Details on the Route 66 MTB Ride in Johannesburg

With only a few days left before we close entries for The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Experience 2013, we thought we'd give you one last reminder that there are only a limited number of spots left for this year's event, so don't miss out. Enter NOW!
Entries close on Monday, 4th of February at 23h00 or when we reach a full field. No late entries will be accepted.
Read on for more information...
The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Experience is a challenging three-day MTB event starting on Friday 15th of February and finishing on Sunday the 17th of February 2013.

Starting at Monaghan Farm near Lanseria and finishing at Kloofzicht Lodge in The Cradle of Humankind, some three days later, this is the ride to do if you’ve committed to doing one or more of the big mountain biking events in 2013 - Epic, Joburg2C or Sani2C.

This must be part of your 2013 training programme.

In true Leverage Corporation fashion, this will be a ride where you will be challenged; it will be a ride which you will enjoy; and it will be a fantastic event which is well organised and run.

Following last year’s success, there will again be three races on offer, namely:
The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Experience – 3 day event
The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Weekend Experience – 2 day event
The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Mini Experience – 1 day event

Here’s what the route entails:

Day 1: An 80km “warm up” starting at Monaghan Farm and taking you through to Hartebeespoort to the Van Gaalen Cheese Farm.

Day 2: Ok, so now you’re warmed up, get ready for a tough and challenging 70km route kicking off from Van Gaalen. You’ll need to negotiate more than a couple of “men from the boys” climbs before reaching Maropeng in the Cradle of Humankind.

Day 3: Then get ready for the home strip with a final 60km burst from Maropeng to the luxurious 5 Star Kloofzicht Lodge.

210 km later - you’re now ready for that 5 star spoil. Kick back and enjoy a leisurely lunch, compliments of us, while you relax at the pool and soak up the views in the relaxing company of family and friends.

Got your interest? Good! So what’s included and what’s not.

What’s in:
Absolutely unbelievable riding – great single track, good technical challenges and stunning scenery
A professionally planned and managed route
Goodie Bag including race shirt (Race Cap for the full Bridgestone Route 66 riders)
Free Tog Bag transport from Start to Finish
Free Shuttle service from finish of each stage back to the start, compliments of Europcar
Showers at Maropeng and Kloofzicht
Good TLC all along the way
At each finish venue (Van Gaalen and Maropeng) a complimentary lunch consisting of a beef and/ or chicken burger and salads, plus a chill zone offering you a few of your favourite “cold one’s” and a nice place to relax and unwind after a hard day in the saddle
Free bike wash
Secure overnight storage for your bike at Van Gaalen and Maropeng
Sunday lunch at Kloofzicht - a 5 star affair supported by the obligatory beer tent
One of the best and most enjoyable warm ups you’re going to get – tick 210km off that training schedule

What’s out:
Just accommodation–you need to look after the logistics here and make your own accommodation arrangements.

Entries are limited to 500 riders, so best you enter soonest to avoid disappointment.

Costs and Entry links are as follows:
The Bridgestone Route 66 MTB Experience - CLICK HERE to enter
Solo Rider: R 1 500
Teams of Two: R 3 000

The Bridgestone Route 66 Weekend MTB Experience - CLICK HERE to enterr
Solo Rider: R 1 000

The Bridgestone Route 66 Mini MTB Experience - CLICK HERE to enter
Solo Rider: R 350

Or visit www.cyclelab.com to enter

For more information on this, please do visit www.route66mtb.co.za.

For information on these contact The Leverage Corporation.
Tel: 011 463 7730
Email: info@leveragecorporation.co.za

Drogba to move to Turkey

Turkish top side Galatasaray announced Monday they have signed Ivory Coast's veteran striker Didier Drogba on an 18-month contract.

"An agreement has been reached with Didier Yves Drogba of Shanghai Shenhua football team, starting from the second half of 2012-2013 season for a 1.5 year period," the club said on its website.

Drogba is to be paid 10 million euros ($13.5 million) for the 18-month period, the club announced, plus a bonus of 15,000 euros ($20,000) for each match played.

Drogba left Chelsea for China last year after helping the west London side to their first Champions League title.

Galatasaray, who are currently five points clear of Fenerbahce at the top of the Turkish league, have already made a major statement in the transfer window by landing Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan earlier this month.

Drogba is currently on international duty at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

Record entry looms for 40th aQuellé Midmar Mile

The last three aQuellé Midmar Mile seeding events - one of them in Bloemfontein and two in Johannesburg - produced record-setting entries, and the Midmar Mile itself is on course for a record field in its 40th year. "We've got a record entry now. We're not worried about entries anymore, we're worried we have too many entries," laughed event organiser Wayne Riddin on Friday.

For those that have not yet swum a seeding time or entered, late entries will still be taken at registration, which takes place at the Cascades Lifestyle Centre in Pietermaritzburg on the 6th, 7th and 8th of February. Thereafter entries will be taken at the dam, at an extra cost.

The list of entries received so far suggests that the battle for the men’s title could be one for the ages.

"In the men's race you've got Troyden [Prinsloo] and Chad [Ho], who you are normally expecting to race one another,” Riddin explained.  "They were first and second in 2012. Then you've got Sébastien Rouault, who is coming out from France. He used to train with Troyden when they were at Georgia University. Then you've got Myles Brown, who is probably considered to be the top South African challenger, and possibly also Mark Randall."

Rouault is a former European men's champion over 800m and 1 500m, so should be well suited to the distance, while Brown swam a very fast 7:59.12 to win the 800m title at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth earlier this month, holding off Australian Olympic 400m finalist Ryan Napoleon for the victory.

Randall, meanwhile, has recorded a good number of open water victories around the country in the build-up to the Midmar Mile. He has returned from the University of Alabama where he set freestyle records over 500m, 1 000m, and 1 650 yards. He also represented South Africa in the 1 500m at the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Although he is still concentrating on the pool, Randall is a dark horse that bears watching.

The women’s race is headlined by seven-time Midmar Mile champion Keri-Anne Payne, who is also a two-time world champion over 10km. American Ashley Twichell should battle Payne the whole way for the title, as she did in 2012, while Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu set the Fina/Arena World Cup Series on fire in the distance events and should certainly challenge for the honours.

South Africa’s talent in the women’s field comes from a younger generation of swimmers. Assessing the entry so far, Riddin said: "I think the international swimmers, like Keri-Anne Payne, will be a little bit above the competition level of our swimmers, although the World Youth champion is Michelle Weber, so she could be one of the top South Africans. Then we can't write off people like Rene Warnes, who is quite a tough competitor."

"Marlies Ross is a young up-and-coming swimmer, who has previously won the 13-and-under title at the Midmar Mile, and she's become really tall and she's jumping to a senior level quite quickly. Although she's quite young, she could threaten even Keri-Anne Payne and the other top swimmers."

There will be another Guinness World Record attempt at this year’s Midmar Mile. "We've already unofficially broken our own Guinness World Record for the world's largest open water swimming event," Riddin explained, "but with this being the 40th anniversary of the race, we're expecting a larger entry than normal to come through because there will be a special medal and cap. Some people come out and swim for those things, so I think it would be nice if we could go over the 14 000 finishers' mark, but even better if we hit the 15 000 for the first time."

The current record, as recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records, stands at 13 755 finishers.

The biggest highlight for Riddin will however be the participation of the Midmar Mile’s founder Mike “Buthy” Arbuthnot for the 40th consecutive time. He’s the only person to have achieved that milestone.

"Buthy’s participation is always going to be the special moment," Riddin reckoned. "We've been building up to this for a number of years. The question was how good would his health be as Buthy gets older.

"He's still fine. I know he is taking cortisone injections because he has a shoulder problem, but he will certainly finish another two Midmar Mile crossings to go to 80 total crossings and finish his 40th consecutive year."

The aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place on 9 and 10 February at the Midmar Dam, just outside Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. For more info visit www.midmarmile.co.za

SIMON GERRANS WINS STAGE 5 OF TOUR DOWN UNDER

Defending champion Simon Gerrans of Australia won the fifth stage of the Tour Down Under cycle race on Saturday from Dutch rookie Tom-Jelte Slagter who seized the overall race lead.

Gerrans was beaten by a hair's breadth in the same stage last year but went on to win the six-stage race in a countback, in the closest finish in its 15-year history.

