MTB Enthusiasts in for a Treat at All Africa Challenge

Participants of the mountain bike aspect of the exciting new three-prong CSA KZN All Africa Challenge, which takes place in Pietermaritzburg from 25-30 April, will be treated to a feast when they are given the opportunity to try their hand at various new MTB disciplines.

Stirred by the frenzy of activity that arose from the success of local downhill hero Greg Minnaar and cross-country star Burry Stander at the 2012 RockyRoads UCI MTB World Cup the MTB, which took place at Cascades MTB park a month ago, the MTB world will once again head for the ’Maritzburg-based facility next weekend however this time with a slightly lesser knowledge of what lies ahead.

Although those in Europe and America may be familiar with the concept of enduro racing as well as the cross-country eliminator these ideas are somewhat new to the South African mountain biking community, until next weekend that is.

“We always catch onto these things a little slowly here,” said renowned local track builder Nick Floros. “Full credit to the CSA KZN All Africa Challenge though for being able to bring these fresh ideas to the MTB community of South Africa.”

Enduro racing is an interesting hybrid of cross-country and downhill racing with elements of the two being fused together in a manner which enables riders of various abilities to take part in this MTB phenomenon.

“Enduro caters for a large percentage of the MTB community because there aren’t any big jumps and your wheels are on the ground for around 90% of the time,” said Floros. “Everyone starts at the finish line at the bottom of the course and have to make their own way up to the start unassisted, therefore you may not be given a lift by a vehicle or anything else for that matter.

“You have to get yourself up to the top by riding or walking up with your bike. The clock then starts when you start your first descend and it stops when you get to the bottom of the first descend stage. You then make your way up to the second start point, again unassisted, and again the clock starts at the beginning of your descend and stops when you cross the line at the bottom.

“The winner of the event is the person with the shortest combined time of their two descents,” he added.

Despite what some may think, the downhill elements of this race certainly aren’t what the likes of what local downhill star Greg Minnaar and Andrew Neethling are familiar with.

“This is by no means a downhill competition. Your average rider, the ‘weekend warrior’ if you like, whose fairly technically competent but doesn’t have the fitness for a Classic would be perfectly suited to this sort of event,” he added.

Whilst there haven’t been many enduro events in held in South Africa previously, this weekend’s Mr Price Karkloof Classic does have and enduro race in its programme, which Floros hopes will help ignite the enduro interest in the local MTB scene.

The inclusion of the rapidly developing cross-country eliminator in the event’s programme will also give local riders a rare opportunity to get a feel for the most recently included discipline on the 2013 UCI MTB World Cup calendar.

“The eliminator is another exciting race format we’ve included in this programme. It’s such a short, sharp style of racing over a very compact and spectator friendly type of track that riders just have to go flat out the minute the gun goes,” said Floros.

“It’s almost like a flat four-cross type event with no single track at all, which means there are plenty of overtaking opportunities. It’s a really exciting concept and with a good turnout will be absolutely awesome!”

Staged over a course of between 700m and 1200m, unlike its predecessor cross-country Olympic, the cross-country eliminator enables spectators to watch the drama unfold from just one or two points around the course.

The third and final string to the CSA MTB All Africa MTB Challenge’s bow the Classic, with a twist, which takes place on Sunday 29 April also at Cascades MTB Park.

“Sunday’s race should also be a great event, especially with the slight change we’ve made to the race format. We’ve opted to go with a 15km loop, which riders will do either once, twice or three times depending on the distance they chose to take part in,” said Floros.

"For the 45km Classic this means that they will be able to ride the route once and by the time they go around a second time they will be a lot more familiar with things and so will really be able to have a bit of a go on the second and third laps. All in all it should be a great weekend for MTB and cycling in general!”

The CSA KZN All Africa MTB Challenge, which along with the SA National BMX Championships and the SA National Track and Para Cycling Championships make up the CSA KZN All Africa Challenge, take place at Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April.

SA BMX Champs Part of All Africa Challenge

BMX fans have welcomed the news that iconic South African superstar Sifiso ‘Skizo’ Nhlapo has confirmed that he will jet back for the SA National BMX Championships, which form part of Pietermartizburg’s exciting new CSA KZN All Africa Challenge. 

With the 2010 world champs runner-up desperately trying to regain full fitness and find the form that sent him to the top just a couple of years ago, Skizo along with many other up and coming local riders, will be hungry for a strong performance at Alexandra Park in two weeks’ time. 

