Where to get sponsors?

[Shebeen]

5 hours ago, Theunis Pretorius said:

I never got a sponsor 

Did you do the epic you needed a sponsor for? 

It's a really high ask getting someone to pin their logo onto your team if you don't already have a relationship. Doing the epic is not special, 1200 people do it every year and if you're down in the results then the best option (it galls me to say) is to throw a charity angle and hopefully one has the ethics to pay the charity first before putting in your own costs. 

There was a top 10ish elite team this year simply called "Double Dutch". A viable billboard yet they chose a funny team name because they are both from the Netherlands. Jan and Piet in 276th place are really not that appealing.

 

[Theunis Pretorius]

I couldn't get the money together to do the Epic. I'm not a top cyclist either. I would still like to do it though.

[Daniel Christensen]

8 hours ago, Shebeen said:

3y years later. What happened? @Erik Breedt

The boy podiums at the school series mountainbike races. He got a 3rd place junior road champs in 2025. He cycles less these days as he has to focus on matric. He still performs well at track. He is one of the most genetically gifted cyclists Ive ever seen. He is sponsored by Demacon, I understand that they pay for race entries. 

SA cycling will never be what is use to be because riders like Erik lacked funding. Racing every weekend is by far the most vital part to become a pro. And you guys expect youngsters to pay R350 to R700 for a race?! Its not the 1970s where kids can just get some random side job like newspapers. 

Teams like Demacon is funded by a business guy who is extremely passionate about the sport. 

Im part of a team where our sponsor just sponsors us because we asked! not because he even has any interest in cycling. No sponsor will get any return on investment even if you win races like CTCT or 94.7. You only promote the sponsor under the cycling community and its very minimal coverage. 

Cycling is simply not a sport for kids whos parents cant afford it and definitely shouldnt be pushed as a development sport for kids in soweto. Ive seen countless development programs fail because investors stopped paying, and there was no funding. These programs only benefit a selected few where a sport like football can benefit more. Team Siata (a BEE team) failed after 2 years because it signed wayy to many riders and didnt meet sponsor expectations. 

Ive never heard of any modern day pro cyclist in SA who didnt have rich parents to fund the dream or a sponsor who paid for everything. The sport  has become so unaffordable than even belgium is seeing a decrease in young riders. 

 

[Shebeen]

10 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

The boy podiums at the school series mountainbike races. He got a 3rd place junior road champs in 2025. He cycles less these days as he has to focus on matric. He still performs well at track. He is one of the most genetically gifted cyclists Ive ever seen. He is sponsored by Demacon, I understand that they pay for race entries. 

SA cycling will never be what is use to be because riders like Erik lacked funding. Racing every weekend is by far the most vital part to become a pro. And you guys expect youngsters to pay R350 to R700 for a race?! Its not the 1970s where kids can just get some random side job like newspapers. 

WHAAAT, sure there's no newspaper business but kids doing sidehustles is widespread these days.

 

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

Teams like Demacon is funded by a business guy who is extremely passionate about the sport. 

Im part of a team where our sponsor just sponsors us because we asked! not because he even has any interest in cycling. No sponsor will get any return on investment even if you win races like CTCT or 94.7. You only promote the sponsor under the cycling community and its very minimal coverage. 

there are exceptions, but what you say is the tough reality. Sponsors moved to backing events rather than individuals and that still seems to be the status quo.

 

 

10 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

Cycling is simply not a sport for kids whos parents cant afford it and definitely shouldnt be pushed as a development sport for kids in soweto. Ive seen countless development programs fail because investors stopped paying, and there was no funding. These programs only benefit a selected few where a sport like football can benefit more. Team Siata (a BEE team) failed after 2 years because it signed wayy to many riders and didnt meet sponsor expectations. 

I dunno. I think you'll see cycling development programs continuing,  it's not just about getting a kid from nowhere to the Tour de France.

