Belgium boy

Its all about choices .. just because a "Pro" wishes to make a living in SA. It does not mean he is any weaker of hart then someone who is riding the Tour de France. Europe is not a place for everyone. Some of us want to live and race there, and others don't ever get used to a place and culture that is far away from home. I have taken many South African's to Europe, some have thrived, others left as quickly as they arrived...its all about choices. There are also many top riders in the States who have all the ability in the world .. but I doubt it makes them a lesser of a person because they have not chosen the European route. Shold the comebackboy choose to be pro .. he can give me a call..I'm sure I can find a space for him

Dear Gypsy, or parent of a junior who had his/her nose put out of joint at the recent junior Tour, at the risk of sounding obtuse. I too have been involved in cycling for a long time... a very long time. As the manager of Michelle Corbett and Konica Minolta, I will attempt to clarify the facts surrounding the so called "pushing of Michelle" The photo was taken on the last stage before entering the golden gate reserve, at this point in time Michelle was sitting comfortably in the Junior boys peleton. She eased off on order to fetch a bottle from her team car, in so doing she passed the Mr Price rider, who incidently is from Cape Town and has no assocation with Jills Mr Price Junior team. the rider was under the impression she was being dropped and being a boy he gave her a word of encouragment and touched Michelle on the shoulder... Michelle Collected her bottle and regained contact with the peleton. At all times during the race she closely was followed by more than one commisarre, including Craig Autrey and Hendrik Wagenaar whom you are welcome to contact over the matter. You are very quick to label an athlete a "cheat without" confirming the facts. She won the tour by close on 30 minutes over the 2nd placed lady.....and you are claiming she did this by being "pushed along? Had Michelle Cheated she would have been disqualified on the tour and she would have born the consequence of your actions. I look forward to seeing Michelle race again at SA Championships in May, and I'm hoping to see you on the start line together with your daughter/son, perhaps you will be open enough to come an introduce yourself. Michelle is a talented young athlete whom both myself and Konica Minolta are proud to be associated with. I firmly believe that with the correct guidence she has the abilty to win a medal for South Africa in the junior World Road Championships, if not this year then in 2008. Give her credit as she deserves it. Not since the days of Ronel van Wyk have I seen a first year junior race the way she did. These are of course just my personal feelings on the matter

Eckard Bergh www.trainingbible.co.za I would strongly recommend him, he is young but he knows what he is doing, If you don't like him I can train you, but I doubt you would last a month

SRAM .. best avoided still lots of teething problems

She crashed in Tour De Femme and hurt her knee ... besides she says "suffering is fun" .. and Europe is not for sissies, it's also really sad her country can only send two girls to worlds...but I guess thats the state of our sport at present. a BIG POLITICAL MESS ...the other Lem reckons I should just change the F... Political landscape . Had I only known I would have taken up a career in politics. Its far more rewarding especially in SA, you can lie cheat,steal, and make false promises and at the end of your five term you do a little road show and get elected again The Kenyan is good, he was 2nd on the most difficult stage of GP tell, won a KOM jersey last week, and another Tour in france.... as for Barlworld .. they like Italians and the odd SOuth African ...I don't think Kenyans will feature on Barloworld although they deserve to... Its not always about what you know or achieve .... sometimes its just about who you know.

