Ashleigh Moffat finish 1^st overall with Mariske Strauss 2^nd and myself 3^rd after only competed in 2 of the 4 events.

Full event results:

http://www.cyclingsa.com/App_Resources/Uploads/FILE00003767.pdf

Elite Woman:

1.      Cherie Vale 1:39:18

2.      Candice Neethling 1:39:49

3.      Samantha Sanders 1:40:47

Well done to my fellow competitors, especially Cherie and Candice, and CSA for a successful series. Valencia Cycles, Infinita, Powerbar, Continental tires and Adidas; my sponsors- THANX!

Next stop Pietermaritzburg where my teammate Amy & I will be tackling the Marathon World Champs.

Sanders Achieves Bronze at South African Marathon Champs

Last Sunday, the best mountain bike marathon racers from across the country descended upon Pietermaritzburg to compete in the pinnacle of this year’s national season: the SA Marathon Champs. The location was Cascades Mountain Bike Park, a world class XCO (Cross Country Olympic) destination for annual World Cup events as well as national XCO events.

Nick Flores, trail builder, famous for hairy rock gardens, top class obstacles and technical single track, didn’t fail to disappoint with the 50km, 71km and 94km routes rife with all of the above. All the descents were tricky and technical, and with 2400m of ascent in the marathon and 3000m in the Ultra, many described it as a “marathon distance XCO race”. In order to do well, one had to be a hard core mountain biker.

Samantha Sanders had a slow start, lying in 9^th place past the 1^st water-point. She worked her way through the field up to 3^rd behind Robyn de Groot and Candice Neethling. She maintained her position until the finish achieving a well-deserved bronze medal. Having had a rocky start to the year due to a broken thumb and massive “crater” in her elbow, Sanders is happy with her returning form. “I really enjoyed the course – it was definitely tough but it has a balance; testing endurance and skill. I tried to ride a ‘clever race’; being fast where I knew I could be fast and consistent on the climbs which worked out for me. I was stoked to take 3^rd and get Valencia on the podium.”

Amy McDougall was lying 10^th at the first water-point but unfortunately suffered a sidewall puncture shortly after; pushing her down to 25^th place. McDougall having lost valuable time, fought back finishing 5^th Elite by the end. “I was disappointed to have punctured, but that’s mountain biking! I loved the course; it was super tough but also a lot of fun. Although there is still work to do, I am feeling strong and looking forward to world Champs at the end of the month!”

In the 50km half marathon, Martin Oosthuizen and Ryan Clarke finished 51 seconds apart in 9^th and 10^th overall and 7^th and 8^th in the Junior Men’s category. Mandie Swart finished 11^th overall and 7^th Junior. Friends, Franco Pelser and Reyno Beukes also finished with a commendable top 20. Great achievements all round.

The race on Sunday was used as a preliminary race for the World Champs at the end of the month, thus the course will be similar if not identical to SA Champs. As anticipation is mounting, local riders now have a good idea of what to expect for Worlds. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a tough battle!

SA Marathon Champs - Race Report by Samantha Sanders

Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg hosted the prestigious South African Marathon Championship this past weekend. This same venue will host the World Marathon Champs 27-29 June.

The South African Marathon National Champ, a title held and successfully defended by Robyn de Groot, was what each rider was there to compete for. The race is open to any rider but competitors are either Elite category or age groupers; all Pros compete in the Elite age category.

The course started and finished at the Cascades Bike Park, an area which I am familiar with, not for marathon racing but rather for the World Cup XCO course built there. I was relatively skeptical about having a Marathon race in and around Pietermaritzburg but that skepticism was quickly laid to rest. It is definitely a world class marathon course with a substantial amount of climbing and a good number of technical sections. It tests both your riding ability & skill, concentration and endurance.

I planned my race around the climbing, I knew that nutrition and hydration in the first half would make or break your race. The first 14km of the course was difficult, the climbing was steep and more or less continuous with a few little technical sections in between. The race started fast and hard with Robin de Groot pushing the pace from the front up the climbs. I knew that she would push the tempo here to compensate on her slower riding through the technical sections, but I also knew that there was still plenty of climbing to come so I found a good tempo which I could sustain. Through water point 1 myself and team mate Amy McD were still together and sitting in the bottom of the top ten. 