“We’re very excited to have Sifiso (Nhlapo) back for the nationals,” said Cycling South Africa’s National Director: BMX, Margot Gerber. “The likes of Kyle Dodd and Dean Holdstock, who have also been going well recently, will also be there so we’re really holding thumbs for a great event!” 

“We’ve moved away from our previous system of three events each with two legs in which you are able to earn points from, to a once-off championship event that falls in line with what the UCI is trying to get everyone to do,” added Eugene Eggar, Cycling South Africa’s National BMX Track Coordinator. 

The CSA KZN All Africa Challenge will be hugely beneficial to all three cycling disciplines however it is the BMX community that is particularly hopeful of what the event may well do for their sport. 

“The track is undergoing a huge rehabilitation at the moment and our aim is that once we’ve had the nationals there then the ’Maritzburg BMX Club will take over the management of the track,” said KZN BMX Commissioner Jason Nichol. 

“This will be a big step forward for BMX in the region because even though Pietermaritzburg has become the cycling capital of South Africa, BMX numbers in the region are still quite low. 

“Hopefully the new track at Alexandra Park, which is more central and visible to the community, will really help grow the sport especially amongst the local community members,” he added. 

Having staged the UCI BMX Supercross there last year, there have been certain changes that have been required before next weekend’s event however, Eggar is happy with the progress. 

“Things have been going really well and it’s going to be absolutely awesome!” said Eggar. “From the babies right through to the elite it really will be a great weekend for BMX in South Africa! 

“The Supercross guys are the top of the top in the world so we’ve had to step things down a bit for our nationals. We’ve taken out the berm jump and made one or two other small changes but we’ve put in a six-metre start hill, which is the biggest size allowed at this level so this track definitely isn’t one that just anyone would manage!” he added. 

Despite participants being unable to qualify for this year’s London Olympic Games through the Nationals, the event is still a UCI category six event and there is still plenty to race for come next weekend. 

“This is not just a Grand National Series event, this is the SA National Champs so the rider who crosses the line first on Sunday will be crowned SA Champ for 2012 and will be given the number one board for the next year and some of the guys will really want to do well ahead of the World Champs in Birmingham in September this year,” said Nichol. 

The SA National BMX Championships form part of the CSA KZN All Africa Challenge and take place at Alexandra Park from 27-29 April. 
More info can be found at www.cyclingsa.com

MTN-QHUBEKA MEN MAKING THE MOST OF EUROPEAN PROGRAMME

Team MTN-Qhubeka is currently running a dual-programme, with some riders remaining in Africa and others competing abroad.

For the MTN-Qhubeka athletes in Europe, there has been much to learn in terms of racing, as well as the chance to embrace new experiences off the bike.

Following the Tour du Maroc, the men’s team moved to Belgium. Coming from hot, windy Morocco, Belgium seemed even cooler and wetter.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg notes that it was action from the word go, with the team competing in their first race, the GP Pino Cerami, just two days after arriving. As a UCI 1.1 race of 200km, the race attracted the likes of Team Astana, Astana, Quickstep, Lotto, Cofidis and Vaconsoleil as well as 11 other Pro-continental teams and 10 Conti teams.

Janse van Rensburg and Eritrean teammate Merom Russom were the two finishers from the MTN-Qhubeka group. Janse van Rensburg noted that although it was not a spectacular result, he was happy with his performance, especially after 10 days in Morocco and much travelling.

The next race, the Rund Om Koln, was wet and cold. “It was around four degrees Celsius and rained non-stop, which isn’t something any of us are used to,” said Janse van Rensburg. “We got our rain gear on and set off for a 200km trek around Cologne.”

Unfortunately, with 40km remaining, Janse van Rensburg and Bradley Potgieter hooked bars and Janse van Rensburg took a tumble. He got back on the bike and managed to finish in the bunch with no injuries other than a cut on his chin and cheek and a few scrapes.

The third race for the men was Zellig-Galmaarden, a UCI Category 1.2 race of 174km. Regrettably, Arran Brown fell ill and was unable to race, but the rest of the MTN-Qhubeka men lined up on the start to tackle another cold day of ridings. Thankfully, the weather was dry and the 28 teams could focus on the tough circuit without a further obstacle.

“The circuit was tough with 16 climbs, some of them on cobbles and some steep,” explains Sports Director Jens Zemke. “The race started fast and the first breakaway was gone after 15km. Bradley Potgieter was able to bridge over. They had a max gap of 30 seconds, but were caught back after 10km.”

