What is often forgotten and is much as we beg to differ, cycling / mtb'ing in SA is not a mainstream sport in school which is the root of any sports development. Instead, most kids who get into the sport is because they inherit it from their parents. Most kids don't grow up on bikes because there are security concerns for their safety, etc. Take Europe on the other hand, their mainstream sports are football, sking and cycling. They are also first world countries where governments are not having to throw money into educating the masses, building houses for the poor, etc so a lot of money can be poured into sports development. SA is a sports mad country and sometimes our downfall because of our beautiful climate is that we just have too many options and not enough resources. In a world where world economies are under stress and sponsors are dwindling, professional cycling in SA is under imense pressure and hopefully talented individuals like Greg Minnaar, the great and late Burry, Robbie Hunter, Daryl Impey, etc will get through the cracks and keep raising the profile so that more SA contendors will come through and fly our flag at the top of the international arena.