The 151.5 kilometer (95 mile) stage - the longest of the tour - started in the township of McLaren Vale and featured two climbs up the steep and winding Old Wilunga Hill.

Gerrans attacked near the end of the second climb to take the stage win from Slagter, who took over the lead on general classification from British star Geraint Thomas.

Slagter claimed the first stage win of his professional career when he won Thursday's 139 kilometer (87 mile) third stage between Unley and Stirling. He started Saturday's fifth stage in second place on general classification, five seconds behind Thomas, who won the race's second stage and performed steadily throughout the week.

Saturday's penultimate stage, with its dual climbs and its finish at the peak of Old Wilunga Hill was seen as influential and Slagter staked his claim for overall Tour honors when he shadowed Gerrans' winning break.
Spain's Javier Moreno, riding for the Movistar team and in third place on general classification at the start of the stage - six seconds behind Thomas - was the first to stake his claim for victory in a dramatic finish.

He dashed away from the bunch near the end of the stage but Gerrans chased him down to grab the lead. Slagter then dashed out of the bunch to fight out the stage finish with the Australian, going down narrowly but displacing Thomas as the overall race leader.

The 23-year-old Slagter now has a strong chance of following his debut stage win with an overall win with only Sunday's 90 kilometer final stage remaining over a street circuit in downtown Adelaide. That stage traditionally allows few attacks which can upset the general classification.

"I can only say that I am really, really happy that I could do it today so it's a big thing for the whole team as you can see," Slagter said. "The whole day I felt good.

"Actually the whole week is going well so I had the confidence. It's great to be on the podium but to have the Ocher (tour leader's) jersey is incredible.

"I've never been on a podium before. Stirling was my first victory so really it's an incredible week for me. I don't know what the time differences are at the moment but the team showed they can help me from start to finish so I have the confidence."

No Australians currently feature in the top-10 on general classification but Gerrans gave his homeland some consolation by winning Saturday's stage on the Australia Day national holiday.

"Obviously I was pretty disappointed to drop out of contention on stage two for the overall and had one chance to make up for it today, so I am rapt," he said. "To win here on Australia Day is a fantastic feeling.
"I never gave up right to the line, especially when the young Blanco guy (Slagter) jumped across and went straight past me.

"I have had two finishes up here, second last year and had a win here this year so it's a nice way to finish off."
Slagter's bold ride knocked Thomas back to fifth place on general classification. The Dutch rider leads the overall standings from Moreno, Belgium's Ben Hermans and Ion Izagirre of Spain while Thomas is now 29 seconds behind.

HOSTS SOUTH AFRICA WELL PLACED TO REACH LAST EIGHT

South Africa face Morocco in Durban Sunday knowing a win or draw secures an Africa Cup of Nations last-eight slot and even a loss will not necessarily end their title dreams.

Victory for the 2013 hosts guarantees they stay top of the Group A table and a draw would also keep them in first place unless Cape Verde defeat Angola and finish with a superior goal difference.

However, if Angola win the first clash of two Portuguese-speaking countries in the 56-year Cup of Nations, Bafana Bafana (The Boys) will go through on the head-to-head rule even if they are beaten by the Atlas Lions.

It is a safe bet that South Africa coach Gordon Igesund is fully acquainted with these scenarios given the embarrassing bungle that cost the team a chance of competing at the 2012 tournament in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea.

No South African Football Association official, nor then-coach Pitso Mosimane, nor anyone in the team understood the head-to-head rule, and played for a draw at home to Sierra Leone when they needed a win to qualify.

Adding insult to injury for 40,000 spectators in Nelspruit watching the qualifier, and millions of TV viewers, the team danced and sang their way around Mbombela Stadium celebrating what they later discovered was a 'failure'.

Public broadcaster SABC added to the confusion with its TV and radio commentators, unaware of how the head-to-head rule works, telling the nation Bafana Bafana had made it.

"The nation should know that our head coach, his assistants, and the players are fully aware of all the permutations regarding our match against Morocco," were the reassuring words of a team official who requested anonymity.

Although South Africa have often found it difficult to crack open defences of teams from the north of the continent, they do boast a good Cup of Nations record against Morocco with wins in 1998 and 2002 and a draw nine years ago.

Igesund rang the changes after a dismal showing when lucky to draw 0-0 with debutants Cape Verde in Soweto last weekend and the five newcomers repaid the faith placed in them with a 2-0 triumph over Angola.

"I was very happy with the team that started and I was very happy with the team that finished," said Igesund, who is hoping to emulate the South African side that lifted the trophy when they last played hosts 17 years ago.

The coach said he had to give much thought to how he would approach Morocco, who have drawn 0-0 with Angola and 1-1 with Cape Verde, and are desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive first round exit since finishing 2004 runners-up.

"Playing defensive football is not my style. However, I cannot go out there and open up, leaving us vulnerable to counter-attacks," said the coach who has won a record four South African Premiership titles with four different clubs.

Lucky to be only one goal behind against Cape Verde, the Atlas Lions came good in the closing stages with substitute Youssef El Arabi equalising and almost snatching a winner as his header flashed just wide of the far post.

"What is important for us is to reach the knockout stage," stressed Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi. "We have talented footballers, but sometimes lack teamwork. It is a bitter reality I am striving to change."

Suspended Morocco playmaker Younes Belhanda is ruled out as is injured South African Lehlohonolo Majoro while fellow striker Tokelo Rantie is doubtful after twisting his ankle against the Angolans.

The Group A winners stay in Durban and will probably face Mali or Democratic Republic of Congo in the quarter-finals while the runners-up travel south west to Port Elizabeth for a likely game against four-time champions Ghana.

Wave of youth set to sweep through Dusi 2013

As paddlers prepare for The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon that starts at Camps Drift on February 14th, shrewd observers have spotted signs of a changing of the guard as a new generation of young elite paddlers have started to muscle their way onto the podium that has for many years been dominated by established stars like Ant Stott, Len Jenkins, Thulani Mbanjwa, and Hank McGregor.

The depth of Under 23 talent is now being fed by a new breed of talented paddlers that have graduated from the junior (Under 18) ranks, and this summer have proven to be serious podium threats.

Triple Dusi winner and defending champ Andy Birkett (Team Best 4 Kayak Centre) is in his final year in the under 23 age group and will go toe to toe with pre-race title contenders Mbanjwa, McGregor and Jenkins for the 2013 spoils. However, he will be followed closely by 2012 Dusi surprise package and last year’s Non-Stop Dusi runner-up, 21 year old Lance Kime who looks to earn his first podium finish in the race this time around.

Add to that the class of fellow Under 23 standouts like Kime’s 2012 K2 partner Kwanda Mhlope (Computershare Change a Life) Ben Biggs, Siseko Ntondini, Mmeli Cele and Brandon van der Walt (Team Jeep), and the race for the gold medals and top ten placings will be hotly contested by the new generation of young turks.

Whilst the likes of Owen Gandar, Emile Theunissen, Stuart MacLaren and Gavin Shuter would also be considered possible top twenty challengers the hot topic of conversation at the moment is the former Maritzburg College ‘awesome foursome’ that has surged into the Under 23 category this year and made their presence felt in a strikingly big way.

South African slalom ace Donavan Wewege recently showed all just what he, and his fellow young stars, is capable of when he charged to a highly commendable fourth place finish in the N3TC Drak Challenge, edging out the likes of Kime, Stott, Jacques Theron and Cam Schoeman in the big Umzimkulu waters.

Wewege and fellow Team Best 4 Kayak Center team mates Murray Starr and James Speed as well as Murray Haw (Team Matelec) forced many to sit up and take notice in the final junior year in 2012 and, after starting 2013 on a similarly positive note, appear to have carried their form into the competitive Under 23 age group and will surely be a force to be reckoned with at this year’s Dusi.

Whilst the hardy annuals of McGregor, Stott, Jenkins and Mbanjwa look to be safe aloft their perch at the top, for now, many in South Africa’s paddling world are suggesting it is merely a matter of time before this wave of young talent follow in Birkett’s footsteps and start challenging their more senior competitors and idols for podiums and titles alike.

