Breeze

I asked why we are going and as understood we need UCI points and to qualify for the Olympics. I looked it up and this is how I understand it - but please correct me if I am wrong: http://www.uci.ch/imgArchive/Rules/2road-E.pdf on page 64 / 64 it explains what points can be scored at the National Champs / one day and stage races etc. The plan probably is that we try and score as many possible points still this year (over 1 weekend)! The girls will score a certain amount of UCI points at SA champs (does not matter who wins). The girls going to China will hopefully also score some points. (there no asia, europe / africa in ladies cycling - points go towards one ranking). But I think we should not make the mistake of underextimating the other teams and at that the chinese. Their girls are really doing well and won a mountain bike world cup a few weeks ago. We are now ranked 16th ination in the world in ladies cycling. If the girls don't go and score points somewhere there is a possibility that we might drop out of the top 24 teams on the rankings meaning we do not qualify the ladies for Olympics (top 16 teams qualify 3 riders and 17 - 24 qualify 2 riders). If an SA rider finishes in top 3 at World B's we have 1 individual qualification which means an extra rider. Also if an SA rider is ranked in the top 8 individually - another one can go. So there is a possibility that a few countries will have 4 or 5 riders there. http://www.uci.ch/imgArchive/Rules/08.%20Cycling%20-%20UCI%20detailed%20DECEMBER06.pdf - link for qualification system for road - Beijing. If the girls stay in the top 24 and qualify SASCOC has to take 2 girls at least to Beijing. Otherwise no SA representative in that catagory. Having Yolandi competing in Europe also brings in points, but 1 girl scoring points is not enough, and as it goes she is doing well, adapting, but not yet winning abroad in the world cup races. (though we all holding thumbs) 1 1 GERMANY GER 2412.74 2 3 SWITZERLAND SUI 1673.98 3 2 NETHERLANDS NED 1627.43 4 5 GREAT BRITAIN GBR 1430.33 5 4 ITALY ITA 1328.32 6 6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA USA 1074.17 7 8 SWEDEN SWE 1016.51 8 7 AUSTRALIA AUS 871.18 9 10 RUSSIAN FEDERATION RUS 848.32 10 9 LITHUANIA LTU 843.66 11 12 FRANCE FRA 470.05 12 13 DENMARK DEN 449.31 13 11 AUSTRIA AUT 412.99 14 14 KAZAKHSTAN KAZ 406.66 15 15 BRAZIL BRA 246 16 16 SOUTH AFRICA RSA 213 17 20 CANADA CAN 187 18 26 UKRAINE UKR 177 19 18 NEW ZEALAND NZL 174.33 20 19 POLAND POL 169 For interest sake: Yolandi is now ranked 50th with 85 points - Nicole Cooke leading with 1354. So - yes this might be the wrong timing to go on a tour - but the girls must get some points somewhere. This brings me to question: it is now all good and well - but will the girls be of any competition at Beijing? It is just more than a year - other countries have 3-4 year plans for Olympics. Maybe Yolandi - she is the only one competing against the best in the world at the moment, but you can't be alone. The federation wants the points to qualify them - and then? What is the plan to win the olympics or will we only be filling the spot? Who are they getting ready for it?

I am going to be honest. It was hard in the during the first stage - but for the the guys it definately felt that it was Tekton against the rest of the field. The other teams really did work well together to put us on the spot (good for us - we gonna need that in Europe). Luckily we saw that during stage 1 and we did not make the same mistake during stage 2.1. We knew the other teams expected us to chase down the break on day 2.1 but we knew exactly how strong every rider of us were and what they will be capable of once on the climb. David would not have won it without his teammates and he rightfull calls Bradley his wingman who made sure he gets to the final day in yellow. All the other teams probably hoped the guys would turn against one another - it is tempting you know, but the jnr tour is only one tour for us this year, we still need to do quite a few in EU later this year. Everybody will get a chance. On a climb such as the one in Golden Gate you are only as strong as your legs are willing to be. We also knew if we make it hard on day one it will also tire the main competition and since we did only tour type of training the last couple of months we knew we would be better recovered the following day - luckily that worked out. Excluding all the Tekton guys, Jean Spies impressed me very much - he is fighter, not a climber, could chase back the main field on the flats and still sprint at the end. Louis Boonzaaier - great GC finish. Remember normally the most consistent rider is not the one wearing the yellow - it is the one who is willing to take some risks and chances. Go for the big breaks - you have the strength to do so. Though on the final results you'll find the Mr Price teams in the final Team GC, but it was infact the HiQ red team who gave us a run for our money. Though they only finished 6th team, they road aggressive and made for good racing and gave every rider to try and take the lead from us. Other names I think we gonna hear of sooner than later: Edrich & Divan Rall (mtn) Andrew Reinard & Tiaan Swart(Mr Price) AB van der walt (Mtn)and Frikkie le Roux (Chemspec) - keep the faith - your luck will turn. The trackies also did well on tour, finished high up. Potgieter, Ketterer, Bester, Funnel & Spies. If our federation is clever they will get you Europe to race against other track teams well before worlds (but that is only my 2cents worth).

Best to plan doing time and not distance. 150 kms might take ages for one an less for another.