Potgieter dropped out at 70km and Songezo Jim shortly afterwards. Martin Wesemann managed to hang in until somewhere between 130 and 140km before dropping out.

“A break of 13 riders was formed after half of the race on the Muur of Geraardsbergen,” says Zemke. “Another 10 riders joined them awhile later and then Janse van Rensburg also joined this group, which was 40 riders strong. The bunch comprised another 100 riders with Meron Russom and Dennis van Niekerk a minute or two min behind. At the end, the group in front split in several parts and four guys reached the finish with a gap. Janse van Rensburg was around 20th at the end, sprinting for a result.”

Janse van Rensburg was the team’s best finisher, coming in at 24^th position overall.

Despite the tough racing conditions and the fact that most of the team has been sick, the MTN-Qhubeka men are making the most of the opportunities presented to them both on and off the bike.

Dennis van Niekerk says that they enjoyed a day off in Gent, exploring the city and spending time together as a team.

“We rode our bikes to the train station in Ninove and bought a train ticket to Gent,” he says. “It was one of the few nice days we had so far here in Belgium – still cold, but at least the sun came out for a few hours. We had some lunch and coffee and just did some sightseeing around the city. Just before we decided to head back, a storm came over the city so we went and did some shopping in the stores. We had a look at all the stuff Belgium had to offer. There were these funny sweets they sold on the streets called 'belgiese neues'. Apparently they have been around forever and are handmade in the city.”

After their day out, the men headed back to the team house, just managing to catch the last few kilometres of the Brabandse Pijl race being screened on TV, as Thomas Voekler rode away.

According to Zemke, the team cooks together and trains together as well as racing together. “It’s good for their team spirit to suffer together,” he smiles. “The setup here could not be better, with their first class Trek bikes, SRAM groupset and Zipp wheels. The team looks cool and you can’t see a difference between MTN-Qhubeka and the bigger teams from Europe.

“The racing is tough and the men are still waiting for a top ten spot. They are at the start-line of a great future and they will develop during the next few months. It’s nice to see a team growing and I am confident that we will have some respectable results in our hands after the next races. It is quite a lot to do, but we have talented, young guys in the team which will make a big difference in getting to the next level.”

Team MTN-Qhubeka’s next races abroad are the Arno Wallaard Memorial on 21 April, the Ronde van noord Holland on 22 April and the Tour of Bretagne from 25 April until 1 May.

Brown, Potgieter, Van Niekerk, Russom, Janse van Rensburg and Tesfay Habtemariem will tackle this weekend’s races.

The Tour of Bretagne team will comprise Songezo Jim, Brown, Potgieter, Van Niekerk, Russom and Janse van Rensburg.

Grand National marred by Horse Deaths

British horse racing regulators will again be forced to review equine welfare in the Grand National after two horses, including Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and leading fancy Synchronised, were put down on Saturday.

Both Synchronised and According To Pete came to grief, their deaths overshadowing a thrilling victory by 33-1 outsider Neptune Collonges.

The fatalities, following two in last year's event, prompted the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) to defend safety steps taken in a race which has regularly come under scrutiny for the number of equine casualties it produces.

Since 1973, there have been 33 horse deaths in the showpiece steeplechase, a demanding test of stamina and strength of both horse and jockey.

The sight of 40 horses charging at breakneck speed and thundering over 30 fences makes thrilling viewing.
The sight of stricken horses covered by tarpaulins is less palatable.

"We are desperately sad at these two accidents and our sympathies are with the connections of both horses," Aintree racecourse managing director Julian Thick said in a statement.
"When a horse gets hurt, everyone is deeply upset. Safety is the first priority for the organisers of the Grand National and we make every effort to ensure that everyone involved in the event is able to participate in safety.

"Horse racing is a sport that is very carefully regulated and monitored by the BHA, but risk can never be completely removed. The Grand National is a professional and well-organised race and only the best horses and jockeys are allowed to enter."

FENCES MODIFIED

Following a review of the fatalities in 2011 race some fences were modified to improve safety. Changes included lowering the drop side of the infamous Becher's Brook but this was the fence where Synchronised met his fate on Saturday.

Professor Tim Morris, Director of Equine Science and Welfare for the BHA, said the organisation took the responsibility of looking after the welfare of horse and rider "very seriously".
"It is our stated objective to continue to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities which occur in racing," he said.

Five horses were killed during the four-day Cheltenham Festival meeting last month while the Dubai World Cup was also marred by two deaths in a supporting race at Meydan racecourse in the United Arab Emirates.

