Chris NewbyFraser Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 I rattled on about this before but I think my view perhaps has more relevance now. South African sports fans are pre-disposed toward supporting regionally aligned teams. Our nation has shown it's colours time and time again. We support provincial and national brands, not teams that have to be identified by their constantly changing retail sponsor brands. SA Cycling would do well to look at changing our cycling focus away from getting people to set up privately named teams and should instead promote pro-level cycling that has direct links to provinces. Just look at rugby and cricket and, to a lesser extent, soccer. We get very emotional about our regional teams but when it comes to our independent pro cycling teams - when they die they just fade away. When they win we hear about the rider winning and pay little attention to the sponsors name. To get Jan Publiek's blood up, bring in regional loyalties and competition and just watch our sport will flourish. Perhaps sponsors of our current mtb pro-teams (there are no more road teams) could kick start this by aligning themselves with provincially based areas and get the regional rugby teams to be their patrons. The reaction will be positive. If anybody would like to get together and talk this one over, over a frosty or two or even a coffee, maybe we could arrange something.FatFossil
Eugene Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 What do you mean "no more road teams?" I heard Abantu is closing, but what about Bonitas, Europcar, Lights By Linear, Giant, Altech, Di Data Feeder. Please don't tell me they are also disappearing. It wouldn't surprise me.
EmptyB Posted October 26, 2015 Posted October 26, 2015 It's not looking too healthy...the team that wins the most is disappearing!
Grant G Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Well apart from Abantu, the other team that has won the most this year (not Abantu) will probably be changing riders and team name - not sure what the set up will be, or if they will continue. The red team ....well, rumour has it they may just pull out completely. The feeder team that sometimes do take part with anything from 2 -20 riders, depending on the time of year, may be a little smaller. Westvaal have all but disappeared too. The Cape based teams look like they will keep it together for now. Bottom line is that there will be a few pro riders looking for rides for 2016. Add to this that Doug Ryder basically told all the local aspiring riders (on Supercycling) that they will not be looked at for Di data unless they have learned the ropes in Europe!!! Well what incentive is there for the riders given the cost of locating to Europe is not in everyones reach? Not much scope for development of SA riders here.Di Data are proving this point by adding, to the list of overeseas based riders they have signed, a South African Junior who has lived outside SA for 4 years. He lived in New Zealand and then competed in Australian and Asian races before doing a season in Europe. I fear for the future of Road riding in General and maybe FatFossil has a point about aligning to provinces or similar. Where are our future Louis Meintjies going to come from? I can go on and on about the demise but I have depressed myself to the point that only a capuccinno will help now.
Skinnyone Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Lets not forget the team owners that milk the sponsorship for all its worth for their personal gain...I have heard that a couple of team owners now have very flash cars etc...so a corporate sponsor gets wind of that and goes well if that's where my cash is going then I would rather buy myself a flash car and screw the tax man for my gain... The riders very seldom get paid a livable salary from the above team owner so has to work another part time job so what winds up being sacrificed? - the riding part because feeding yourself and paying rent comes first. I know one rider has had maybe 3 months salary this whole year... I'm sorry bu Mr Ryder is correct...a youngster that can tough it out in Europe is more worth signing than a rich kid who's had life easy (both racing and life) racing locally as Europe has much more depth - 200 - 300 Juniors on the start line for a club/provincial race! so to do well there at least Mr Ryder knows that the kid has had to work for his position!
VicanZA Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 from a sponsors perspective you get very little value putting your money into sport at this stage, just look at the state of local cricket and that would be 1 of the big 3 in SA. the highveld lions has struggled to find sponsors the grounds are empty as the glut of international cricket has decimated the local game.
rock Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 in a way its good, forces guys who really want to be pro cyclists to go rough it overseas like Hunter, George etc did back in the late 90's (and all the other guys before them)
Butterbean Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 You still have a problem of too much money per rider to get started. Cricket, rugby, soccer, field hockey, they all cost very little to run a development program because the kit is so cheap! Cycling is a ton of money and it's continual. Let's be honest, it's still very much a rich mans sport on all levels. Until that changes, and it's not, it won't get better. The exposure is small because the fan base is small because the participant group is small. It's not formula 1 but they're struggling too for the same reasons. At the end of the day, most sponsorships seem like a tax dodge or a MD who cycles and has the money to burn. Shame really.
Shebeen Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 in a way its good, forces guys who really want to be pro cyclists to go rough it overseas like Hunter, George etc did back in the late 90's (and all the other guys before them)But think of someone like meintjes. Got identified as a talent and then mtn qhubeka got him to Europe. You need the local scene happening and di data picking the cream of the crop to take them further. Youngsters heading off to earth in their eis is a real shotgun approach, and limits it to those who have enough bucks to start with.
rock Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 But think of someone like meintjes. Got identified as a talent and then mtn qhubeka got him to Europe. You need the local scene happening and di data picking the cream of the crop to take them further. Youngsters heading off to earth in their eis is a real shotgun approach, and limits it to those who have enough bucks to start with. he was in Europe before that racing as an amateur in 2011 and 2012 In an ideal world (D-Data shouldn't be seen as the be all and end all) those teams should be picking the promising youngsters from the pool of young SA riders based in Europe and racing for the national team.
Justin2 Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 What local "pro"teams will there be next year?
Guest Lancesball Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 What do you mean "no more road teams?" I heard Abantu is closing, but what about Bonitas, Europcar, Lights By Linear, Giant, Altech, Di Data Feeder. Please don't tell me they are also disappearing. It wouldn't surprise me. Europe Car, Abantu and Bonitas, Altech are done end of this year. Malcolm is looking at putting together a 4 maybe 5 rider team under some personal sponsor again and looking at 5 of the best SA riders but not many are that interested in riding for him. He will still carry on with Ascendis MTB team. LBL carry on another year Giant carry on but are hardly a Pro team in the true sense.
Shebeen Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 he was in Europe before that racing as an amateur in 2011 and 2012 In an ideal world (D-Data shouldn't be seen as the be all and end all) those teams should be picking the promising youngsters from the pool of young SA riders based in Europe and racing for the national team.Ok, didn't realise this - his silver in the u23 worlds in 2013 was actually his 3rd time at the race. http://www.procyclingstats.com/rider/Louis_Meintjes - according to this i can see him riding in europe from 2009-2012, before MTNQ signed him up.
Longbarn Killer Posted October 27, 2015 Posted October 27, 2015 Again I blame CSA. For years, our top locals are stuffing around with 90km fun rider events. There is no way that a cyclist racing on such short races can compete in Europe with their 200km plus events. There should be a separate league for Elite/pro riders with distances equal to those in Europe. Why can't the CSA implement something like this. Isn't it their duty to do so? Such league will get all the top riders in the same place at the same time. That way, the standard will be higher and the riders will benefit. Currently, there are a small number of small teams and they tend to cherry pick events where the competition is limited and they stand a better chance at the prize money.
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