Amy unluckily suffered a sidewall and had to stop & repair. By the top of the steepest climb and at water point 2 I was part of a trio with Yolandie Du Toit (Garmin) & Leana De Jager (Sasol Racing) I knew there was a descent to follow and I put down the hammer here knowing I was the faster technical rider. I managed to drop the girls and had a lonely ride until we dropped into some wicked single track and descended before the last climb out. Here i caught Yolande De Villiers (Sasol Racing) and another rider who were both polite enough to give me track after a few seconds of pressure from behind. De Villiers worked hard to catch me and sat my wheel for a while when we started back up again. 

The short, punchy switchback climbs and technical riding that followed allowed me to use my XCO skills to power away from her. From there on I focused on getting through all the technical sections as fast as I possibly could. I knew Jeanie Bomford was still ahead of me but I had no idea how far. In my mind there was still hope for a podium finish and so I just continued pushing hard. 

Luckily so, because through the last water point I spotted Jeanie. At that point I knew that I had caught her so I just maintained my tempo up the climb to close the gap and passed. Once I had caught her it was pretty much jubilation and a 10km stretch home.

A podium at SA Champs coming back from an injury was most welcomed and I was elated to finish 3rd. I was also happy to again put Valencia on the podium next to Candice Neethling (Velo Life) and Robyn de Groot. 

Of course results like this are never through the work of the rider alone- Thanks to my team at Valencia & Valencia Cycles for your ongoing support, my coach Bosseau Boshoff (Infinita Training Academy) who always goes the extra mile. And also Continental Tires for keeping me rubber side down & ADIDAS Eyewear.

Giant Trance 650B - Bike Review by Justin Victor

Giant Trance 27.5 (small)

140mm suspension travel, with the use of a 4 bar maestro linkage system.

Fox R 140mm with 15mm QR (tapered) 3 way setting (climb/trail/downhill).

Fox float rear shock.

SLX 2x10 shadow derailer with MRP Chainguide.

Giant wheels/handlebar/stem etc

Shwalbe nobby nic tyres.

Giant dropper post (This is my only upgrade on this bike and it's a necessity).

Rating: 8/10 (set up for Enduro) 

Pros: 

It handles like a downhill bike, it grips the ground around turns and flows like it was made for dirt jumping. The suspension ate everything I threw at it and couldn't get myself to go anywhere near its limit, felt like it was always willing to lean more, drop bigger drops, gap further jumps... I chickened out way before the bike did. Dropper post is a must!

Cons: 

Its not an XC bike, its heavy and takes an effort to get up hills. short kicks are fine (XCO), but after a bit of a longer climb, you start to notice the slight bob of the suspension. (setup for ENDURO). Small frame means no space for a big bottle and a side cage is the only way for a small 500ml bottle escape the frame, which means hydration packs are needed for longer rides.

The guys and girls that buy a bike like this will realize that it will be more comfortable over the half marathons if set up correctly. It is an amazing bike to get onto and go out and explore new trails on. If I was only allowed 1 bike I'd chose this one, it really impressed me with how easy it was to set up, the dropper post made me more comfortable going into technical sections and jumps and most importantly, I can honestly ride this bike all day and not get bored, which is what trail riding is all about.

The Test

Venues: 

Mankele XCO track.

York Enduro/DH course Sabie.

So that pretty much put this bike through its paces. 

Mankele: rocky, wooden jumps, pretty tight sections. 

The first day I got hold of the new steed I literally pumped the shocks up to my desired pressures, set the saddle height, and took our Junior Team to Mankele for a technical training session on the XCO track. This is the first time I'd ridden the 650B wheel size and after the first couple of turns I realised that this bike can corner! I opted for a smaller size and the bike is nice and compact, it is a bit on the weighty side but once on top of the climb I got to test out the dropper post (a necessary tool for an endure bike, allowing the rider to move over the bike more freely without the concern of a saddle that’s too high, throwing you onto your face in the single track or worse... in front of a group of girls.) 