This past weekend Team Neotel used the Monte Casino Rotary 100 Cycle Race as preparation for the World Road Cycling Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Despite only achieving sixth place in the 100 km race, Team Neotel manager Barry Austin feels that the team obtained their goals set out before the race. The teams objective was to use this event as preparation for the upcoming 4-day Selati Africycle Tour (13-16 September) and more importantly the World Road Champs, for which Nolan Hoffmann; Jacques Janse Van Rensburg; Jaco Venter (all from Team Neotel) have qualified for later this month. Team Neotel controlled the race from the outset, placing all members on the front of the peleton. The team had expected an aggressive and attacking race but none of the other pro teams took up the challenge. The younger members of team Neotel absorbed the responsibility of working on the front superbly. Once the peloton reached the Tracking station road along Hartebeeshoek, the attacks from the Konica/Minolta riders split the peloton. With 30km to go, the main breakaway had developed with Jay Thomson, Dennis van Niekerk, Tiaan Kannemeyer, Travis Allen (all Konica/Minolta), Daryl Impey, Waylon Wilcock, Neil MacDonald (all MTN Microsoft), Hanco Kachelhoffer (Harmony), and Team Neotel's Adrian Maaske. The break pressed hard to stay clear of the main pack, being driven by Team Neotel. Coming into the finish, there was some confusion due to the lack of a finish banner and markings by the organizers. But Daryl Impey (also part of World Champs Squad) got the jump on the rest of the break and drove his way to victory. Unfortunately Neotel had to settle for sixth place by Adrian Maaske but on the overall, the team seems well prepared for their defense of the Selati Africycle Tour in Mpumalanga next week. Race Results: 1. Daryl Impey (MTN Microsoft) 2. Dennis Van Niekerk (Konica Minolta) 3. Jay Thomson (Konica Minolta) 4. Neil MacDonald (MTN Microsoft) 5. Hanco Kachelhoffer (Harmony) 6. Adrian Maaske (Neotel) Article by: Owen Hannie It's good when teams do press releases but try and not make them completely one sided .. what was left out was the fact that Pieter Syffert (Konica Minolta)was in front by himself for more than 50 kilometers, hence Neotel, I lose track of how many riders they have each weekend, had to control the race. We believe Konica did take up the challenge we had a rider away in the first 5km , and we attacked again with less than 40 km to go initiating the break which stayed away... ..but we can always be more aggressive next time Good luck to the men going to worlds .. it will be a lot harder than the Montecasino fun ride, a LOT harder!

Where Is Mr Sernoche now .... "How do you like them apples now boy!" .. perhaps we should spend a few more vacations in Mexico!

Mr.Senoche, I am not sure who you are and I don't really care either, but if you want to post your comments on here at least get your facts in order first. Secondly If you think either Cherise or Myself for that matter is having some sort of "lekker Vacation" in Mexico, then good luck to you, maybe CSA can send you as a manager sometime although judging from your experience.... I leave it at that. I already have a reputation for bieng sarcastic as the best of times. But fools, I don't suffer them gladly..... and you young man are a fool.

"Die dwelmprobleem in Europa is juis die rede waarom ons span nie internasionaal meeding nie. ?Ons jaers kon hulself nooit in Europese wedrenne laat geld nie, want hulle was nie bereid om dwelms te gebruik nie.? .... sorry guys, but when journalists write things like this ...I'm rolling around on the floor laughing! its like saying that no South African rider can make it in Europe unless he is doping.?.... Maybe the article should read, lets use doping as an excuse so we don't have to go to Europe and race or something....or are we impliyng that every South African who has raced with success in EUrope is doping ?

EWEP .. I'm sitting with some very drunk Belgium mates here, and we were wondering what do you want to be "A Moron" or "an idiot" ...

EWEP .. knowing Cherise, but then who's to say I know her at all, she wants to be a world champion in her age group, which is why she is in Columbia training and racing at Altitude, and living with a columbian who competed in 15 grand tours , the guy also trained the columbia womans national team in 1997....do you agree with this ?

DO you know what it costs to get just one athlete to Mexico ? Do you also know that World Junior Championships as at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level, in a country which is seven hours behind ours i.e, for those who don't understand a different time zone. Possibly I am mistaken but most of our top juniors are currently racing at sea level in Belgium. their is only one junior training and racing in columbia at this present moment at more than 2000 m above sea level, CheriseTaylor raced 4 ELite womans criteriums in Belgium a week ago finished 9th, 7th , 6th, 6th ..note ELITE womans crits which she competed in with JUNIOR gears.. Its not to say that other riders don't deserve the opportunity to go, we have many good juniors who show great promise. but the cost is just too high .. and to go directly from Belgium to Mexico....to race at that kind of altitude without the right preperation.... you be the judge

Nope ... Degano should have been the last choice...but it helps if you are Italian .. John Lee should have been given the oportunity, there was no way Degano would finish from the very start. he would not have got through the first mountain stage.

Six riders will be representing <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />South Africaon> in Franceon> on Sunday at the UCI 1.2 Ranked Henin Beaumont over a distance of 186kms <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> The six riders are: Dennis Van Niekerk, Christoff Van Heerden, Jay Thompson, Roland Booker, Craig Butland and Clyde Mallon. The Team will be managed by John Robertson, Originally Konica Minolta were to have participated in the race however with Chris Froome and Tiaan Kannnemeyer both representing there respective countries at All Africa Games this weekend, Cycling South Africa was kind enough to give permission for a composite team to be put together at short notice. All the riders selected are currently based in Belgiumon>.

Carbon grease Tacx make it we use the stuff here often