All things Team Qhubeka NextHash

[J Wakefield]

Apart from the bikes (if Merida stay on) that is going to give Cavendish the best chance for a swan song season. Rod Ellingworth is going in as Team Principle and was mentor for Cav' at Britsh Cycling, he is / has been a massive influence on him and with Nibbles moving on they haven't got a clear direction at the moment. 

 

It was a move that was on the cards last season but ended up not happening (maybe due to the weird eastern european influence and the Nibbles centric set up). 

 

Or that management didn't want him. As did a few other teams he went shopping at.

Edited July 27, 2019 by J Wakefield

[Gen]

And true to form, CAV = DNF on stage two of the Adriatica as it hits the bumps.

Of course he did, at this point all he is doing is wasting resources..there is zero difference between him collecting a salary and not racing or him going to races and not wanting/unable to race at the required level and abandoning..

[EvanB]

Lets hope Doug can now clean house and get rid of Cav and Rolf Aldag, onwards and upwards

[Nokka]

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere earlier in this thread's 38 pages... But, why does our Saffa riders not perform so well on the big stage? 

I'm patriotic and want them to do good. Here's what boggles me. Cycling is big in SA. Look at any hill outside a town on a Saturday and there's a good chance of a MTB race going on. We have a road season. We have a schools league. We have a heritage of track racing (and lots of venues across the country) and also a history of good names. 

But when I followed the Tour, I hardly saw Saffas on the front. Impey won a stage, and he's probably our best. Louis? He was close to Yates as a Young Rider, but looked to not have the necessary bulldog in him. 

How come small countries like Slovakia and Colombia can put riders at the front, but we struggle? Is it our league? Our focus? Money (not being able to send riders to Europe to live there, train, perform and then get picked)? Did Bernal and Quintana live in Europe before they were picked? And Sagan? 

What should we change in SA to get the numbers to the world tour that I think our big participation rate as a sport in SA warrants? 

[Rocket-Boy]

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere earlier in this thread's 38 pages... But, why does our Saffa riders not perform so well on the big stage? 

 

I'm patriotic and want them to do good. Here's what boggles me. Cycling is big in SA. Look at any hill outside a town on a Saturday and there's a good chance of a MTB race going on. We have a road season. We have a schools league. We have a heritage of track racing (and lots of venues across the country) and also a history of good names. 

 

But when I followed the Tour, I hardly saw Saffas on the front. Impey won a stage, and he's probably our best. Louis? He was close to Yates as a Young Rider, but looked to not have the necessary bulldog in him. 

 

How come small countries like Slovakia and Colombia can put riders at the front, but we struggle? Is it our league? Our focus? Money (not being able to send riders to Europe to live there, train, perform and then get picked)? Did Bernal and Quintana live in Europe before they were picked? And Sagan? 

 

What should we change in SA to get the numbers to the world tour that I think our big participation rate as a sport in SA warrants? 

Yup its always the unfortunate state of things.

One thing that does affect up and coming cyclists in SA it the lack of support vs other countries cycling bodies.

Im sure there are other factors I dont know about too.

 

One thing that always amazes me is the quality of cyclists from Norway. Think about it, a country is frozen most of the year and has a few months where the sun doesnt come up at all!

Quite something to just get a good start in cycling with those conditions.

[tubed]

oops wrong thread, posted on TDF2019 rather

Edited July 28, 2019 by tubed

[Robo]

Yup its always the unfortunate state of things.

One thing that does affect up and coming cyclists in SA it the lack of support vs other countries cycling bodies.

Im sure there are other factors I dont know about too.

 

One thing that always amazes me is the quality of cyclists from Norway. Think about it, a country is frozen most of the year and has a few months where the sun doesnt come up at all!

Quite something to just get a good start in cycling with those conditions.

Wonder how good the funding is in Columbia for cycling? Some guys that is active on the hub has dropped some bread crumbs that there is a reason why Meintjies is not performing...what my own conclusion is, is that they are busy sorting it out...might be wrong.

[Gen]

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere earlier in this thread's 38 pages... But, why does our Saffa riders not perform so well on the big stage?

 

I'm patriotic and want them to do good. Here's what boggles me. Cycling is big in SA. Look at any hill outside a town on a Saturday and there's a good chance of a MTB race going on. We have a road season. We have a schools league. We have a heritage of track racing (and lots of venues across the country) and also a history of good names.

 

But when I followed the Tour, I hardly saw Saffas on the front. Impey won a stage, and he's probably our best. Louis? He was close to Yates as a Young Rider, but looked to not have the necessary bulldog in him.

 

How come small countries like Slovakia and Colombia can put riders at the front, but we struggle? Is it our league? Our focus? Money (not being able to send riders to Europe to live there, train, perform and then get picked)? Did Bernal and Quintana live in Europe before they were picked? And Sagan?

 

What should we change in SA to get the numbers to the world tour that I think our big participation rate as a sport in SA warrants?

It starts at grass route.

 

Have a look at the kids in europe.. they ride criteriums, cx, xco, road, track on a weekly/seasonal basis and they have hordes of kids participating week in week out so obviously the talent pool is a lot bigger.

 

Kids in SA have the spur series and that is it .. a few places have access to track but have a look at results sheets of track cycling and you'll see that there aren't really many kids participating. Any road series for kids..nope, none that I know of and if there is they are few and far between. Adults yeah they have many events..but kids are limited to what they can do. Also teaveling in SA you really have to travel to do events in Europe things are lot closer.. maybe SA should have a look at what Aus are doing and see how to improve grass route development ? Many questions, few answers

 

Kids can't go out and train on the roads, too dangerous, kids can't even just go ride there bikes around the neighberhood, if it isn't reckless driving it is opertunitstic thieves so they stick to mtb and that too isn't all thay safe these days.