Paul Nicholls, the trainer of Neptune Collonges, said all elements of risk in the sport could not be removed.

"All sports have an element of risk and we all take a certain amount of risk each day," he told a news conference. "We take every effort to minimise risks but even in Flat races accidents can happen."

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) equine advisor David Muir said organisers needed to reconsider the number of runners, the number of fences, the length of the race and the type and design of the jumps.

"We've said it before, the death of a horse is the unacceptable face of horse racing. I am not happy with
the drop fences and Becher's is a drop fence," he told reporters.
"To be fair, the BHA and Aintree management will look into the race and I believe we will see a rolling change without taking away the ethos of the Grand National over the next few years."

Oscar into 400m finals in PE

Double amputee Oscar Pistorius scraped into the 400 metres final at the South African championships on Friday saying he did not feel the need to push himself in the heats.

Pistorius, who wants to become the first amputee athlete to compete at an Olympics, looked at ease when finishing second in a time of 48.34 seconds in his heat.

He then placed fourth in the semi-final with 47.91 behind top qualifier Lebogang Moeng (46.69) at a windy Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.

"I'd like to finish in the top three tomorrow. Lebogang is in good shape, he went out very hard in the semi and the heat. I don't know, that's not the tactic I would have chosen,"Pistorius told reporters.
"There's nothing to prove by winning a semi.
"Tomorrow is going to be quite a tough day. Coming out of the 300 today, I was in second place very comfortably. I didn't see a need to push it," he added.

The 25-year-old sprinter, who uses carbon fibre prosthetic running blades, dipped below the Olympic qualifying time of 45.30 in Pretoria last month, clocking 45.20.

He needs to repeat that performance in an international meeting in order to qualify for the South African team.

Pistorius has a busy international schedule planned in order to meet qualifying standard for the London Games, which start in July.

"I'll find out soon whether I'll be running in Doha on May 11. I'm waiting for them to get back to us. Ostrava is guaranteed on the 25th, Hengelo is confirmed on the 27th in the Netherlands. On June 4 it is the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon and on the 11th is the Diamond League in New York," said Pistorius.

Bahrain GP to Go Ahead

Formula One will race in Bahrain as scheduled next week despite continuing anti-government protests, daily street clashes and security concerns for drivers and teams.

The International Automobile Federation said in a statement on Friday that it had received regular briefings from senior diplomatic officials and "independent experts" in the Gulf kingdom and was satisfied it was safe for the grand prix, cancelled last year due to civil unrest, to proceed.

The announcement reinforced the views of Formula One's commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, who told Reuters at the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday that the April 22 race was on unless local sporting authorities asked for it to be off.

Team principals, some of them known to be unhappy about competing in Bahrain against a backdrop of continuing violence and opposition from activists, were meeting 81-year-old Ecclestone at the Shanghai circuit later.

Frenchman Jean Todt, the president of the Paris-based FIA, was not due to be at the track until Saturday with his position clearly set out.

"Based on the current information the FIA has at this stage, it is satisfied that all the proper security measures are in place for the running of a Formula One World Championship event in Bahrain," the FIA statement said.

"Therefore, the FIA confirms that the 2012 F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain will go ahead as scheduled."

The race at Sakhir, which brought in more than 100,000 visitors and half a billion dollars in spending when last held in 2010, will be the fourth round of the 20-race season. 

Last year's event was scrapped after an uprising in February by mostly Shi'ite pro-democracy demonstrators demanding a greater say in government and better access to jobs and housing.

Bahrain's monarchy quashed the revolt with the help of security forces from Saudi Arabia, and more then 30 people have been killed.

An explosion shook the capital Manama late on Thursday, damaging two cars, the Interior Ministry said. Al Arabiya television said the blast was caused by a gas container thrown among vehicles on a street.

Some opposition activists have dubbed the race a "tool of repression" and made repeated calls for it to be cancelled.

RATIONAL DECISIONS

The sport's governing body had been expected to wait and see how the situation unfolded after Friday prayers, a time when street protests are often triggered in Bahrain, before making any official decision. 

The words 'current' and 'at this stage' in the statement could leave the door open to a U-turn should circumstances change.

Another factor weighing on a tense situation is the health of jailed rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, on hunger strike for two months, who was moved to a military hospital this week with conflicting reports about his condition.

The FIA statement said the governing body had to make "rational decisions" based on information provided by the Bahrain authorities and Ecclestone.