Competitors line up for the start of The Unlimited Dusi on the 14th of February at Camps Drift, and the race ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban on 16 February 2013. More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za

SA Cyclists get re-tested

Lance Armstrong's confession has pushed South Africa's anti-doping body to retroactively test blood samples from over 50 top cyclists for EPO.
SAIDS says it will re-test samples from cyclists who competed in all major mountain and road races in South Africa last year.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport says this will help it discover "if a major EPO doping problem exists in this country."
South Africa's doping body banned David George, one of the country's best riders and a former teammate of Armstrong, for two years last month for EPO use.
SAIDS chief executive Khalid Galant says "cycling is being damaged by these high-profile doping cases with a high sense of cynicism existing."
Galant says riders who doped have an opportunity now to confess.

ABSA CAPE EPIC LAUNCHES COFFEE TABLE BOOK

The Untamed African Mountain Bike Race, the Absa Cape Epic, has announced the publication of a coffee table to mark its tenth year. The book, entitled African Epic, will be available on their website, at their events, from Kalahari.net as well as through Amazon in the United Kingdom.

Written by journalist and television commentator Neil Gardiner, former cycling magazine editor and part-time adventurer Nic Lamond and editor, travel writer and novelist Justin Fox, it promises to encapsulate all the epic moments in the race since its inception in 2004.

Talented photographers, who have sweated their way through the Absa Cape Epic over the years, captured the beauty, drama and scale of the event through their lenses. They include world-renowned photographer Gary Perkin, well-known South African Karin Schermbrucker and world cup downhill racer Sven Martin. Sports and lifestyle photographer Nick Muzik and Tour de France photographer Greg Beadle complete the team.

Says Kevin Vermaak, founder and director of the Absa Cape Epic: “Creating the Absa Cape Epic took every ounce of effort I could muster and a lifetime of emotions. I’ve foregone nights and even weeks of sleep and, in the beginning, it took every cent I had. But every day that passes, I feel privileged to have had the chance to feel true passion for what I do. In some ways, it’s almost a relief to be one of the fortunate few who have the opportunity to turn a hobby into a sustainable business.”

Vermaak continues: “Creating and developing the Absa Cape Epic has been tremendously exhilarating and satisfying. It brings together avid mountain bikers from around the world and shows them new routes, traversing the spectacular byways of the Western Cape. Our management team’s excitement is perhaps akin to the sense of achievement that more than a thousand riders feel after committing an entire year to their preparations and finally crossing the finish line at Lourensford Wine Estate. The event never fails to thrill me, and neither does the anticipation I feel as I look to the Epic’s future, mapped out ahead.”

In this book, the allure of the Untamed African Mountain bike race has been captured by a handful of talented individuals who are widely regarded as the best sports photographers in the business. Vermaak concludes: “Their images, over the years, are in no small way responsible for attracting thousands of riders from round the world. Every year, the event produces great stories of personal triumph, inspiration, honour, the settling of old scores and rising above adversity. I hope readers are inspired to join us on our journey, whether it's blazing the trail at this year’s race or watching from the comfort of their armchair, witnessing this great tale unfold.”

African Epic will be available at between R480 and R500.

Updated Tyres for Formula 1

Pirelli presented its 2013 range of colour-coded Formula One tyres on Wednesday (January 23) with the hope that fans would see more overtaking and an end to one-stop races.

The sole tyre supplier also said it was in talks with Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone to extend its deal beyond this season.

"We are obviously willing to continue this adventure," president and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera told reporters at the Italian company's headquarters.

The Italian company's range of tyres has undergone a revolution with new structures and new compounds aimed at producing more exciting racing and ensuring at least two stops per driver in every race.

Last season started with an unprecedented seven different winners in the first seven grands prix but the racing became more predictable as teams understood the tyres better.

Pirelli's Motorsport Director Paul Hembery said it would be wishful thinking to expect a repeat of last year's first seven races but looked forward to an interesting season with new challenges for teams and drivers.

"Our 2013 range of tyres mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race," said Hembery.

The P Zero range of dry weather tyres are faster by up to 0.5 seconds a lap and the performance gap between the compounds is also at least half a second in order to enhance race strategy and differences in speeds during the race.

The sidewalls will have new markings, with orange now denoting the hardest compound instead of the silver that was used last year.

Pirelli said the new hard tyre would be roughly equivalent to last year's medium compound, with softer sidewalls but stronger shoulders.

Improved traction, especially on the exit of corners, should translate into faster lap times.

The tyres are made at a factory in Turkey and sent to a logistics hub in Britain before being shipped to the various circuits. Each car will have 11 sets available per race weekend, made up of six sets of the harder compound and five of the softer.

Pirelli will take some 1,800 tyres to every race of the Formula One season, which begins in Melbourne on March 17.

62 Marathons in Three Months for Veteran South Africans

In a historic world first endurance challenge, two veteran South Africans have run a marathon on six out of seven days for the last three months along Southeast Asia’s Mekong River in the name of charity. For further perspective, they have run almost 3,000 kilometres in three months through three countries including Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam to shine the spotlight on and raise funds for Western Cape Child Protection Organisation, Home from Home. As they reach their destination, they make a plea to South Africans to mark this momentous occasion by donating R1 for every one of the 62 back breaking marathons completed.

Sports scientist Dr David Crombie, a 60 something year old cancer patient who survived a bone marrow transplant a little over a year ago and veterinary surgeon Dr Mark Barron began their incredible journey early November 2012. Despite grappling with a recent bout of stomach flu, the South African endurance athletes completed the challenge with a celebratory swim in the sea at Phuroc Cung, located on the South China Sea on Wednesday, 23 January 2013.

“It has been an incredible journey testing endurance yes, but strength and resolve too. I extend thanks to our sponsors for making our challenge that little more comfortable but this challenge was never about comfort. We undertook it to raise awareness for the Home From Home children in need of a home. Our journey was eventful to say the least, having been met with landslides, monsoons, extreme temperatures, snakes, ill health and militia. And, that was on a good day. I therefore challenge all South Africans to help us make a difference by donating R1 for every marathon we completed,” says Dr David Crombie.

Patron of the challenge Professor Tim Noakes, commends Crombie and Barron for their courage and determination in tackling this unique challenge for Home from Home. “What an incredible achievement that’s made even better thanks to its wonderful cause. The logistical and physical challenges that the two men have overcome were daunting and I am immensely pleased that their initial concerns for their safety did not materialize. An epic event that few but these two men could ever complete so brilliantly,” comments Noakes.

Home from Home founding trustee and development director Pippa Shaper said funds raised from the Mekong River Challenge will ensure that more South African children in need will get the chance to live in secure, loving and protective family homes.
“But it’s about more than that,” says Shaper, “it’s about the spirit and selfless manner in which these two men have tirelessly worked to help other South Africans in need. Their dedication is exemplary, their courage commendable. After their incredible journey on behalf of Home from Home, a thank you seems vastly inappropriate. Instead, I extend a thank you on behalf of all the children for which your steadfast endurance has provided homes and perhaps even a chance at being tomorrow’s endurance athletes.”
Home from Home sets up and runs small, community based family foster homes. Each home is a “normal house in a normal street” with no more than six children cared for by a foster mother, or foster parents. The children and foster parents are supported and supervised by Home from Home, its fulltime social workers and local community groups. Home from Home currently runs 28 homes in the Western Cape, with several more scheduled to open in the next few months. All funds raised from the Mekong River Run will go to the setting up and running of new homes.

For more information, to pledge support and make a donation, visit http://www.givengain.com/cause/2663/projects/12156 or www.homefromhome.org.za. Alternatively, kindly contact Pippa Shaper via email pippa@homefromhome.org.za or call on +27 21 761 7251 or +27 83 259 6186.

Zondi win sounds clear Dusi warning

Shongweni based Dusi star Sbonelo Zondi has factored himself right into contention for The Unlimited Dusi K1 podium race after a solid victory in a key pre-Dusi race that aims to replicate the tough portages of the Dusi first stage.

Zondi struck gold with a hard fought win in the Hi-Q Marathon at Albert Falls Dam, a key Dusi seeding race, in the process beating serious podium threats Cam Schoeman and Lance Kime.

The win will boost the confidence of the 23 year old, who has never managed to race onto the podium at The Unlimited Dusi K1 race, despite repeat wins in The Unlimited Non-Stop Dusi.

“I was a bit lucky to have won because a lot of the top guys were away but I needed to push hard to try improve my seeding ahead of Dusi because being on the front row is very important for me because I’m not quickest on flat water so I’ll have to everything I can to hang onto the guys’ waves before Ernie Pearce (Weir),” explained Zondi.

