SA cycling team leaves for Spain

Tuesday, 01 June 2010 00:00

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

Brown and Kaka part of SA national cycling team

Team Medscheme's Arran Brown and Luthando Kaka are looking forward to some racing in Europe over the next month. With very little local racing right now, the opportunity has arisen for these two riders to race and gain some depth and experience in cycling's heartland.

A South African National Team has been chosen to compete in the Circuito Montanes in the Cantabria region of Spain. This is an 8 day stage race, and is classed 2.2 by the UCI. The team will consist of seven riders: Kevin Evans, Christoff van Heerden, Jaco Venter (MTN), Arran Brown and Luthando Kaka (Team Medscheme), Paul Van Zweel and Peter-Lee Jefferies (Team Frezza Pasta Montegrappa)

It is a varied team with riders who are quite experienced, and some who are itching for the opportunity. Kevin Evans, the current SA time trial champion, is possibly the rider with the most tour experience despite the fact that he is better known for his achievements in mountain biking. Evans is suited to the hilly nature of this tour, and backing him up in the hills will be Jaco Venter, previously a fourth placed finisher in the Tour de l'Avenir. Luthando Kaka has raw talent as a climber and hopes to be up front on the hills with his team mates. Paul Van Zweel is also a promising youngster good in the hills and against the clock.

Arran Brown and Christoff Van Heerden (current SA road champion) are frequent winners in South Africa due to their fast sprinting abilities. There are a few opportunities in the Circuito Montanes for them to mix it up in possible bunch finishes in the early days of the race. Peter-Lee Jefferies is also a rider with the ability to assist them, and he is itching for that opportunity.

Arran Brown has struggled early this year with injury, but is up to the new challenges. "I have trained hard and gotten myself to a good level again after the bad start to the year. The racing in Jelajah Malaysia with Team Medscheme went well for me, and then I was able to win the Bela Bela Classic a few weeks ago, proving to myself that I am returning to my previous level." said Brown

"I was a bit disappointed with the little racing that was available to us at the moment, as I am fresh and finally getting form. The opportunity came to tour with the National team, so I am really excited to race in Europe."

"It is not be a flat tour with possibly only one or two chances of a bunch sprint. But we will take the opportunities that we are given. I am keen to get through the race in the hills, doing what I can to help the team and grow in my abilities on the climbs. Cycling is not all about fast bunch sprints. To be a great riders even the sprinters have to get through the hilly stages. I am in the team to adapt and grow as a rider"

"In South Africa most of our events are short, up to a 100km or so. We need to race longer races which will help our development as riders. This is a great opportunity for us"

"Luthando and I will be staying in Holland for a few weeks after the tour in Spain. We will race some local kermesse races but may also have the chance to join up with some other South Africans based in Europe and ride another tour or two in Belgium" - Arran Brown

The team for the Circuito Montanes will be assisted by Barry Austin, Kandice Buys, Magnus Gouws and Vanya van Heerden.


The stages in Circuito Montanes: 8 - 15 June

Prologue: SANTANDER – SANTANDER (CRI) 5.8km
1st Stage: SANTANDER – MALIAN~O 172km
2nd Stage: SANTON~A – RAMALES DE LA VICTORIA 175km
3rd Stage: MIENGO – EL ASTILLERO 178km
4th Stage: AGUA DE SOLARES – FUENTE DEL CHIVO 145km
5th Stage: POLANCO – TORRELAVEGA 173km
6th Stage: TORRELAVEGA – SANTO TORIBIO 143km
7th Stage: POTES – SANTANDER 152km

< Prev		Next >