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TEAM BONITAS CRACKS TOUR OF PORTUGAL INVITE

It was confirmed on Tuesday that South African professional road cycling outfit, Team Bonitas, has been added to the list of teams competing at the prestigious 2012 Tour of Portugal. This is significant for the team, which only became an International Cycling Union Continental team this year.

The 10-stage Tour of Portugal, which takes place from 15-26 August, is graded 2.1 by the International Cycling Union (UCI). This is a high profile race category and one in which South African teams have seldom competed in the past.

"As a first-year Continental outfit, being invited to the Tour of Portugal is a really big step for Team Bonitas," said team manager, Barry Austin. "It also shows that our results in our first European leg of 2012, where the team raced with some distinction in Portugal and Spain, were noticed and that the conduct of the team was recognised of being of a high level."

The news comes just two days after Team Bonitas dominated the Le Coq Sportif Tour in the North West Province and a month after the squad won the Tour de Free State. The team's star allrounder, Johann Rabie, claimed the overall individual title at both events.

"We are very grateful to have been able to race two tours at home in the winter. Previously, this time of the year was very quiet in terms of local races. Those two tours certainly helped us prepare for the rigours of not only stage racing, but also hard racing – not just popular flat 100km dashes like most South African races, but some real tough stages over longer distances," explained Austin.

The Tour of Portugal includes a prologue time trial, an individual time trial, a mountain stage as well as other undulating stages.

"It will be a very close tour I believe. The mountain stage and individual time trial come near the end on stages 8 and 9 respectively, so it should be exciting throughout. It will definitely suit a good allrounder for the overall win, but we also plan to be in the mix for stage wins," added Austin.

"This is exactly what our goal has been this year. We registered as a Continental team to take the standard Team Bonitas to a new level from an international perspective and being invited to the Tour of Portugal shows we have gained the recognition we have been seeking," said Malcolm Lange, of Lange Sports, the company that owns Team Bonitas. "It's all been part of the plan. I think the team surprised many in Europe earlier this year and now the riders will get a chance to show what they can do on an even higher level."

Team Bonitas departs for Europe on 22 July and will begin their racing with two 1.1 graded one-day races in Spain, the Prueba Villafranca-Ordiziako Klasika on 25 July and the Circuito de Getxo on 31 July. A five-day 2.2-graded stage race in Spain, the Vuelta Ciclista a León, follows from 7-11 August before the team heads for their finale at the Tour of Portugal.





RABIE CLAIMS LE COQ SPORTIF TOUR WIN

Team Bonitas allrounder Johann Rabie, claimed his second road cycling stage race title in two months when he won the Le Coq Sportif Tour, in the Rustenburg region in South Africa's North West Province at the weekend.

Rabie, winner of the Tour de Free State last month, laid the foundations for his victory in the five-stage event by winning Stage 1, an undulating 129km stage where he outdashed a lead group of 10. The 26-year-old then confirmed his good form when he led a five-rider bunch across the finish line to capture the honours on the 133km Stage 2.

In the Stage 3 individual time trail, Rabie narrowly missed a hat-trick of stage wins, finishing in the runner-up place to Tasol GT's James Perry by just one second over an undulating 36km route. Rabie's time trial performance kept him in the race leader's Yellow Jersey and ensured he maintained his lead in the Points Competition. It also extended his lead to 41 seconds over nearest rival, Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka).

"During the time trial I was getting time checks on Jacques (Janse van Rensburg) and David (Maree) as they were the two riders I was most concerned about in terms of the General Classification. I knew I was up on them, but didn't have a clue as to James' (Perry) progress," explained Rabie afterwards.

"It is frustrating to lose the stage by such a narrow margin because you think back to where you could have maybe gone just two or three seconds faster, but the overall title was more important and that quest stayed nicely on track."

Saturday's 100km circuit race through the Kgaswane Nature Reserve was expected to be the stage where Rabie's rivals would mount a serious assault on his race lead, but it wasn't to be. Parts of the circuit included gravel/stoney surfaces as well as concrete jeep track and unseasonal rain during the early morning created conditions the organisers perceived too dangerous, so the stage was cancelled early on.

"I felt it was correct to cancel that stage," said Rabie. "If the tricky surface sections were on a slow part of the course, it would have been fine to continue, but they came when the riders were going at speed and that could have really left someone badly injured. It's nice to have some variety in a stage race, but unfortunately the rain just compromised the rider safety too much."

