SA Girls to Kiwi Land Worthless or worthy

[No Name]

Fighting so early in the morning? Sheesh. I am barely awake.

[Cruxpearl]

So who is going?

Ehmmm... they have already left (Sunday directly after the race), and if I'm not mistaking, might already have completed the first and second stage

the girls that went (that I know of) are:

Cherise Taylor

Marissa van der Merwe

Robyn de Groot

Yolandie du Toit

Lynette Burger

[Red Zone]

Anriette does what it takes to win, thats all that counts , look at bulls rugby (of last year -boring but effective). I remember seeing her at Knysna a few years ago, slogging away solo at the front of the race, no other ladies able to keep up. she was looking decidedly unhappy but grafting regardless

[Azonic]

So who is going?

 

Just send Yolande de Villiers and let all the other girls stay in the team car.

[Azonic]

Anriette does what it takes to win' date=' thats all that counts , look at bulls rugby (of last year -boring but effective). I remember seeing her at Knysna a few years ago, slogging away solo at the front of the race, no other ladies able to keep up. she was looking decidedly unhappy but grafting regardless

[/quote']

 

A wheelsit win is a win I don't want. In even XC races if I was sitting in most of the way I have told the guy doing most of the work that I won't sprint him or contest it.

[Red Zone]

 

A wheelsit win is a win I don't want. In even XC races if I was sitting in most of the way I have told the guy doing most of the work that I won't sprint him or contest it.

 

I agree. I guess if her team is working she feels that she can nab the sprint. Her sponsors no doubt tell her to do what it takes to win. does not make for exiteing racing at all. At least in womans racing you are now seeing some attacking and tactical riding, not like a few years ago.

[scotty]

Good to see Boksburg girl Lynette there

[Azonic]

Lemme tell you a story, true story. Well a very close friend of mine told me and I believe him, but you can make your own mind up.

 

He says he was doing a race a while ago, possibly even the EP Herald, when the ladies and vets pull away together. On Gun hill (little more than a drag), some of the top ladies started pulling a gap on him, and Anriette was on his wheel. Next moments she goes "Go go chase, come on close that gap!". He looks back and goes, WTF, its your race, YOU close the gap!

 

So ja, take that as you wish.

 

 

[Breeze]

Sorry girls. I truely believe that the system is failing you. If you were provided with the proper training and guidance, you will race better. 

Even though i think that the approach CSA is taking now is wrong, make the best of it.  Racing clever will now be in your favor and that might mean to sit a wheel till the finish.  You are going there to get points and qualify more riders for the Olympics at these events if I understand correctly - so do what is takes to do that.

 

Understand that not one of you is strong enough to go on a suicide breakaway and take a solo win and it is senseless at the start of the season to do something like this as by the end of the year all the international team managers would have forgotten about it as well. For now, know your strong riders in the opposition, you will have to use them.  It is almost exactly the same as using a VET rider. Just remember - you need to beat them at the line.

 

Also remember that at this stage a high position is important to the country and not just a particular rider.  If one of you gets the points, it will favor more riders later on. 

 

Make the best it - good luck.

Breeze2008-02-26 00:27:28

[Red Zone]

Azonic I can believe it, I am sure that there are plenty of guys who would close the gap for her, not me - IMO she wants it she should earn it.

 

Must say it took guts for her to attempt the Argus with a broken wrist last year, thats gotta hurt

[mallo]

Morning all

 

 

 

When are we going to think positively about our ladies and at least give them some support. Past weekend we saw them mixing it with the vets and doing quite well yet some found it negative.

 

 

 

Guys for our ladies to improve we need to help them as well by supporting and encouraging them.

 

 

 

MTN has made a good start let us hope the other teams will become fully professional as well and give the younger ladies the chance to prove themselves.

 

 

 

The older ladies racing has proven themselves over the years and it is for the younger generation to come on board and learn from them, there is the other Steyn sister who rides well and M Corbett who is proving her way through the ranks( Now if only CSA had a proper academy for these lasses)who knows.

 

 

 

This is not only a cycling issue but in SA generally look at athletics Sonya Laxton at age +-58 still kicking butt, Grace de Oliviera, Fancis van Blerk, Sarah Maglangu etc.

 

To all the ladies in Kiwi land give it your best. Those at home be proud you are out there doing what you love and enjoying it.

 

 

 

People such as Sernoche1 the challenge is simple prove yourself and show us you are worthy of the company these ladies are in or better yet come and offer your services in making them the stars you believe in.      