 

If you are going to wait for funding to make it happen you are going to wait a very long time.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Gen

[Nokka]

Thanks, yes I also think the European setup is conducive to create a large pool of good cyclists. Maybe because it is bigger under the youth than in Saffa. We have a lot of events and stage races, but that caters mainly for the weekend warrior. 

Two things though. Dimension Data is a big WT team, with virtually an A and B team participating the whole year in Europe and elsewhere. Couldn't they have brought over a couple of young talented Saffa cyclists and exposed them to the Euro scene and conditions? They've been there for a couple of years now. But still, after all these years, we have had what, 2 Saffas in TDD's team in the Tour? 

The second issue, if money is so important, isn't our economy bigger than Colombia's and Slovakia's? And our currency stronger than what Colombia has? 

[Gen]

Thanks, yes I also think the European setup is conducive to create a large pool of good cyclists. Maybe because it is bigger under the youth than in Saffa. We have a lot of events and stage races, but that caters mainly for the weekend warrior.

 

Two things though. Dimension Data is a big WT team, with virtually an A and B team participating the whole year in Europe and elsewhere. Couldn't they have brought over a couple of young talented Saffa cyclists and exposed them to the Euro scene and conditions? They've been there for a couple of years now. But still, after all these years, we have had what, 2 Saffas in TDD's team in the Tour?

 

The second issue, if money is so important, isn't our economy bigger than Colombia's and Slovakia's? And our currency stronger than what Colombia has?

2014 Bernal publically asked for funding to get him to the MTB world champs. So no there is also not a lot of funding there.. although after the year colombians have had that may change. Re Slovakia..Sagan has completely changed things.. a very talented rider that has had a ripple effect on cycling in Slovakia, he together with sponsors of course fund a national xco series ad well as sponsor and develop youth road teams.

 

As for the economy of Slovakia.. part of the EU and benefit a lot because of that and as far as I know their economy has been growing steadily since joining the EU... so no we don't have a stronger economy than Slovakia.

 

As for DDD they hardly know what they are doing at WT level, time will tell what youth they develop from Conti level.. but doubtful that it will really be much for SA youth. And these riders they do have are always used as support for someone else Gibbons for example.

 

So either the SA riders are just not good enough or they don't get the support they should be getting under DDD and should look elsewhere for employment IMO.

Edited July 28, 2019 by Gen

[Kranswurm]

Sorry if this has been covered somewhere earlier in this thread's 38 pages... But, why does our Saffa riders not perform so well on the big stage? 

 

I'm patriotic and want them to do good. Here's what boggles me. Cycling is big in SA. Look at any hill outside a town on a Saturday and there's a good chance of a MTB race going on. We have a road season. We have a schools league. We have a heritage of track racing (and lots of venues across the country) and also a history of good names. 

 

But when I followed the Tour, I hardly saw Saffas on the front. Impey won a stage, and he's probably our best. Louis? He was close to Yates as a Young Rider, but looked to not have the necessary bulldog in him. 

 

How come small countries like Slovakia and Colombia can put riders at the front, but we struggle? Is it our league? Our focus? Money (not being able to send riders to Europe to live there, train, perform and then get picked)? Did Bernal and Quintana live in Europe before they were picked? And Sagan? 

 

What should we change in SA to get the numbers to the world tour that I think our big participation rate as a sport in SA warrants? 

First thing is split the fun rides from the races.Second make them harder and longer

Edited July 28, 2019 by Kranswurm

[Mntboy]

First thing is split the fun rides from the races.Second make them harder and longer

Agreed. The proper races should be in the 160km to 200km in length. Anything else is just wasting time if the aim is getting pro's good enough to race at WT level. Also we need a few Conti tour level events to take place here as well. Something like the old Rapport Tour or the Giro del Capo (if I am recalling the name correctly).

[J Wakefield]

Yup its always the unfortunate state of things.

One thing that does affect up and coming cyclists in SA it the lack of support vs other countries cycling bodies.

Im sure there are other factors I dont know about too.

 

One thing that always amazes me is the quality of cyclists from Norway. Think about it, a country is frozen most of the year and has a few months where the sun doesnt come up at all!

Quite something to just get a good start in cycling with those conditions.

 

 

I am lucky to work with Sven Bystrom personally who lives in Norway, I can tell you the conditions he takes an hour to get dressed for and go ride in, will make any normal human not ride outside. 

 

There are many reasons why SA riders don't make it overseas but the 1 is exactly what you have typed above about the Norwegians. Simply put our riders as a collective aren't hard enough and they dont have what it takes mentally. Sad but true. 

[Gen]

I am lucky to work with Sven Bystrom personally who lives in Norway, I can tell you the conditions he takes an hour to get dressed for and go ride in, will make any normal human not ride outside.

 

There are many reasons why SA riders don't make it overseas but the 1 is exactly what you have typed above about the Norwegians. Simply put our riders as a collective aren't hard enough and they dont have what it takes mentally. Sad but true.

So saffas aren't tougherer [emoji6]

['Dale]

Our natural beauty and stabile climate is fantastic for recreational cycling here In SA

 

It is an infrastructural challenge as the resources and systems are not in place to develop world-class athletes

 

Give a young one a rugby or cricket ball and, depending on the location, maybe swimming goggles where South Africa has proven success on the world stage

 

And those who dare to leave to Europe has to overcome massive cultural and economic challenges as the South African way is quite unique and local heroes are few

 

(A few thoughts from the Sunday couch)

[IceCreamMan]

It’s tough for saffas. Weather, isolated, away from home at a young age. Cycling is also a fairly alone sport further isolating a young person. Stranger in a strange land.

 

Not so much an issue of mental toughness as a. Umber of factors that all contribute.

 

There are many countries in oeleton that have never won the TdF.