 

10 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

Ive never heard of any modern day pro cyclist in SA who didnt have rich parents to fund the dream or a sponsor who paid for everything. The sport  has become so unaffordable than even belgium is seeing a decrease in young riders. 

 

uh mean maybe the end story becomes a cautionary tale, but I can think if a MTNQ guy who worked bloody hard to go from nowhere to the Tour de France.

[Erik Breedt]

@Shebeen  Looking back at this post, I’ve come a long way. I’m now riding for Demacon Racing and have secured individual sponsorships with Shopie Moda and PVM Nutrition. It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m excited about what’s still ahead.

[Jimmy 2.0]

13 hours ago, Daniel Christensen said:

The boy podiums at the school series mountainbike races. He got a 3rd place junior road champs in 2025. He cycles less these days as he has to focus on matric. He still performs well at track. He is one of the most genetically gifted cyclists Ive ever seen. He is sponsored by Demacon, I understand that they pay for race entries. 

SA cycling will never be what is use to be because riders like Erik lacked funding. Racing every weekend is by far the most vital part to become a pro. And you guys expect youngsters to pay R350 to R700 for a race?! Its not the 1970s where kids can just get some random side job like newspapers. 

Teams like Demacon is funded by a business guy who is extremely passionate about the sport. 

Im part of a team where our sponsor just sponsors us because we asked! not because he even has any interest in cycling. No sponsor will get any return on investment even if you win races like CTCT or 94.7. You only promote the sponsor under the cycling community and its very minimal coverage. 

Cycling is simply not a sport for kids whos parents cant afford it and definitely shouldnt be pushed as a development sport for kids in soweto. Ive seen countless development programs fail because investors stopped paying, and there was no funding. These programs only benefit a selected few where a sport like football can benefit more. Team Siata (a BEE team) failed after 2 years because it signed wayy to many riders and didnt meet sponsor expectations. 

Ive never heard of any modern day pro cyclist in SA who didnt have rich parents to fund the dream or a sponsor who paid for everything. The sport  has become so unaffordable than even belgium is seeing a decrease in young riders. 

 

There are a handful of SA/African riders that have a sponsorship deal that don't have rich parents.

look at some of the riders at Pump for Peace, there are are also a few white riders. Two of them I know on a personal basis one performed well at a junior level that got picked up from a athlete scout, the other has recently got sponsored by the same team who got spotted by a coach.

[Theunis Pretorius]

Awesome 👍 😎 

[Jimmy 2.0]

People always get sponsorship wrong, its not "here's our money go and race".

A sports team is technically a marketing company. You wear our branding, be seen using our products, you get the kids hyped up, attend brand activations, post on social media about the company and so on.

Yes there are passion stories out there but they never last.

[Danger Dassie]

1 hour ago, Erik Breedt said:

@Shebeen  Looking back at this post, I’ve come a long way. I’m now riding for Demacon Racing and have secured individual sponsorships with Shopie Moda and PVM Nutrition. It’s been an incredible experience, and I’m excited about what’s still ahead.

Good for you Erik, wishing you only the best.

Whatever happens, never lose your love for racing/riding your bike. It’s the one thing that will always be cathartic and bring perspective. Everything else is just noise.

[Theunis Pretorius]

@Jimmy 2.0 True

Edited April 2 by Theunis Pretorius

[Ruben_ van _Niekerk]

On 6/1/2023 at 10:17 PM, Jimmy 2.0 said:

Sorry to burst your bubble dude but Berg n Bush is a CSA(Cycling South Africa) sanctioned event and there are age restrictions for certain distances. Day 1 and 2 exceeds them. Entering your age and ID number in the entry form will kick you out. If you use someone else's ID and CSA catch you you'll get a 3 month ban, CSA license suspended or maybe a fine from CSA.

I know this for a fact cause I've seen it happen.

Rather plan a multi day bike packing trip during the school holidays you get to ride where you want, how long you want and get to explore more!

Actually, 15 year olds are allowed to do the race ( Coming from a 15 year old who wanted to participate