Morne Blignaut also broke the 500m SA record - made the team as well

Michael Thompson also made the team - he also won the elite catagory with points on the day - think also the 2 of the events

So tell me - as Bradley won the omnium on the day for the juniors ,being the only guy from our team there - does he deserve being in the team? He had 4 podiums at least which include 2 wins?

Daar was net 1 KOM gister gewees, en ja, David van Tekton het dit gewen. Hy wys dat hy heel waarskynlik 'n great klimmer is. Die gap was op 'n stadium 3 minute na David toe, maar toe die elites besluit om die gap toe te maak het hulle, het dit nie veel moeite gekos nie. Met net drie kompeterende pro spanne oor die naweek kan ons effens negatiewe racing verwag. However - ek kan nie sien dat dit so sal wees met 20 kompeterende spanne nie en dit hoekom Europa se racing soveel beter is want die kanse van wen is nie een uit 3 of 4 nie, maar wel 1 uit 20. Vandag was dieselfde, toe Exel besluit sit die hammer neer het meeste van die juniors behalwe 2 uit die bunch gepop (great vir David Maree en Ruan Benson!!).

Spoke to Bart yesterday. Please note that the dates of teh junior tour moved to 29 March - 1 April 2007. As understood everything is being finalized regards the stages etc and will be available on their website by Monday/Tuesday. Tour to take place in Harrismith. www.cycle-tours.co.za

Guys - I know exactly who you talking about and know the boy very well. He previously rode for Mr P and now Harmony. I will take it up with him and his dad.

Reach out: ?Adopt a development cycling kid?<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Cycling is firstly a means of therapy at the Jakaranda and Louis Botha Children?s Homes in <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Pretoria. 120 kinds are weekly part of this cycling development programme. Tinus Erwee, executive director of the two Children?s Homes, follows a structured development programme to teach these kids important life lessons. The kids are taught to work together as a team, to be responsible for basic bike maintenance, to finish what you start. Tinus Erwee takes on the streets of Tshwane with 80 bicycles (liquorice all sorts). The other 40 kids are still too young and enjoy the mountain bikes in the leisure parks with the help of willing social workers. The two Children?s Homes have 120 bicycles ? too big, too small, old ones and a few proper road bikes for the identified licensed riders. All the equipment is stored at the two Children?s Homes with proper control. Every child has a dedicated bicycle, helmet and cycling shoes. Archie Holtzhausen and Wimpie GouwsonName> (Prince?s Park McCarthy Volkswagen) started an extended development programme with 10 of these kids. These kids were licensed and Archie managed to find individual sponsorships from the Gauteng cycling community to make these kids part of the licensed cycling community. These kids took the opportunity on with both hands. Their results are the proof: These kids were 27 times on the podium at the various licensed races during 2006; they won 3 medals at the Gauteng North Road and Time Trial championships. The highlight of the year was when Edward Maritz won the SA Time Trial title for boys under 14 at the SA Road and Time Trial championships. Quo vadis? The vision is to extend this programme to provide 60 kids the same opportunity during 2007 that will enable them to compete on the highest level. Barry and Ciska Austin support this program and will assist with the training and development of identified youngsters. The aim is to develop the youngsters in such a way that will enable them to compete on international level as part of an ?excellence team?. What is necessary to make this dream come true? Individuals or companies willing to sponsor or co-sponsor a development kid for a year (+-R6000). The costs are mainly for summer kit, winter kit, entries for 20 races, supplements and food after each race. Road bikes (mainly small frames for the girls) Spare parts for maintenance Mountain bikes (for competition purposes) Cycling shoes Helmets Cycling kit (small and extra small) People willing to help. Let us reach out to a large number of unprivileged kids with a passion to become part of the bigger cycling community. You can contact Archie Holtzhausen on 082 416 7124 or e-mail him at archie.h@mweb.co.za or Wimpie GouwsonName> on 082 800 4400 or e-mail him at WimpieG@mcmotor.co.za .

From EUROSPORT.COM Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso has confirmed he has received an offer to ride for the Discovery Channel team next season. Basso was one of nine riders banned from riding in the Tour de France after the 'Operacion Puerto' blood doping scandal broke on the eve of the race, though was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Italian Olympic Committee at a hearing last week. And the 28-year-old revealed to French daily L'Equipe, that he has already been coveted by other Pro Tour teams, including the Discovery Channel. "They made me a concrete offer, but I am open to other possibilities," Basso said. "It's not out of the question that I'll go back to Italy [where Basso is in contact with Milram], but I have also received offers from other teams on the continent." "But right now, in all honesty, I hope to be able to continue with CSC. It's my team. I believe I have contributed significantly to the building of the team," he added. But Basso admitted that his relationship with team manager Bjarne Riis would first have to be repaired before he could return to the Danish outfit. "We're in a similar situation to a couple who have hit problems in their relationship, and who are working on putting the pieces back together," he commented. "I'll say it again. From my point of view, I don't feel like I was betrayed. I still think about what he told me, face to face, in Strasbourg [when the scandal broke]. That he believed in me, and that I was his rider." Eurosport - Michael FitzGerald - 17/10/2006 17:34