“I had to work very hard to win at Albert Falls because Lance (Kime) and Cam (Schoeman) are both super strong at the moment, especially Cam on the water, and I had to dig deep to catch him on the run.”

The win could well be the spark needed to motivate himself to compete for a top three finish this time around given the depth of talent set to take part in this year’s race.

“It was nice to win a race again but maybe the guys will be watching me more now. It might not be completely a bad thing if someone is worried about you though so I’ll have to make sure I really work hard on day one of this year’s Dusi and see how things go from there,” he added.

Despite the win having blown his own cover somewhat it is unlikely many on the front two seeded rows of the field had neglected to consider the threat the fast developing paddler poses, particularly on the more running weighted first day.

“Day one is definitely my favourite day of the three,” said Zondi. “I can run well so hopefully I can try get ahead of some of the other guys and then when we get to day two, which isn’t my best day, I can just hang on and try stay ahead.”

“I’ve been running about three times a week recently and have been training hard and my body has been feeling good. I haven’t had any problems or injuries and my legs are feeling strong so I’ll just have to monitor my training over the next two weeks and then see how things go on the day,” he added.

Having experienced the emotions and levels of satisfaction that come with finishing on the podium previously in a double, Zondi is determined to give it his all in 2013 in a single.

“My main goal is to try finish in the top five at this year’s Dusi and if I can get onto the podium it would be a bonus. If I did finish in the top three though it would be an absolute dream come true though!” said Zondi.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard and then see how things work out on the day. If I don’t make many mistakes and just do the right things then who knows, maybe I can challenge the guys at the front this year.”

“I think I can compete but it will be very tough. Everyone is focusing on trying to beat Andy (Birkett) but there is also Thulani (Mbanjwa), Hank (McGregor), Len (Jenkins), Ant (Stott), Jason (Graham) and many more too so it will be very hard but I’m looking forward to it!” he added.

Competitors line up for the start of The Unlimited Dusi on the 14th of February at Camps Drift, and the race ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban on 16 February 2013. More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za

DUTCH CYCLIST DEKKER READY TO REVEAL IT ALL ON DOPING CULTURE

Dutch cyclist and former doping offender Thomas Dekker is ready to reveal it all as he announced a full co-operation with his nation's anti-doping agency on Wednesday.

Dekker said in a statement on the website of his management company SEG that he aims to help clean up the sport and wants to encourage former team-mates to share their knowledge with the relevant anti-doping authorities as well.

Dekker was banned for two years in 2009 after being caught using the blood booster EPO in a test the previous year. He said in a recent interview with the NRC Handelsblad paper that there was widespread doping in the Rabobank team he rode for from 2005 until 2008. Dekker now competes for Garmin-Sharp.

"I will testify and fully cooperate with the Dutch Anti-Doping Authority to help further clean the world of cycling. Therefore I choose to give the full extent of my knowledge, names, dates and details," he said in the statement.

"There are many details and people involved with my doping past. All of that, including the names of people who helped me will be given to the Anti-Doping Authority.

"I will begin this process and hope that it will make it easier for ex-colleagues and ex-teammates to come forward and help the sport."

SEG said that the first meeting between Dekker and representatives of the Dutch Anti-Doping Agency is planned within the next two weeks.

Last week, Lance Armstrong admitted to doping for many years of his career, after the ruling body UCI stripped the American of his seven Tour de France after the US Anti-Doping Agency said in a report that he led "the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen."
The USADA report was based on testimony of several of his former team-mates and other people.

WORLD CHAMPION GILBERT'S DOWN UNDER HOPES DIM

World road race champion Philippe Gilbert's hopes of winning the Tour Down Under are all but over after he was involved in a crash near the end of the second stage on Wednesday.

Gilbert was part of a leading group attempting to reel in eventual winner Geraint Thomas on a fast downhill stretch just after the summit of Corkscrew Hill, five kilometres from the finish line when the accident occurred.

The Belgian was not badly injured, but he needed his teammates to push him over the line after his bike's gear mechanism broke, meaning he could not pedal.

He eventually finished 2min 49sec behind Thomas, leaving him in 61st overall in the race for an overall win.

"The crash was right after a corner and we didn't see it, it surprised us and we couldn't avoid it," Gilbert said.

"They were lying on half of the road and when you come across them like that, you just go straight into them."

With four stages remaining, Gilbert will need a huge stroke of luck to get back into contention for the first title of the 2013 WorldTour season.

Thomas was not discounting Gilbert's chances, saying Thursday's difficult 139km stage from Unley to Stirling provided an opportunity to break away.

"I think he can always get it back tomorrow," Thomas said. "If the right group goes away it's hard to control.

"I think he'll be keen to still get a stage win but there are plenty of dangerous guys around."

Dusi entry cut-off date looms

As entries start to pour in for the 2013 The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon that starts on 14 February, organisers have urged paddlers to complete the new online registration and entry process well ahead of the deadline for normal entries at midnight on Monday 28 January.

“We have tried to simplify the process of entering The Unlimited Dusi, and to offer paddlers a more cost effective and efficient way of entering online,” said The Unlimited Dusi General Manager Brett Austen-Smith.

“This requires each paddler to complete a simple registration process before they can use the quick and affordable online entry process.
“This is a new innovation and we are urging paddlers keen on taking part in the race to do this before the usual last-minute rush,” he added.
The three day classic race has already attracted a sizeable entry, with many of the country’s top racers already throwing their hat into the ring for the K1 championship race.
Entries also include radio and TV personality Unathi Msengana, 5fm sports presenter Sias du Plessis, TV personality Liesl van der Westhuizen and Sharks rugby player Pieter Dixon.
In an effort to make participation in the race easier for paddlers from outside of KwaZulu-Natal, the race now offers a range of support packages that include airport shuttles, boat transport, camping and catering in the valley during the race.

Entries for The Unlimited Dusi have steadily grown since the bold move to shift the three day race from mid-January to mid-February to offer the paddlers better water quality in the uMsundusi and uMngeni rivers.
Entrants have shown a marked preference for online entries, but the race still caters for paddlers preferring to use manually completed entry forms by making a downloadable PDF entry form available from the race website www.dusi.co.za
Normal entries close at midnight on Monday night 28 January, after which late entries will be taken at a penalty of R150 per paddle.

Competitors line up for the start of The Unlimited Dusi on the 14th of February at Camps Drift, and the race ends at Blue Lagoon in Durban on 16 February 2013. More information can be found at www.dusi.co.za

SCHLECK ADMITS TO NERVES IN ADELAIDE FIRST STAGE

Luxembourg's 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck conceded that he was full of nerves during his comeback race at the Tour Down Under on Tuesday.
Schleck finished a minute and 19 seconds behind winner Andre Greipel of Germany in the opening 135 kilometre (85 mile) stage from Prospect in Adelaide's north to the town of Lobethal, leaving him 105th in the overall standings.
But he wasn't concerned about his finishing position, saying he was confident he would improve as the week progressed.
"I'm happy, it's okay but the result was not so good," he said after the stage.
"Physically it's okay, it's just that I don't feel so safe in the peloton. But that's normal because it's been a long time for me.
"I was getting really nervous in the end. But the next stage is going to be better because I'll get the feeling back again."
Schleck, who finished runner-up at the 2010 Tour de France before being awarded the race after winner Alberto Contador lost a doping appeal, is using the Tour Down Under as a comeback following a year marred by injury.
In June the 27-year-old crashed during the Criterium du Dauphine race and fractured his pelvis, ruling him out of the sport for most of the rest of the year.