Todt, who was supported by Bahrain in his election campaign and visited the country last November on a "fact-finding mission" after the calendar was ratified, had made no secret of his desire for the race to go ahead if conditions allowed.

Ecclestone had also been supportive of a race that contributes some $40 million in hosting fees, telling Reuters last month that Formula One would be in Bahrain "for as long as they want us."

The first country in the Middle East to host a grand prix, making its debut on the calendar in 2004, Bahrain has considerable influence in Formula One with a representative on the FIA's decision-making World Motor Sport Council.

The country's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat also owns 42 percent of McLaren Group, whose team are currently leading the Formula One championship.

Bahrain's Sunni Muslim rulers are eager to bring back the race as part of their efforts to show progress on reconciliation and reform with the majority Shi'ite community that led last year's protests.

Most Formula One drivers, who are sure to have extra security for the race, have shied away from voicing opinions on the political situation and expressed confidence in the sport and teams to make the right decisions.

Australian Mark Webber, who drives for champions Red Bull, suggested on Thursday that the race could be called off "in a flash" if need be.

"Ultimately it's a car race," he told reporters. "There are a hell of a lot of people in the world who don't have a clue there is a grand prix in Bahrain next weekend so let's not get too wrapped up in our own bubble about how important it is."

No AFCON 2013 in Johannesburg?

Johannesburg has become the latest major South African city to balk at being a host for next year's African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which would leave the tournament without the landmark Soccer City Stadium as a venue.

It's the latest and biggest blow to South Africa's troubled bidding process to choose venues for the 2013 African Cup, with newly built stadiums in Cape Town and Durban also looking unlikely to participate because of high costs.

The absence of South Africa's three iconic World Cup stadiums, which hosted the final and semi-finals at the world's biggest football tournament in 2010, would cast doubts over that competition's legacy in the country and the future use of those venues.

"The city has indicated that it is not in a position to host games and has therefore not signed a host agreement," City of Johannesburg spokesperson Gabu Tugwana said in an e-mail to The Associated Press (AP).

The 90 000-plus capacity Soccer City - now known as FNB Stadium - staged the 2010 World Cup final and was expected to also host the 2013 Cup of Nations final. It is the biggest soccer stadium in Africa.

Tugwana did not give reasons for Johannesburg's decision, but potential host cities have reportedly balked at paying high fees to organisers.

An official in Cape Town this week said its bid to be a host city was running over budget because of "critical issues" that were unresolved in the bidding process organised by the South African Football Association (SAFA).

"The City of Cape Town is committed to being a Host City for AFCON 2013 and is excited by this honour and opportunity," Cape Town mayoral committee member Grant Pascoe said in a statement. "However, the City of Cape Town has repeatedly highlighted its concerns with SAFA about certain contractual obligations and the impact that the possible undefined costs could have on both Cape Town and on other municipalities."

Pascoe told the AP that Cape Town officials were waiting for SAFA to provide feedback.

SAFA and its local organising committee have reportedly asked for R20m from each host city to be considered, although LOC chief executive Mvuzo Mbebe said there had been "distortions" in the media over that figure and the financial commitments required by potential host cities.

Mbebe declined to discuss the process in detail in a meeting with reporters last week when South Africa signed the organising agreement with the Confederation of African Football.

SAFA has delayed the initial announcement of the host venues until April 20. South Africa's smaller World Cup stadiums in northern cities like Rustenburg, Nelspruit and Polokwane are now tipped to be included, with Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town missing.

Cape Town Stadium hasn't hosted a major football game since late 2010.

African Cup of Nations organisers have also said attracting crowds and filling stadiums was their top priority next year, meaning some of South Africa's shining new World Cup stadiums may be too big and too difficult to sell out for the lower-profile African Cup.

The recent African Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea had problems with poor crowds and large swatches of empty seats were obvious on television broadcasts - even for some knockout games.

Hicham El Amrani, the secretary general of the Confederation of African Football, conceded that bigger was not necessarily better for the Cup of Nations. Instead, El Amrani said that having full stadiums was "one of the key focuses, if not the priority focus for us."

"We cannot only consider iconic stadiums just for the fact that they are beautiful. They are World Cup stadiums, but they have a capacity of 80 000, or 60 000," he said. "It's a range of factors and parameters that we select, so we don't necessarily go for the most beautiful and biggest four or five venues and then that's it.

"No, if we want to fill the stadiums and attract the fans as well we have to consider the kind of capacity."