Mankele is nice to test a bike because it's pretty rough riding there with all the rocks, man-made wooden drops and gaps, which makes it an ideal testing area. The bike did better than I could've hoped; the suspension locks out and the bike doesn't 'bob' as much as it looks like it should, having 140mm Fox fork and 140mm rear wheel travel, but having said that, you do have to carry this extra weight up the steep long climbs which can be a bit tiring coming off a sub 10KG hard tail. I am really lucky to have Juniors to ride with to make sure I also push on the descent and see what I'm capable of. After having a lot of fun on the new wooden gap, our young gun Martin Ooshuizen decided that he didn't like the local plant life, and proceeded to try uproot a whole tree using only his head! It was then time to leave the XCO course.

Sabie York Adventure Trails: a li'l bit of MTB Heaven: fast flowing single track, roots, rocks, JUMPS!!!

The very next day I convinced my old man to come and ride the Sabie trails and I knew immediately that this is where the Giant Trance would be at home. Jakes met us at the bottom of the course and we needed to ride all the way up to the top of the downhill, an easy feat that I've done numerous times... But the Giant weighs about 14.5 kg and takes a bit of getting used to on the ups (the set up is very relaxed, well how I've set it up) so I can smash some single track and be more comfortable in the air. So, needless to say, I had a tough time keeping Jakes' pace going up the hill. After 30 min of nonstop climbing we had reached the summit of what felt like Everest. It must be mentioned that I will do 95% of my MTB training on this bike because it's a bit heavier, it builds confidence and it's so incredibly fun to ride!!!

The true test. York Enduro track. 1st Run, I didn't hold back on this one.

This course has it all: berms almost all the way down, some fast pedaling sections, jagged rocks, slippery roots and most importantly 2 big table tops at the bottom (my personal favorite place to ride). 

I can honestly say that this bike performed better than the downhill bikes we rode 10 years ago. it accelerates out of turns like fat kids to an ice cream truck! 

I cant wait for the York Enduro to see what my actual time down this course was. Having done a proper setup the night before, I was way more comfortable and feeling confident. I did all the rock jumps without hesitation (that's trust in equipment) the 140mm travel soaked up EVERYTHING! I rode the bottom section of the track where the 2 table top jumps are for over an hour just having fun and playing around (forgoting that I was in full Lycra... goodbye enduro street cred...). At the end of the session I was truly disappointed to have to pack up and go home. 

Thanks for taking the time to read this review. I hope you enjoyed it. 

Yours truly

Justin Victor

Hugely Successful Weekend at the Annual Uplands Festival

Last weekend the much anticipated annual Uplands Festival took place at Uplands College just outside White River. With Valencia and Caltex as the title sponsor, Naeem Omar and team in conjunction with Neil Clarke, Brad Shuttleworth and team from Uplands College put together an extraordinarily organised and festive weekend. On Saturday the School’s XCO took place along with all the other school sports including hockey and rugby. Sunday was open to all with a mountain bike race: The 50km Classic, 19km Challenge and 5km Fun Ride.

Spur Schools Series XCO at Uplands

The competition was fierce between local rival schools: Uplands, Penryn, Curro, Rob Ferreira, Bergvlam, Nelspruit HS, Lydenburg HS, Southern Cross, Ermelo Primary, Bergland and Laerskool Laeveld.

On Saturday The Schools’ XCO race showed a strong contingent of Valencia riders. In the Junior Men’s race there was a complete Valencia Podiam and 7 riders in the top 10. Franco Pelser (Rob Ferreira), Martin Oosthuizen (Bergvlam) and Ryan Clarke (Uplands) stood on the top 3 steps with Christopher La Granger (Uplands), Ryno Beukes (Nelspruit HS), Damon Halderman (Bergvlam) and Joshua Birch (Uplands) all in the top 10.