That left just the final stage on Sunday for Team Bonitas to defend Rabie's lead, which they did successfully. A break of two riders, that weren't an immediate threat to Rabie's lead, escaped early on during the 80km stage and stayed clear to battle for the stage win, which eventually went to Calvin Beneke (MTN Qhubeka).

Protected by his team, Rabie finished safely in the main pack on the final stage to secure the overall title by 41 seconds from Janse van Rensburg with Tasol GT's David Maree rounding out the podium places a further seven seconds down.

"My form isn't at a peak yet, but it's pretty good," said a satisfied Rabie. "I plan to reach peak form for when we head to Europe next month but I did have my eye on winning the Le Coq Sportif Tour. Because of the time trial I knew I had a chance of a top finish and it worked out well.

"Of course without my team's support I wouldn't have been able to achieve the win. The guys were so committed and I really appreciate that. We have a good understanding of each other which makes a big difference."

In addition to the overall title, Rabie finished tie first on points with Maree in the Sprint Competition, while Maree claimed the final King of the Mountains title.

Team Bonitas, one of just two UCI Continental teams from South Africa, will head to the Western Cape later this week for races in Plettenberg Bay and Knynsa that will bookend a one-week training camp. They then compete in the Best Med Jock Tour before heading for a second European stint in late July.


Johann Rabie's focus was resolute once he'd secured the race lead after Stage 1.
Photo by credit: Cycle Nation


Team Bonitas took control of the racing to ensure Rabie's Yellow Jersey was never threatened.
Photo by credit: Cycle Nation



Rabie takes Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour as young Beneke shines in last stage.

Johann Rabie (Bonitas) proved to be the most consistent tour rider in South Africa by winning the Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour over 5 days outside Rustenburg this week. The final stage over 80 km were controlled by Rabie's team Bonitas in true European style to protect his yellow jersey.

His team didn't mind when 3 riders broke away early in the stage as none of Richard Baxter and Clint Hendricks (both Tasol GT) and Calvin Beneke (MTN Qhubeka) posed a serious threat to the yellow jersey.

Hendricks had an unfortunate puncture as his team car were stuck behind the main bunch and couldn't get back to the break away. Calvin Beneke, son of former Rapport tour winner Gary Beneke, then outsprinted Baxter to take the final stage for team MTN Qhubeka.

Pieter Seyffert, Westvaal BMC took overall honours in the combined competition of last week's mountain bike tour and this week's road racing.

Karien van Jaarsveld (MTN Qhubeka) made sure of a double for the team by beating the overall winner Lynette Burger (Toyota Cycling's). Burger, the former SA and African champion managed to hang on to the overall lead and won the coveted Le Coq Sportif pink leaders jersey.

The overall master winners were Julius Cobbett (Cycle Nation), Thys van Jaarsveld and Mark Thijs in the various age categories.

The Tour was considered a great success and much needed event on South Africa's professional road racing circuit.


Rabie received his prize from Cherise of Le Coq Sportif



Dangerous weather conditions halts stage for of the Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour.

A combination of wet, slippery road surfaces combined with a very technical circuit in the Kgaswane Nature reserve forced the organization and officials to stop the days racing after just 2 laps.

Riders had mixed feelings about the cancellation but rider safety was the number one priority for the organization.

Tomorrow's final stage will start at 8am at ATKV Buffelspoort where fierce racing are expected after today's rest day.


The front bunch of today's Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour on lap one.



Perry solo to time trial victory in le coq sportif cycle tour.

James Perry (Tasol GT), a former bronze medallist in the u23 category at the World Time Trial Championships in 2003 edged out the Tour's overall leader Johann Rabie (Bonitas) in a time trial over 35km in windy conditions outside Rustenburg today. Perry, 49 minutes 57, 8 seconds managed to beat the inform Rabie by a mere 0, 67 seconds and Darren Lill (Bonitas) by 5 seconds.

With his 2nd place Rabie still leads the Le Coq Sportif yellow jersey competition, now in front of Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka) by 41 seconds and in 3rd place overall is David Maree (Tasol GT), another 7 seconds behind.

Pieter Seyffert (Westvaal BMC) managed to hang on to the Le Coq Sportif combined leaders jersey despite losing time to Nico Bell who did a great time trial today.