NEW RECORD AS SHARAPOVA STORMS INTO SEMIS

Record-setting world number two Maria Sharapova reached the Australian Open semi-finals for the loss of just nine games as she blitzed fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova on Tuesday.
Sharapova, seeking her fifth Grand Slam title and her second in Melbourne, smashed Makarova 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 6min to set up a semi-final with China's sixth seed Li Na.
Sharapova, who 'double-bagelled' her first two matches 6-0, 6-0, and then beat Venus Williams 6-1, 6-3 and Kirsten Flipkens 6-1, 6-0, betters Monica Seles' Australian Open record of losing only 12 games before the semis.
Despite the scoreline, she insisted it had been close against Makarova, against whom she has never lost in five matches.
"No matter what our record is, we always have close matches," she said.
"It was quite close in the beginning today, we exchanged breaks of serves, but I think I ended up being the more aggressive player.
"Today was a matter of staying focused because I know how excited she was to play me."
Sharapova drew first blood when she broke Makarova in the third game of the first set, but Makarova immediately retrieved the break to level at two-all.
That was as close as it got. Makarova, who beat 15-time major champion Serena Williams in the fourth round at the Australian Open last year, was unable to settle, dropping serve again before Sharaporova tore through the remainder of the 31-minute opening set.
The French Open champion took unstoppable momentum into the second set and immediately skipped to a 2-0 lead. A streak of six straight games ended when Makarova finally held serve to get on the scoreboard at 1-2.
Sharapova took a 5-1 lead on the back of powerful serving and her trademark forehand. Makarova offered only token resistance as Sharapova booked her berth against Li, who defeated world number four Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3 earlier on Tuesday.
Sharapova leads the head-to-head 8-4 against Li. And she denied she was underdone for the semi-finals after shipping just nine games in five matches.
"I don't want to give my opponents the chance to test me," she said. "Do I want them to test me? Would I prefer that? Absolutely not."

THIRD NASHUA GRAPE ESCAPE ATTRACTS MAJOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL RIDERS

The third Nashua Grape Escape 3-day mountain bike stage race - due to take place in the Boland from 28 February to 2 March - has already attracted the interest of major local and international mountain bike riders. This year the race will come with a new twist: in addition to the 3-day race option, riders – especially those new to MTB stage racing – will also have the opportunity to participate in a 2-day stage race option.

When asked about his thoughts on the new format, the inaugural Grape Escape winner Kevin Evans said: “I think the race will have completely new dynamics with the solo entry format. It changes the approach to the race, and I'm sure will yield some speedy racing, making for great entertainment.”

Commenting on the upcoming event and competition, team manager of last year’s runners up Team Bulls, Friedemann Schmude said: “The guys are very excited about Nashua Grape Escape, and plan to use the event as a training ground and an opportunity to check out the competition ahead of the Absa Cape Epic. We take the Nashua Grape Escape very seriously, as it is an event that is contested by the top MTB riders who take part in the Cape Epic. We will be watching the likes of Kevin Evans and Christoph Sauser, as they will no doubt give our guys some healthy competition.”
                                         
Among the many skilled female riders confirmed for this year’s race is Hanlie Booyens, part of the Team Cape Argus Ladies duo who comfortably won the race last year. Sharing her thoughts on the new solo-format, Hanlie stated: “Personally I think going the solo route is a refreshing alternative to almost every other stage race in SA. Going solo simplifies not only the logistics but the racing itself. How you pace yourself now lies in your own hands. This and the generous prize purse will surely draw a very competitive field.”

Husband-and-wife duo Erik and Ariane Kleinhans who dominated the mixed team category last year, also shared their thoughts on the format change which now makes them competitors. “While the first stage is new, Riebeeck Kasteel is a lovely town and a lovely new starting point. We are both looking forward to the race, the hospitality and the atmosphere was fantastic last year, so we can't wait for the new look and improved 2013 version. With Nashua as the new title sponsor it also seems like the event is growing in stature,” said Erik.

And if national pride is not enough of a motivating factor, the local and international riders will be facing off to win a significantly-increased prize pool of R25 000 for the winning rider, R12 000 for second place and R6 000 for third place. In addition, a R3 000 daily winner’s prize will go to the rider clocking the fastest time on each stage.

New Route and New Format
                                 
For the first time this year the event will offer a three-day and a two-day option in the hope to make it more accessible to more riders. The two-day option follows exactly the same routes as the 3-day riders. . The event will also focus exclusively on individual riders and no teams will be entered.

The 2013 Nashua Grape Escape offers a brand-new route designed by leading mountain bike trail enthusiast and guru Meurant Botha, and starts at Riebeek Kasteel Primary in Riebeeck Kasteel on Thursday 28 February. Riders will follow a 78km route on Day 1 and finish at the DJ de Villiers Stadium in Wellington, where the official Race Village will also be located for the duration of the event.

Day 2 starts and finishes at the DJ de Villiers Stadium and takes riders on a shorter, although very challenging, 60km route. On Day 3, riders will tackle a 70km trail to the finish line at Boschendal Wine Estate.

Enter early
David Bellairs, a Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, organisers of the event, says: “With the event route and timing proving to be the ideal training ground for the upcoming Cape Epic and only 600 solo spots available, there is quite a bit of interest, and we encourage riders keen to participate to enter as soon as possible.“
For more information about the event, route profiles or to enter online, please visit www.grapeescape.co.za  or follow @CycleTourTrust on Twitter or Facebook www.facebook.com/cycletourtrust
For event-related queries, please contact the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Events Office on (021) 681 4333 during office hours.

Lance on Oprah

Lance Armstrong finally confessed to using performance enhancing drugs during his cycling career on Thursday, admitting he cheated to win all seven of his Tour de France titles.

Describing himself as a "bully" and a "deeply flawed character", Armstrong ended years of denials by revealing his darkest secrets in an interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey at his hometown of Austin, Texas.

In the opening question of the televised interview recorded three days earlier, one word was all it took to dismiss any remaining doubt his success on the bike was fueled by doping.

"Yes," he replied when asked directly whether he used performance enhancing drugs.

True to her word, Winfrey rapidly fired probing questions at Armstrong, offering him little respite and grilling him about every aspect of his tainted career.

Without any hesitation, and showing no signs of emotion, Armstrong replied "yes" to a series of questions about whether he used specific drugs, including erythropoietin, human growth hormone and blood doping.

Asked why he had repeatedly lied about using banned substances until Thursday's startling admission, he told Winfrey: "I don't know I have a great answer.

"This is too late, probably for most people, and that's my fault. I view this situation as one big lie that I repeated a lot of times.

"It's not as if I said no and moved off it. While I've lived through this process, I know the truth. The truth isn't what I said and now its gone."

A cancer survivor who inspired millions with what had seemed like a fairytale career, Armstrong said he did not believe he could have achieved what he did without breaking the rules due to the culture of drugs in cycling.

"Not in that generation. I didn't invent the culture, but I didn't try to stop the culture," he said.

"It's hard to talk about the culture. I don't want to accuse anyone else. I'm here to acknowledge my mistakes."

He said he never considered himself to be a cheat and was sure he would get away with it, until out of competition tests were introduced and testing procedures dramatically improved.

On Thursday, Armstrong was stripped of his 2000 Olympic Games cycling time trial bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee, continuing the once dominant rider's spectacular fall from grace after a doping storm.

"We have written asking for the return of the medal from the Sydney 2000 Games," an IOC official told Reuters on Thursday after the decision to take away the last major title held by the disgraced American.

The retired Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in October after several riders testified that he took drugs.

The testimony came in a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report in which the 41-year-old's former U.S Postal team was accused of running "the most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen".

Armstrong, a cancer survivor who founded the Livestrong Foundation, has always denied wrongdoing.

CBS Television reported on Tuesday the former rider had offered to pay more that $5 million to the U.S. government in compensation for an alleged fraud against the U.S. Postal Service, which for years sponsored his cycling team.

The network also said he had offered to co-operate as a witness in a U.S. investigation but the Department of Justice turned down his request, raising the prospect that he could yet serve time in prison.

Grape Escape Route

For the first time, the event will offer a three-day option for professional riders and a two-day option for the more casual rider. This year, the event will also focus exclusively on individual riders and no teams will be entered.
Nashua Grape Escape 2013 will offer a brand new route, camping facilities, increased prize money and a host of other improvements that should give riders an unforgettable experience

The brand-new route designed by experienced MTB trail enthusiast and guru Meurant Botha, and starts at the Riebeek Kasteel Primary School in Riebeeck Kasteel on Thursday 28 February 2013. Riders will follow a 75km route on Day 1 and finish at the DJ de Villiers Stadium in Wellington, where the official Race Village will also be located for the duration of the event.

There is a camping package for riders who would like to stay in the midst of all the action, which includes a tent and mattress, warm showers and toilets, laundry service and shuttles between the respective start and finish areas. Breakfast will be available and we’ll have a 24 hour on-call medical service, security and camp site manager on-site

Day 2 starts and finishes at the DJ de Villiers Stadium and takes riders on a short, although very challenging, 60km route.