 

 

 

 

[Bikalot]

on the hub home page there is a link to the story... i thought it was the best SA women team to send,go girls

[Sean Badenhorst]

This media release went out last night...

 

 

Press Release

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

MONDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2008

 

SA WOMEN?S TEAM TO TAKE ON WORLD?S BEST

 

The rising standard of South African women?s road cycling will be given a progress update when a five-rider national team tackles the best cyclists in the world at the Tour of New Zealand this week.

 

Led by Team MTN stars Cherise Taylor and Marissa van der Merwe, the two most prolific race winners in the country this year, the national team, which also includes Lynette Burger and Yolandi du Toit (both Cycle Lab Toyota) and Robyn de Groot (Proline), is one of the strongest ever selected, but will still face an incredibly tough challenge.

 

The five-day tour includes two criteriums, three road stages and an individual time trial, a format that is likely to favour the strong allrounders, especially since the time trial is undulating and only 7km long.

 

?I believe we have a very well balanced team and although the change in intensity overseas is always a bit of a surprise at first, after the first stage we should settle in well,? said Van der Merwe.

 

Van der Merwe and Burger are currently occupying the top two positions respectively in 2008 Super Series, the country?s most prestigious series for Elite women and Veteran men.

 

?In the Super Series events we?ve been racing with the Veteran men which has undoubtedly raised the pace and the standard of our racing,? explained Van der Merwe. ?Although it?s still early in the season and we?ve only done three races with the Vets, this should have a positive effect at the Tour of New Zealand.?

 

The South African women will do well to ignore reputations if they have any hopes of success at the Tour of New Zealand. Included in the 90-rider field are former world champions and current Olympic champions, four of the world?s top-10 professional teams, 12 of the top-20 riders in the world and national teams from eight of the planet?s top-10 cycling nations.

 

Race Director Jorge Sandoval says the standard of the field is well beyond all his expectations.

 

?To have the two-time winner of the Giro d?Italia, six former world champions, European champions as well as current national champions from seven countries and current Olympic champions racing on New Zealand soil, is a privilege to any sport,? said Sandoval.

 

South Africa?s Taylor adds to the depth of the high-profile field by virtue of having claimed the silver medal in the junior world championships last year. She is no longer in the Junior category, but the 18-year-old has begun her Elite career with impressive results so far this year against local opposition. It will be interesting to see how she fares abroad in such a high quality field.

 

The tour starts and finishes with criterium stages (circuit races), which should suit Burger and Taylor, both of whom are quick sprinters. The 125km Stage 3, is hilly with a mountain-top finish, which should see Van der Merwe, a strong climber, come into her own while De Groot and Du Toit are allrounders, likely to be on the lookout for any breakaway opportunities.

 

The performances of the five women in New Zealand will no doubt be noted by the relevant Cycling South Africa officials as they draw up a short list for Beijing Olympic Games selection. South Africa is currently ranked 18th as a nation in women?s road cycling and therefore qualifies two places Olympic women?s road race.

 

The 2008 Women?s Tour of New Zealand

Wednesday 27 February: Stage 1 ? 35km Criterium

Thursday 28 February: Stage 2 ? 94km

Friday 29 February: Stage 3 ? 125km

Saturday 1 March: Stage 4 ? 124km

Sunday 2 March: Stage 5 ? 7km Individual TT / Stage 6 ? 40km Criterium.

   

ENDS.

 

 

 

 

 





 

[Bikalot]

thats the one i was talking about,thanks sean

[Super J]

Hey Big Man. Why dont you phone up all those girls on the team and challenge them to a 150 km race around Hekpoort............... Cherise would put you in the red so fast, you wouldnt know what to do!!!!! How many Worlds medals do you have? As for Cherise and crew,go over,do your best cos there are loads of us back here that are really backing you up,win or not!!!!! Didnt a ass like you once say that Robbie, no sirname needed, wouldnt make it in Europe either, pack your bags and move to Zim, you should fit right in there!!!!! Sell your bike and start taking the bus cos we dont need Wombles like you in our sport!

[Sean Badenhorst]

sernoche1, you posted an equally negative comment about the national men's team at the Tour de Langkawi. You seem to sit there clutching your half-full glass of sour grape juice watching the UCI calendar tick by just itching to write something discouraging about the national teams of which you don't even know the proper composition. You also speculate wildly which is really not a very attractive character trait.

 

Your lack of cycling knowledge is evident and your lack of optimism is unfortunate. Do you know there is counselling available for people like you?