The Junior Ladies’ race out of 10 riders had Mandie Swart (Nelspruit HS) in 1^st and Tyneale Terry (Uplands) 2^nd.

The Sub Junior Men’s category was competitive with 26 starters. Ryan Terry (Uplands) blitzed his competition by just less than 2 minutes.
Top step in the Sub Junior Ladies’ race went to Monique Swart (Nelspruit HS)

Of the Youth Men; by far the biggest contested with 40 riders on the start line, Murray James achieved bronze and showed incredible consistency in lap times with a difference of just 36 seconds between his fastest and slowest lap. Sarah McQueen (Penryn) and Kirsty Shuttleworth (Uplands) took gold and silver respectively in the Youth Female category.

Uplands Festival MTB Classic

On Sunday, cyclist from all over the Lowveld came to participate in the beautiful and enjoyable mountain bike race. The trails were in the best condition they have been in for the past four years, commented race director and organiser, Neil Clarke. The Courses offered a bit of everything, a decent amount of tough climbing that was rewarded by kilometres of fantastically maintained single track with beautiful views that only the Lowveld can offer. Good care was taken in marking the course with many helpful marshals along the way. The water points were a haven in the heat to many with enthusiastic people offering cold coke, water and eats to keep them going.

Valencia riders made their sponsor proud as the majority of them came to support the event with a strong contingent making it onto the podium.

In the 50km Classic, Samantha Sanders and Amy McDougall fought hard in pursuit of Dalene Van Der Leek. McDougall finished 2 minutes behind Van Der Leek in 2^nd and Sanders coming in 3^rd. “I thoroughly enjoyed the trails set out by Uplands college, it was hard and hot but the single track was super fun!” says McDougall.

Murray James, only 16 years old showed incredible form, coming 8^th overall and 3^rd youth behind fellow locals Liam de Klerk and Andreas Kuhn. The 3 youth boys finished ahead of all the juniors and were only 7-9 minutes behind winner Lourens Luus.

The Valencia juniors occupied the podium with Ryan Clarke, Christopher La Grange and Franco Pelser in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd respectively. 

Mandie Swart won the Junior ladies category.

Martin Oosthuizen, racing amongst the top riders for the first 30km snapped his frame and was unable to continue riding. Instead of throwing in the towel, he showed an incredible amount of determination and perseverance by running the last 20km in order to finish. The youngster’s fighting spirit will take him far in his cycling career, great things can be expected in the future from Oosthuizen.

In the 19km Challenge, Xolani Gininda finished 4^th overall and came 2^nd Junior, Monique Swart won the sub-junior ladies race. Up and coming talents Luk Mellart and Robert Ferreira were neck and neck in the Sprog’s race with Mellart beating Robert in a sprint.

The Uplands Festival had a fantastic festive vibe and was a great success.

Mankele XCO National. Race Report by Ryan Terry

On Saturday the 24th I rode the SA National XCO at Mankele. When I got there in the morning the nerves were tense, I went to the Valencia tent and met Bosseau Boshoff and we spoke race tactics. At 9:00 AM I went to the line and I was ready to race, there was a lot of competition for me to deal with! 

From the start a Cannondale rider sped off, I stayed with him for half of the first lap but then the pace just got a bit too high and I dropped off. The coarse was tough and there was a lot of technical pieces that I managed to do.I am happy with my 2nd place! 
Thanks to the support of Team Valencia, Bosseau Boshoff of Infinita Coaching, Justin Victor and Naeem Omar and all the supporters!  

National XCO - Mankele. Race Report by Sam Sanders

I was quite excited for the Mankele National after not having been in a XCO race since African Champs in February. The turn out was a little disappointing but we lined up with enthusiasm nonetheless. 

Mankele is a course that demands a lot from the legs and upper body something I feel suites my riding well. I went hard on the back straight to get into the single track first & managing to stretch my lead over each lap to finish with over 7mins to spare. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the guys at Mankele, as always, put together a well organised event. CSA has come to the party too! they have been awarding us handsomely with decent prize money at the XCO & DH Nationals this year. Definitely incentive to race hard!   