On Day 3, riders will tackle a 70km trail to the finish line at Boschendal Wine Estate.
This year, we are offering increased prize money of R25 000 for the winning rider, R12 000 for second place and R6 000 for third place. In addition, a R3 000 daily winner’s prize will go to the rider clocking the fastest time on each stage.

For more, go to www.grapeescape.co.za.

TOP RIDERS COMMENT ON DRAMATIC NEW ABSA CAPE EPIC ROUTE

10TH ABSA CAPE EPIC ROUTE LIVES UP TO LEGENDARY REPUTATION OF UNTAMED AFRICAN MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE

The dramatic new route of the tenth edition of the Absa Cape Epic, which takes place from 17 to 24 March this year, will be as challenging as previous years. Both local and international mountain biking enthusiasts will be taking on the demanding eight day mountain bike adventure of 698km with 15 650m of climbing from Meerendal Wine Estate to Lourensford.

The route, which changes considerably each year, will lead 1 200 participating cyclists, world champions and dedicated amateurs, through vast distances of challenging terrain. With its unexplored landscapes, the stage locations of Citrusdal, Tulbagh, Wellington and Stellenbosch await the most prestigious mountain bike stage race in the world, before riders again finish at the Lourensford Wine Estate, as has been tradition since 2007.

For three-times Absa Cape Epic winner Christoph Sauser, who has been racing professionally since 1993 and has many accomplishments under his belt including the World Marathon Champion title in 2011 and 2007, next year’s stages are quite well balanced with a lot of trails in it. “There’s no specific king’s stage when I look at the profiles, but the heat, or difficult sand and rocky surfaces can change everything.” With regards to which stage he thinks would be the most difficult, he comments: “That question can only be answered after the race. It’s all about the level of the competition, mechanicals and surface. No stage profile of the Absa Cape Epic will say anything of those facts! I look forward to Stellenbosch, because it looks like a tougher one on paper and also because it will finish in my second hometown. Extra motivation!” He reckons the longest stage will be the best to break away. “They also say it’s more like a road stage. There’s no such thing as an easy stage in the Cape Epic. The top teams will make any stage hard from the beginning. For the overall GC (General Classification) riders, even if the pace is moderate, there is constant pressure such as mechanicals, crashing or riding in front of the pack out of the dust. The Cape Epic is the Tour de France for us mountain bikers. My next goal will be the world champs. It’s my motivation to train hard and clever!”

Stefan Sahm, another three-times winner of the Absa Cape Epic with teammate Karl Platt, reckons the new route is the same as every year. “It’s gonna be a painful week on the bike, but that’s how I like it. I think stage 6 will be the most difficult, because you’re almost at the finish line and it’s another long day with lots of climbing. It can also be a good chance to make up time on other teams.” Sahm says stage 5 seems to be the most fun with a lot of single-track. “I just hate walking sections. Any stage is good for a break away, it just depends if the peloton lets you go or not. On the shorter, more technical stages especially, the cross-country riders will try something for sure. Of course we’re gonna try to win a stage, but our focus will firstly be getting one team on the podium in the GC.” He reckons none of the stages will be easy. “Our approach will be to keep the pain and fun in a good balance. Okay, let’s be more serious now. Since I’ll be riding with a new partner this year, Simon Stiebjahn, it’s difficult to say. I think we can race well together - he´s like my little brother - and be good support for Team 1 and 2. But nevertheless, we’ll try our best to get the most out of it. Maybe we’re good enough for one or two surprises.”

For South African rider, Kevin Evans, who finished in second place last year, the new route looks tough as usual. “We wouldn’t expect anything else from my father, Dr Evil and the team. I think the stages around Citrusdal will be the hardest, and Wellington if the weather doesn’t play along. Luckily most of the stages will suit me, as they all have lots of climbing, and also suit our Scott Sparks. I think stage 6 will be the one to watch. By that time the general classification is set, so riders will allow breaks to slip away, if they’re not a threat. We’ll be targeting all 8 stages for a stage win, as there is no such thing as an easy stage on the Cape Epic. We’ll be riding conservatively, and hope for a dash of good luck.”

Urs Huber (of Switzerland), a Swiss Marathon Champion, winner of the Transalp and two times winner of the Crocodile Trophy in Australia (2009 & 2010), is of the opinion that this year’s Absa Cape Epic will be tough. “I don’t find an easy stage in the programme. Three stages look very hard. Stage 2 is very long, which means that everybody will have to ride in the very hot hours around 1 pm. This can be a problem for some professionals coming from cold weather and of course for the amateurs, who will be in the saddle for more hours than us.  The profile of stage 5 looks as if we won’t find a rhythm, always up and down. That's very hard because by day six everyone is tired. And of course stage 6 has a lot of climbing. We don't know which stage will be best for us. We’ll take it day by day and always bear the GC in mind. Let’s hope our legs stay with us, when it's time to break away. After one week, I think stage 6 can change the overall standing for the last time. But, there isn’t an easy stage in this event – all are hard.” Huber says stage 4, with its two long climbs before the finish and stage 6 will suit him best. “I think stage 2 will be a good stage to break away. The speed will not be so high in the beginning. The last stage is always very fast because it's not so long and everybody likes to win it. All in all, I’m excited about this year’s Epic. I’ll be riding with a new partner in a new team, so it will be a new experience for me. I think it will be a good one!”

To Alban Lakata, former European and Austrian Marathon Champion, the new route sounds very interesting. “I especially like the fact that we’ll be coming to Stellenbosch and have a new final stage.” He reckons stage 2 from Citrusdal to Saronsberg will be the most difficult. “145km off-road is better not to underestimate. Stage 6 looks quite good for us, as it includes the most climbing. This is the stage where we’ll do our best to do well and try for a stage win. The last stage seems to be the easiest. After finishing the Cape Epic five times, I should have enough experience to go for gold! What I also really like about this year’s race, is the fact that we’re staying for 2 days in one and the same place!”

Erik Kleinhans, winner in the mixed category with his wife, Ariane, last year, says the route looks challenging, but also fun. “Going to areas like Citrusdal and Tulbagh will most likely mean sandy terrain, corrugation and warm weather. The best was saved for last it seems, going through the Cape Winelands and plenty of single-track. We love this area and terrain, obviously, we live there!” For him, stage 6 from Wellington to Stellenbosch seems to be the hardest. “It's a tough 100-kilometers with 3 000 meters of climbing and comes late in the race when everyone is riding on tired legs. For us though, we’ll be racing to our hometown, so will have extra motivation heading for Stellenbosch. We live in Stellenbosch and love this town, and also have plenty of friends and followers there. It would be very sad for us not to get a stage win on our home turf. That's why I'm more scared of stage 1. It always comes as a shock to the system and it looks like some tough climbs await the riders.” With regards to which stage suit them best, he says they always seem to go well in the longer and more undulating stages, so stage 1 will hopefully be a good start for them. “Stage 3 around the Tulbagh valley should be the easiest with no major climbs and not too long, but sandy terrain and dust in your eyes could change my opinion very quick halfway through the stage...” Of their approach to the race, he comments: “Ariane and I have learned so well over the last two years how to ride together as a team, so we’ll just keep on supporting each other to take every day as it comes. Getting your bike through the race without major technicals is always a big task as well as not to overcook it early in the stages. But most importantly, our approach is to put in the hard work before the event to be ready for it physically.”

At Last, he admits it - reports

Cyclist Lance Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs in an interview on Monday  with Oprah Winfrey, USA Today reported.

Although American media had widely speculated that Armstrong would admit to cheating in the interview, neither Winfrey nor Armstrong confirmed the report, in which the newspaper cited an anonymous source.

"We are not confirming any specific details regarding the interview at this time," a spokesman for Oprah's network OWN told Reuters.

Armstrong has always vehemently denied using performance-enhancing drugs and had never tested positive to a doping test.

The report did not say which drugs Armstrong admitted to using and the American's attorney and his spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Oprah, on Twitter, offered little more herself, other than to say Armstrong came prepared for the interview, which will be broadcast on Thursday.

"Just wrapped with @lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY," Winfrey tweeted.

But the television host did confirm she would appear on CBS television on Tuesday morning to talk about the interview.