Tomorrow the riders will face a "Paris Roubaix" type stage, now a regular feature on Le Coq Sportif Cycling events, in the Kgaswane Nature reserve. The race will be ridden on a very demanding ten km lap that will be have to be completed ten times where all the riders will be severely tested.


James Perry on his way to the Le Coq Sportif time trial victory.




Rabie gets 2 from 2 at Le Coq Sportif cycle tour.

Johann Rabie (BONITAS) stormed to his 2nd stage win in as many days at the Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour outside Rustenburg today when he out sprinted his 4 break away companions after 135km. Two TASOL GT riders Nolan Hoffman and Dawid Maree finished in 2nd and 3rd places respectively.

With his win, overall leader and holder of the LE COQ SPORTIF yellow jersey, Rabie also secured the green MAEMO MOTORS sprinters jersey while Dawid Maree wears the Le Coq Sportif Mountain jersey.

Today's stage was ridden in windy conditions that continued to break up the race and the riders will face tomorrows deciding time trial over 35km with very sore legs. Besides Rabie the favourites for the time trial are Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN Qhubeka) as well as Rabies's team mate Darren Lill and James Perry (Tasol GT).

Julius Cobbett (CYCLE NATION) won the veterans race while Lynette Burger (TOYOTA CYCLING SA) won the women race. Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay Gebre (MTN Qhubeka) will wear the white best young rider jersey as leader in the u23 competition.






Rabie Rocks Rustenburg at the Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour.

Johann Rabie (Bonitas) sprinted to victory on the opening stage of the Le Coq Sportif cycle tour outside Rustenburg today. The top professional teams started stage one at ATKV Buffelspoort over 129km, very quickly the bunch scattered to pieces on the 1st King of the Mountain climb.

A group of 12 riders broke away and managed to stay away to the finish line where Rabie outsprinted David Maree (Tasol-GT) and team mate Darren Lill (Bonitas) to secure the yellow Le Coq Sportif leaders jersey. Rabie is also the holder of the green sprinters jersey sponsored by Maemo Motors as well as the Mountain jersey.

Pieter Seyffert (Westvaal BMC) took over the combined leaders jersey of the Mountain bike and Road race from Gawie Combrinck (Columbia sportswear) when he finished in the winning break of the 12 riders today.

Robyn de Groot, busy with final preparations for the London Olympic Games stormed to a solo win in the women category, while the veteran competitions were won by Thys van Jaarsveld, Jacques Fullard and Mark Thijs.

Tomorrows 2nd stage will start at Kloof, Rustenburg over 133km back to Kloof at 9am.


Johann Rabie ,David Maree,Darren Lill on the finish line


Neil Schalkwyk (Le Coq Sportif) and Johann Rabie with the winners jerseys




Combrinck secures Le Coq Sportif Mountain Bike tour victory.

Gawie Combrinck (Columbia Westvaal) secured victory in the Le Coq Sportif mountain bike challenge over 3 days by finishing second on the final stage over 70 km outside Pretoria today.

HB Kruger, the 20 year old team Bonitas rider attacked on the uphill finish to win his 2nd stage in two days but only managed to gain 3 seconds over Combrinck instead of the 5 seconds needed to win the tour.

In 3rd place overall was team mate of the winner Nico Bell that will start the road tour next Wednesday 13 seconds behind the winner.

There's a big cash prize from Le Coq Sportif for the rider with the best combined overall time of the mountain and road cycling events.

Seven times Ironman winner, Henk Watermeyer won the master's category, Cobus Wessels the veterans and Karin van der Walt won the women race.





Kruger outsprints Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour leader Combrinck on stage 2

H.B Kruger, the very talented 20 year old rider from team Bonitas kicked dust into the eyes of some of South Africa's top mountain bikers on stage 2 of the Le Coq Sportif cycle tour north of Pretoria. The stage, over 80km ended in a 4 rider sprint at Ludwig's Roses where Kruger outsprinted yellow jersey wearer Gawie Combrinck (Westvaal Columbia), Pieter Seyffert (Westvaal BMC) and Nico Bell, teammate of leader Combrinck.

In the overall competition after 2 days Combrinck still leads Kruger by 5 seconds with Bell another 7 seconds back. In the masters category Nick Bester lost the lead to his old rival and former Ironman champion Henk Watermeyer.

