STRONG TEAM TO BACK GEORGE AT MTN GIRO DEL CAPO David George will bring a strong MTN Energade team to support him in his quest for a record-equalling fourth title at the MTN Giro del Capo, South Africa?s premier international road cycling stage race, which starts in Wellington on Tuesday. George, the current Commonwealth Games road race silver medallist, is in peak form following a solid performance at the recent Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia where he raced in a support role on the national team and finished 21st overall. George dominated the Giro del Capo for three years, winning from 2002-2004, but it?s been a long time since he sprayed champagne from the top step of the final podium. And after finishing second in 2006 and third last year, the 32-year-old Capetonian is hungry for that elusive fourth victory that will confirm his status as one of this country?s best ever stage racers. George is a classy climber and is also the current South African individual time trial champion. With two significant climbing stages and a hillclimb time trial epilogue stage, the format of this year?s Giro ideally suits his strengths. ?I expect the second and fourth stages to be decisive because of the high percentage of climbing on those days,? said George. Stage 2 is over 179.5km on the Vissershok Circuit in Bellville, while Stage 4 is a 148km haul that includes the Hellshoogte Circuit in Stellenbosch. Unlike last year, when George raced on a relatively weak composite team at the Giro and still finished third, he?s assembled a powerful MTN Energade squad to assist him in his title quest this year. ?We?ve got depth, experience and versatility in this team,? explained George. ?Ian McLeod just had a top-10 finish at the Tour de Langkawi, while Nic White, a former Giro winner, is in superb form right now. Waylon Woolcock is a strong tour rider and then we?ve got Malcolm Lange and Jay Thomson for the sprints.? MAYBE HE SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH LAST YEARS TEAM!
