The weekend...

... was quite busy. Major group ride on Saturday to wish Gustavo goodbye as he is leaving us in a few days to go study in Portugal. Well, that's what he says anyway... Almost all the Club and Federation members met at FACIM and pedalled out on the EN4 with some turning back to do 60km and the hard-core group completing 100km with a nice stiff breeze on the way back. A surprise visit was Danilo, FMC president, as well as Ricky Trinidade who is slowly getting back into training. Those who didn't make the ride met us for a coffee at the Nautilus cafe along 25th of September, Imran's favourite haunt.. Here are some pictures of the event:

Photos by MJT

The 60km crowd

Photo by Abub Ibraimo

The "Vet" squad

Photos by Braga Junior "BTJ

Eddy Merckx??? No.. just me in Cannibal clothing

Our "Brazuca" rider, Braga

Sunday was a ride out to Goba fronteira via the Barragem "old" road. Nice and calm with almost no cars, but again a nice stiff breeze on the way back. We had seven riders out there, testing their legs on the hills, and I am sad to report that Patrick "Indurain" Verissimo has now completed his body and bike upgrade and is now a force to be reckoned with on the climb. Will this translate to some race victories in the future? Only time will tell.. Moz team members Miguel Duarte and Zeca Alvez were also in attendance, as well as Carlos, Lars, Joao and your blog author.


On another note...
Picked up an interesting article on Betinho Bikes written by two visiting Capetonian cyclists, Stan & Nic, and their impossibly adventurous odyssey to find some decent used bikes in Maputo. ome nice pictures as well in the article and definately worth the read.

Bicycle Portraits

Photos by Stan Engelbrecht & Nic Brobler

On other news, a gentle reminder that the Tour of Maputo races are happening this coming weekend.

Stage 1 - Volta a Goba - starts at Barragem, over the dam wall and up pedreira hill (1st KOM point) and continuing along the Namaacha road until the Goba turnoff, then left to Goba town and onto the old road to the Barragem (make sure to turn left after about 5km out of Goba), then on the long straight until the Extramac climb (2nd KOM point) and a little later the finish - Total 66km. The course is really just hilly, with the climbs being just short and steep.

Stage 2 - FACIM Critérium - 20 laps of the FACIM circuit, for a total of 40km. Sprint points on lap 5, 10, 15 and the final lap.

Stage 3 - Time trial from Costa do sol restaurant to FACIM and back to Costa do Sol - 20km. Cyclists will leave 1 minute apart.

The cyclists with the overall lowest time will be declared the winner and gets the coveted Tour de Maputo trophy. Winners of each stage will receive prizes sponsored by Vodacom. Support vehicle is sponsored by Werner Schoefmann of Nova Vida.