Huge Thank you to all involved and in particular my title sponsor Valencia and also Adidas & Continental. Infinita and Boss for the support. 

Valencia Podiums in National Cross Country and Marathon Events

Last weekend Saturday was a big day in national mountain biking with both a National XCO race held in Mankele and the 5^th leg of the National Marathon Series which took place in Rooiberg, North of Pretoria. Despite the clash of dates, Team Valencia represented well in both events.

In the Elite XCO race, Samantha Sanders was in her element, the course at Mankele suits her as it is highly technical; fast and fun if you have guts and skill.

The South African Champion showed her pedigree as she had pulled a 50 second gap on her competition in the first lap alone, extending it to 8 minutes after the 4 lap race. “Mankele is a course that demands a lot from the legs and upper body. Something I feel suits my riding well. The guys at Mankele as always put together a well organised event. CSA have been rewarding us handsomely with decent prize money. Definitely an incentive to work hard!”

Ryan Terry, one of Valencia’s youngest up and coming road cyclists showed diversity when he competed on the other end of the cycling spectrum coming second in a competitive Sub Junior category. “The course was tough with a lot of technical sections that I managed to do. I am happy with my second place!”

In the MTN National Marathon in Rooiberg, Amy Beth McDougall lined up next to some of the best marathon racers in the country. She finished in a solid 4^th overall and 2^nd in the Senior Ladies Category. “The race was hot, rocky and very physical both on the uphills and downhills. It was not my best race but I loved the challenging singletrack and finished strong despite a horrible start.”

Mandie Swart had an excellent race in the Half Marathon. She came 2^nd overall and won the Junior Ladies age category “I’m really glad to have taken 2^nd overall and 1^st Junior. It was really challenging but I loved the technical stuff!” Mandie’s younger sister Monique Swart raced in the 20km, coming 5^th overall and 4^th in the Sub Junior category.

Next up for Team Valencia is the Uplands Festival this weekend on home ground. Certain to be a fantastic day out for everyone in the Lowveld!

Valencia Riders Kick Das Auto Series off with a Bang

Last weekend the Das Auto MTB series kicked off with a record high of over 400 entries. The energy was palpable on the start line at Penryn College situated between Nelspruit and White River. The chill at the start was quickly forgotten as the pace went flat-out from the gun, riders raced to get a good position into the first single track after a mean little climb out of the school grounds.

Kilometres of new single track had recently been cut, offering riders loads of fun, challenging single track, bridges and tough climbs, keeping them on their toes for the entire 25km loop.

There were 3 hotly contested distances: 15km fun ride, 25km and 50km (2x25km laps). A strong contingent of Team Valencia riders represented in each.  In the Men’s 25km Team Valencia juniors took the top 2 spots as well as an exceptional 7 spots in the top 10 overall!

Top 10 results: 1st: Franco Pelser (Valencia) 2nd: Murray James (Valencia) 3^rd: Reghardt Wiehman 4th: Martin Oosthuizen (Valencia) 5^th: James Goosen, 6th Damon Halderman (Valencia), 7^th: Ryno Beukes (Valencia), 8^th: Demarco Pillay (Valencia), 9^th: Keegan Clarke (Valencia), and 10^th: Armand Lombard. The upcoming talent, 13 year old Ryan Terry also from Valencia finished 11^th overall and 1^st Sub Junior.

In the ladies 25km race, Mandie Swart of Valencia took the top spot overall and Tyneale Terry came 4^th overall and 2^nd Junior after Mandie.

In the 50km marathon, Valencia’s Samantha Sanders and Amy McDougall took the top 2 positions respectively in the ladies category.

The next showdown will take place on the 21^st of June, whether your goal is to win, beat that specific someone, improve on your previous time or just to have a fun day on your bike in the great outdoors we hope to see you there!

A big thanks to sponsors Volkswagen, SPAR, Halls, Doug’s Hiring, and fantastic hosts Penryn College for making the series possible.

The Valencia Team.