Cobus Wessels are leading the veteran category while Igna Dougall now leads the ladies category. Tomorrows 3rd and final stage over 70 km will start and finish at Babbas Lodge.

Winners



Fast start to the Le Coq Sportif Cycle Race

The 1st edition of the Le Coq Sportif cycle tour kicked off under perfect conditions at Babas Lodge, north of Pretoria with a 7.5 km Time Trial for the mountain bikers today. The top 3 positions on the podium were occupied by pre-race favorites that will also compete in the 5 day Road tour starting next Wednesday outside Rustenburg.

Gawie Combrinck (Westvaal Columbia) had the best legs on day one and won in a time of 16min 3sec, five seconds ahead of H.B. Kruger (Bonitas). In third place, another 5 seconds behind Kruger, were Nico Bell, teammate of the winner Combrinck. Kruger will have his work cut out to beat the very strong pairing of Combrinck and Bell in tomorrow's 2nd stage over 70km over rugged terrain between Babas Lodge and Ludwig's roses.

The Masters category was won by former Comrades marathon winner, Nick Bester, in a time of 18min17sec despite of injuring himself yesterday during a warm up on the course.

The 1st junior was Ryno van Wyk in 19min 24sec, the leading lady was Felecia Kluever in 21min 59sec and Albert Geldenhuys won the veteran category in 18min 26sec.

Tomorrow's stage will start at Babas Lodge at 9am and winners are expected to arrive at Ludwig's roses around 11h30am.

Winners
Nico Bell, Gawie Combrinck (Yellow Jersey), H.B. Kruger and Anna-Marie de Beer



Le coq sportif cycle tour - Tour Bible

Tour Biblr 2012

Tour Bible 2012.pdf (12Mb for print)

Tour Bible 2012.pdf (3Mb for email)




MAEMO MOTORS

-OFFICIAL VEHICLE SPONSOR OF THE LCS CYCLING TOUR.

Maemo Motors Rustenburg is the official Market Centre for Mercedes-Benz Passenger and Commercial Vehicles. It is also the home of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mitsubishi. Maemo Motors is an independent dealership where hands-on is the order of the day. A dealership which is driven by a highly motivated team of professional managers and dedicated staff. To prove it Maemo Motors has, for the second consecutive year been named the commercial vehicles "Dealer of the Year" Market Centre Award. In addition, Maemo has been chosen to take the coveted and prestigious Chrysler "Chairman's Award" for Dealer of the Year 2012. And the list of awards goes on, Sales Manager of the Year for Mercedes-Benz, Sales Manager of the Year for Chrysler, City Dealer of the Year for Chrysler...

What makes the people at Maemo Motors so committed to achieving their best?

These days good customer service is simply not good enough, unless you are not striving to be the best. That's the Maemo Motors difference. At Maemo Motors everything we do is centred around the pursuit of service excellence for every customer. After all, where would we be without customers.

It is this very desire to strive to be the best that has brought Maemo Motors and the Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour together.

" We're extremely excited about our involvement in the cycle tour" says Maemo Motors MD, Ignis de Swardt "Great wheels, great people, and a great time to get together".

From everyone at Maemo Motors to everyone involved in staging the 2012 Le Coq Sportif Cycle Tour, especially the cyclists, we wish you all the best for a spectacular event.







Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour get the thumps up from the Traffic department as well as Public works in the region of the Bojanala District.

Deputy Director Mr Reyneke Ratlhaa said that his men and department are confident that they will be ready for this 5 day National Le Coq Sportif Cycling tour that will commence on the 20th of June 2012.

The traffic departments in all the regions where the Le Coq Sportif tour is going to take place middle June next month are ready for the task to see that the cyclists will have a safe journey.They handed in their deployment plan to the organizers and everything looks very well planned.

Public works in the region also confirmed that they will see that all the potholes on the different cycling routes will be repaired before race day.

We are very glad to be assisted by such effiecient government organisations and we are looking forward to the Le Coq Sportif Cycle tour.

Please feel free to contact Nick Bester for more information Cell. 082 454 2222 and nickb@lantic.net





Masters are welcome at the Le coq sportif Road Cycle Tour –20 June to 24 June

Very exciting news is that the organisers of the Le coq sportif Road Cycle Tour decided to add amasters category to the tour. Master riders above 50 years of age will have their own leaders jersey as well as prize money for the top 5 riders.