CBS reported Armstrong, a former cancer survivor who went on to become the greatest cyclist the world has seen, had indicated he may be willing to testify against others involved in illegal doping and was in talks about repaying part of the taxpayer money he earned during his career.

The unconfirmed reports about his admissions followed confirmation that Armstrong apologized to the staff of the cancer foundation he started because of the damage he had caused.

"He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years," said Livestrong Foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane.

"It was a very sincere and heartfelt expression of regret over any stress that they've suffered over the course of the last few years as a result of the media attention," she said.

Shortly after, Armstrong joined his legal team to meet with Winfrey for an interview described as "no-holds-barred".

The interview was supposed to take place at Armstrong's home in Texas but was switched to a hotel in downtown Austin after news crews camped outside his house before dawn.

But an October report from the U.S. anti-doping body USADA cited Armstrong's involvement in what it characterized as the "most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," involving anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, blood transfusions and other doping.

Less than two weeks later, Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union ratified the USADA's sanctions against him.

Armstrong says sorry to LiveStrong Staff

A person with knowledge of the situation says Lance Armstrong has apologized to the staff at his Livestrong cancer foundation. He did so before heading to an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the discussion was private.

Armstrong addressed the staff Monday and said, “I’m sorry.” The person said the disgraced cyclist choked up and several employees cried during the session.

The person also said Armstrong apologized for letting the staff down and putting Livestrong at risk but he did not make a direct confession to the group about using banned drugs. He said he would try to restore the foundation’s reputation.

Armstrong urged the group to continue fighting for the charity’s mission of helping cancer patients and their families. After the meeting, Armstrong, his legal team and close advisers gathered at a downtown Austin hotel for the interview.

Tour de Boland

The '13 Tour de Boland will run during the week preceding the Argus Tour, and will cover four days of racing. It is open to all junior men (& older) and all women elite (& older).

The start and finish will be, like before, at the same venue each day, a beautiful wine farm equidistant to Stellenbosch, Franshhoek and Paarl.

Stages - Tue to Fri:
1. Late afternoon: ITT to top of Helshoogte - 10km - followed by compulsory light dinner / awards / riders' meeting
2. Morning: TTT of 40km (individual riders will be grouped in small start groups based on ITT times - groups/teams may compeletely split up, en route  - a bit of a new format, seeing as we have both individuals and teams racing)
3. Morning: 150km RR around Helshoogte / Simonsberg - slower riders diverted onto shorter course, with neutralised finish (after circa100km of racing)
4. Morning: half-hour criterium for stage 3's slower riders, and one hour for "GC group."
5. Lunchtime prize giving - cheques will handed over to winners, so no delays on prize monies like in the past! The more entries we receive the larger the purse - we have no sponsor this year :(

Final details will be made public during the course of the next two weeks -we're finding some great accommodation deals for teams intending to stay in our neck of the woods - let us know if we can help with that.

Early Bird entries secured and paid for up till Friday 18 January are only R1000 per person, including the dinner and lunch.

Payments cleared after 18th midnight will cost R1500 per rider. The cut-off is 100 riders. Boland Cycling Association-based riders only pay R500 per rider if paid for during this Early Bird week - the standard price will apply after this week's special opportunity.

Go to http://tinyurl.com/tdboland2013 to make your mark!

New Year, New You.

Should he break his silence?

If Lance Armstrong does break his silence over his lifetime ban on cycling and the doping charges made against him in a U.S. television interview next week, the disgraced former Tour de France champion could face fresh legal woes, a legal commentator said on Wednesday (January 9).

Christopher Mesnooh, a lawyer who practises in both France and the United States, said one of the big legal threats he faces is the U.S. Department of Justice, which is reported by several U.S. media to be joining an action by his former team-mate Floyd Landis.

Under the so-called whistleblower lawsuit, Landis is alleging that Armstrong defrauded the U.S. Postal Service, whose cycling team Armstrong rode for.

"There is this one action brought by Floyd Landis in the United States and the Department of Justice has not yet decided whether it's going to join as a party in this action. He will want to make sure that he will deal with that and try to remove that legal action from the Department of Justice so as to reduce the chances of perjury. But he will not be able to negotiate in advance with all potential interested parties and so perjury among other potential charges will weigh on him for months if not years to come," Mesnooh said.

Past sponsors who paid Armstrong millions for his backing will also be watching the interview to see how it might impact their chances of recouping money, he added.

"There are other possible legal recourses that can be taken against him. There is an ongoing action brought by SCA which is an insurance company in Texas which paid him 7-1/2 million dollars for a number of his gold medals for having won the Tour de France. And they will certainly be in a much stronger position that as a result of his lies they were obligated to pay him the money they paid him and they will try to claw back the money, the 7-1/2 million dollars plus damages," Mesnooh said.

The interview, to be broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network on Jan. 17, will be the first the American cyclist has conducted since receiving his ban and being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

"Armstrong will address the alleged doping scandal, years of accusations of cheating, and charges of lying about the use of performance-enhancing drugs throughout his storied cycling career," the network said in a statement.

On Saturday, the New York Times reported that Armstrong, 41, had told associates and anti-doping officials he was considering an admission of using banned drugs.

The Times said Armstrong hoped to persuade anti-doping officials to allow him to resume competition in athletic events that adhere to the World Anti-Doping Code, under which the Texan is currently subject to a lifetime ban.

However, Armstrong's lawyer Tim Herman later told USA Today that there had been no talks with anti-doping bodies about any admission.

Armstrong has always vehemently denied charges of doping and has never been proven to have tested positive.

An Oct. 10 report from the U.S. anti-doping body USADA cited Armstrong's involvement in what it characterized as the "most sophisticated, professionalized and successful doping program that sport has ever seen," involving anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, blood transfusions and other doping.

Less than two weeks later, Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories were nullified and he was banned from cycling for life after the International Cycling Union ratified the USADA's sanctions against him.

Lance spent more money

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong once offered to donate nearly $250,000 to anti-doping efforts, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) told 60 Minutes Sports in an interview to be aired on Wednesday (January 9).

Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles last year after an investigation by USADA found evidence of wide-spread doping, had a representative offer the agency a large sum of money in 2004, USADA chief Travis Tygart said in the wide-ranging interview.

"I was stunned," Tygart tells interviewer Scott Pelley. "It was clear -- it was a clear conflict of interest for USADA.

"We had no hesitation in rejecting that offer."

Asked how much money Armstrong offered the agency, Tygart replied, "In excess of $150,000."

Told by Pelley that 60 Minutes had learned it was $250,000, Tygart answered, "It was around that ballpark."

Tygart also alleges Armstrong provided the International Cycling Union (UCI), a regulatory body for the sport, a gift of $100,000.

Armstrong has denied ever using performance-enhancing drugs but, according to a recent New York Timesstory, is considering coming clean about doping in an effort to return to competition.

He declined to be included in the 60 Minutes Sports story and his spokesman did not return calls from Reuters seeking comment.

Media Statement from Cherise Stander

“I love you.”

That was Burry Stander, one of the world’s foremost mountain bikers' last words to his wife, Cherise, before he was tragically killed by a taxi while on a training ride on Thursday in Shelley Beach.

Stander finished the 2012 season as the second best cross country rider in the world.

Stander had a brilliant season winning the Absa Cape Epic with Christoph Sauser (Switzerland) for the second consecutive year, also winning the World Cup race in Windham, New-York and finishing second overall in the World Cup-series. He was fifth at the Olympic Games in London, a mere 30 seconds behind, Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republic) the eventual winner. Many reckon that with a little bit of luck he could have medalled.

An emotional Cherise Stander, South African marathon mountain bike champion, said on the day her husband died he went out later than usual for his training ride. "I woke up tired and we decided to go ride a bit later, it ended up being so hot we could only train quite late in the afternoon" Stander added.

“Burry phoned me when he was halfway in Port Edward. He was excited to back home soon because he had a tailwind coming back. We ended our conversation confirming our love for each other.” Approximately an hour later Stander was dead.

The accident happened a few hundred meters from the Concept Cyclery Shop in Shelley Beach where his dad, Charles, was working. He was killed instantly. He suffered serious head trauma and there are indications that his neck might have been broken on impact.

Cherise Stander said that she does not bear a grudge towards the driver. “Burry was always paranoid about abiding the traffic rules, he always keeps everyone in line on group training rides. Burry was always the one who constantly emphasized that we had to be careful and alert. There were quite a few times when Burry would get cross with me when he thought I was taking unnecessary risks".

“Once at Oribi Gorge when I was really flying on a downhill section Burry reprimanded me saying that I am foolish and that I should always realize that at any moment a motor vehicle could appear in front of you and I should remember that.” Cherise Stander emphasized that she knows nothing can bring Burry back but indicated that she hopes an example is made rather. “It is time that people realize that there will be serious consequences if you take another person’s life. It would only have taken two second for the driver to stop and that is what cost Burry his life" she added.

Cherise Stander commented “I fully support the idea of the Burry Stander Foundation to drive a road safety campaign for cyclists. That is what Burry would have wanted, to bring about real change.”

When asked how she would remember her husband Cherise Stander had no hesitation in answering that Burry was the ultimate family man.

“For him his family always came first. That is the reason why he started the three Concept Cyclery Shops in KwaZulu-Natal. His idea was that it should be developed into a full on family business creating job opportunities for everyone long after his own cycling career come to an end.

“Cycling was Burry’s other big love. He lived to cycle. On more than one occasion he said to me that he does not think people realize that cycling is not a job for him it was what he loved.”

With regards to her own career Cherise admits she hasn't given it much thought but the passion Burry had for the sport rubbed off on her. "He would not have wanted me to stop because of what happened, he was just as committed to my career as he was to his own and we both love this sport." Cherise added that she won't be making any rash decisions and needs time to process everything that happened.

The Stander family will attend a memorial ride tomorrow on the South Coast that will finish at the spot where Burry Stander was so tragically killed. Fikile Mbalula, South Africa’s minister of sport and recreation is expected to make an appearance.

Following the ride one of Stander’s bicycles will be chained on the scene.

The family have expressed their immense gratitude for the overwhelming support. Cherise commented that she reads every message herself and that the incredible support and love they see everyone had for Burry is helping each of them deal with things in their own way. The public can send post cards and letters tributes to Burry to PO Box 981 Umtentweni 4235.

We will continue to communicate details via the official Facebook pages:

www.facebook.com/africanmtbkid

www.facebook.com/taylorchick

Official Twitter Hashtags:

#BurryStander

#iRide4Burry

Burry

“No parent should ever have to see his child lying on a tarred road after an accident, knowing that there is absolutely nothing he can do to save his life.

Charles Stander said: “It is definitely the worst moment of my life. Words cannot even begin to describe how one feels when it happens. It was terrible.”

His son, Burry, one of the world’s foremost mountain bikers, was killed in an accident, while training in South Africa, on Thursday, January 3.  He was out on a training ride in Shelly Beach, on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, when he was hit by a taxi. Apparently the driver did not see Stander when he made a turn. Stander died on the scene.

Colonel Jay Naicker, a spokesperson for the Police, confirmed that a docket for culpable homicide was opened. According to Charles Stander, he and his family will not remember his son only for his successes as a mountain biker. “For us Burry will always be more than just a mountain-bike champion. In fact, he was a champion on and off his bike. For him his family always came first.  He never hesitated to help when, and where ever, he could.”

When asked what he considered to be the highlights of his son’s cycling career, Charles Stander said that it was almost impossible to make a selection. “Where does one start? There were some special moments.  Burry really made us all very proud.”

Charles Stander asked the cyclists who are planning to participate in Memorial Rides in memory of his son, not to let their emotions get the best of them. “This is the last thing that Burry would have wanted.”

The funeral arrangements will only be finalized by next week.

Zoon Cronje, ZCMC, said that a Burry Stander Foundation will be established to fund and drive the process to change legislation concerning cycling safety as well as assist various projects to promote safe cycling.

“Our initial plan with the Burry Stander Foundation is to raise funds to help to pay for any legal costs that may be incurred to drive the process. Later on we hope to not only assist various safe cycling initiatives but also to assist talented young riders to fulfil their dreams.” Stander was already associated with projects like Songo.info with his Epic partner Christoph Sauser.

The official memorial rides will be used to not only drive awareness but also hand over petitions to the MEC. Cronje added "We are fortunate to have the organisers of the Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour helping us with the Cape Town leg, the organizers of the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge assisting with the Gauteng leg and also support from Andrew Maclean via CycleLab and Fritz Pienaar via Advendurance. There will also be a ride on the South Coast where Burry is from"

All the details will be communicated via Burry's official Facebook page www.facebook.com/africanmtbkid

Stander’s death sent shockwaves throughout the international sporting community and tributes from all over the world are pouring in on the various sports and news websites and on the social media.

Leader of the DA, Helen Zille, posted her condolences on Twitter, writing: Such a tragedy. The cycling legend Burry Stander died today after being hit by a vehicle.

Christoph Sauser (Switzerland), Stander’s Epic team-mate and mentor, said that the feeling of emptiness and shock he experienced on hearing of Burry’s death was worse than when his dad died when he was still a child.  “I will never ever forget you,” he said.

Germany’s Karl Platt, a four-time winner of the Absa Cape Epic, tweeted: “I am speechless, shaking and completely out of my mind! What a sad day. We lost a part of our ‘family’.  Our prayers are with your family.”’

Greg Minnaar, World Champion in downhill racing, described Stander as a fighter, a champion, a gentleman and a legend forever.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, South Africa’s foremost female cyclist, said that she was sickened by the news of the passing away of Burry Stander. “My deepest condolences to Cherise Stander and family! May God give you strength.”

Robert Hunter, former stage winner in the Tour de France, said his thoughts go out to Burry's wife and family. “Huge loss for South African and world cycling.”

According to John Smit, a former Springbok captain, he is still struggling to deal with the news. “Burry was an absolute legend and hero of mine on the bike. Rest in peace, ‘Boet’.”

Victor Matfield, also a former Springbok captain, said it was time to stand up for cyclists’ rights on South African roads. “Such sad stuff to hear that South African hero, Burry Stander, one of the world’s best mountain bikers, was killed by a taxi on our roads.”

Max Knox, South African marathon champion, said he will miss his rivalry with Burry. “There are no words to describe my feelings when hearing of his death.  My heart is very sore. You will be missed dearly, my friend.”

According to Daryl Impey winner of two stages on the ProTour, Burry will always be his hero. “You are a legend  in the Czech Republic Forever,” wrote Radek Nedved, a Facebook supporter.

“Terrible news.... Burry Stander passing away - I cannot believe it,” tweeted Arron Brown.

"Saddest news to start 2013.  Rest in peace, my fellow 2012  Olympic teammate. My prayers are with his family and Cherise ,” Bridgitte Hartley(bronze medallist canoeist at the 2012 Olympic Games in London).

Kevin Vermaak, Absa Cape Epic founder, said: “This is the saddest news I’ve received since I began my involvement in South African cycling 10 years ago. “Burry was our brightest star. I’m upset that the world has been deprived of a true legend in the making. Now we’ll never know just how great he was destined to be. My thoughts are with his wife, Cherise, and his family, who have always been his biggest supporters.”

In 2011 Stander made history by becoming the first ever South African winner of the Cape Epic.  Since his Absa Cape Epic debut in 2008, Stander has entered the event 6 times, won 20 stages with teammate Christoph Sauser and walked away with overall honours twice.

Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), said more needed to be done to protect athletes.

"I've said this time and again but it is really time to work even harder at protecting both our runners and cyclists who use the roads daily to do their training.”

Fierce rival of Stander's on the SA mountain biking scene, Kevin Evans, wrote on Twitter: "Take nothing for granted.  Ever.  Condolences to the Stander family."

Other tweets:

Aww guys, this is awful!  Speechless really. Gone too soon!  posted former Springbok wing - and Cape Epic competitor - Breyton Paulse.

Stormers fly-half Peter Grant added: Terrible news to hear of Burry Stander’s passing away. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Retired Proteas wicketkeeper, Mark Boucher, posted: Terrible day! Bad news about a really special person and South African sport hero. Thoughts go out to the families concerned. So sorry!

SA trail running star, Ryan Sandes, also took to Twitter to express his sadness, writing: Gutted to hear about Burry! RIP buddy. You will always be a South African hero!  My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Tour de France star Chris Froome: "Very sad start to the new year and a massive loss to African cycling with the passing of Burry Stander"