The masters will ride in the 40 to 49 years starting group but will be competing in their own category( 50 years plus)

Le coq sportif Cycle Tour will take place from 15 to 24 June in and around Pretoria, Gauteng and Rustenburg and Buffelspoort, North West province. The routes will include the beautiful Magalies Mountains, making for scenic and exciting racing in an area where the winter temperatures are considerably warmer than they are on a typical winter's day in Gauteng.

In a format that's new to the South African cycling scene, Le coq sportif Cycle Tour will include a three-day mountain bike tour from 15 to 17 June; a five-day road cycle tour from 20 to 24 June; and a one-day "race for all" on the 24th. Riders may enter either the MTB tour or the road tour, or both. In addition, there will be MTB fun rides on 16 and 17 June.

Road Cycle Tour

This tour will cater for Elite & U/23 men & Junior men; Vet men 30-39; and Vet men 40-49 and 50 years and above over five days of racing from Wednesday 20 to Sunday 24 June, and will be based at ATKV Buffelspoort.

The first day's stage will see the riders departing from ATKV Buffelspoort and then they will travel through two little towns of the North West Province, Derby and Koster to finish 130 kms later at Rustenburg Kloof.This scenic route will have its tough parts with two king of the mountain primes to be negotiated by the riders.

Day 2 will start at the Rustenburg Kloof resort after which the riders will cycle towards Koster and Swartruggens and then back to Rustenburg Kloof via Koster.The distance of this stage will be 129km with another two king of the mountain primes.

Day 3 sees a 40km individual time trial on a circular, undulating route starting and finishing at ATKV Buffelspoort.

The penultimate day's racing will be over 10 laps on a 10km circuit inside the boundaries of the Kgasane game reserve. This day of cycling will let the riders think they are busy with the well known "Paris-Roubaix race" as they will be tested on a very narrow path constructed out of cobble stones, uneven tar road as well as some cemented surfaced roads. The real tough men of cycling will come to the fore during this day. The scenic route will be complimented with wild wildebeest, Zebra and antelope to entertain the riders.

The final stage will take place over 80 kms on Sunday 24 June when the riders have to do the time trial route twice starting and finishing at ATKV Buffelspoort.

Entries for the tour can be done at www.cyclelab.com and more information on the race can be seen at www.lecoqsportifcycletour.co.za

Masters Prize Money

50 plus
Masters 1 st R 2 000
2 nd R 1 500
3 rd R 750
4 th R 500
5 th R 200
 



NEWSFLASH: Anyone who entered the Le Coq Sportif Mountain bike tour will be entitled to win the lucky draw prize below. An open water scuba diving course, advertised price R3600-00

Included in the price:
  • 6x lectures
  • 6x pool sessions
  • 3x scuba dives inland at miracle waters near Brits
  • 3x qualifying dives at sodwana
  • Accommodation at sodwana
  • Course materials(incl. a pouch, logbook, dive tables and diving manual.)
  • The use of scuba equipment for the course( bc, regulator, weight belt & cylinder)
  • Divtek internationally recognized certification and registration,(c card)
Not included in the price:
  • Transport to the pool, Miracle waters and sodwana(we try to share transport where we can to reduce costs)
  • Diver permit, for diving in a MPA(marine protected area)-available at any post office valid for one year,+/- R96.00.
  • Dive site fees (entrance to Miracle waters +/- R60.00 per person per day and KZN Parks board in Sodwana R20.00 per person per day)
  • Optional pleasure dives, dives are available at R 270.00 per dive, excluding surcharges to far reefs.
  • Dual NAUI (C CARD) @ R300.00 this card if desired would have to be ordered from NAUI.
  • Food And beverages at any of the dive sites used for training by Divetek.


This prize is valid for a period of 3 months, in which time it would need to be redeemed.
That would mean between June and September 2012.

The lucky rider must be present at the prize giving on the last day of the Mountain bike tour at Babbas lodge on Sunday 17th June 2012.

Contact: Joe
072 954 2907
Tel: 012 349 1622
Email: lynnwood@divetek.co.za
www.divetek.co.za
DIVETEK LYNNWOOD





Please see our approved race jerseys under the race info section...

Leader Jersey - Male leader jersey




Leader Jersey - Female leader jersey (Mountain bike tour only)





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