What will Lance wear?

While everyone is glued to the UCI press conference, while it strips Lance Armstrong of his 7 Tour de France titles, I began wondering what will Lance wear during his retirement.  I mean while on his bike, of course.  Obviously..
Giro have said they'll ditch him, so he'll need a new helmet.  Nike have said no way, so there goes the jersey and cycling pants. Although he could simply just colour in the white nike swishes.. Hold on, he's no longer chairman of Livestrong.. so that might have to come off, although he's still a board member.. So let him wear the yellow bracelet.  Not sure who his shoe sponsor is, but likely Giro as well, so those will have to go.  Then what will he ride? Trek said adios baby!  A Specialized maybe.. The name fits.  That just leaves him with Oakely sunglasses.. they said they'd stay, until monday at least, when the UCI would decide.. Ooops, its monday.  No more sunglasses Lance...

Festina, Puerto and Usada

The "affairs" between cyclists and doping continues.  Although many thought the USADA report was just about Lance Armstrong and his now confirmed doping, the report opens up a can of works with many names spilling out from inside.  This is not going to go away.  This will not end with Lance..  Cyclists beware!

Circuito dos Campeoes 2012

The Circuito dos Campeoes race took place on the 30th of September on the back-end of the Luso Africa Tour from Johannesburg to Maputo, which started on Wendesday and finished on Saturday.  The super-fit riders from JHB were now ready to take on the best of Maputo and Swaziland!  The "Champion's Criterium" race got on to a rocky start, after a change in the course was necessitated due to a grandstand having been built in the middle of the road the previous night!  We were sharing the day with World Health day.. and someone didn't get the memo of the road race...  Still, Messias in no time organised an alternative, in part adopting the course of the National Championships to be held in a week's time.  Now we just had to wait for the runners to finish and the TV crew to arrive.

Maputo Riders

Swazi riders

Joburg riders

Our very own Ian Campbell taking a prize in the 50-59

Patrick Verissimo with Podium Cap and bag.  Was the bag to net all the prizes?!?

Miguel Duarte taking his agegroup prize

The race podium (Martins, Beneke and Faria).  3rd placed rider, Jorge Faria, is older than the two guys who came 1st and 2nd put together! Impressive stuff. Go Vet's go!

Riders on the Caracol corner, feeling the bite of the 8% gradient. Jorge Faria next to Sergio Grichone in the front.

William Kelly, VP of Swazi Cycling and noted threat to the podium

Your humble author realising he hasn't trained on home ground for quite some time!

Sebbie Du Pont from Swaziland, rounding the corner with Luso rider for company.

"Biopace" Isaac Cossa with resident Tri-Athlete Mike Simms holding his wheel

Enjoying the "scenic" view.

Menzi Tsela "enjoying" the Mozambique climbs!

The "younguns" mixing it up with the older folk.  Is this the genesis of a future African Champion??

Either they grow up quickly, or we get smaller bikes for them!!

Caroline Du Pont, winner in the ladies category, stamping her authority on the Caracol.  Kallie looks on in amazement!

Another Moz rider "enjoying" the hills.

The ladies from Swaziland impressed

Riders showing off a range of stylish bikes and cycle kit

Our own lady riders were up to the task, having trained in Goba at a recent Copa Ciclismo race

A big thanks to the race sponsors AIDEX, race organisers Luso Africa Cycle Club and Mozambique Cycling Federation which put on a good show and created a wonderful cycling vibe in town.  All riders from all walks of live, all types of bike and all ages showed up.  The only rule was "no helmet, no ride", which left some orange clad riders stranded by the side of the road.  But besides them, everyone else was able to take part and race with some young pro's from South Africa.  Our own riders gave it their best though and finished not far behind the leading riders.  All riders got a finishing medal and refreshments at the end of the race.  We had riders come from Swaziland and spice up the proceedings quite a bit, and no doubt this was also the largest showing of women riders in quite some time, which is a sign for the future.  If this level of race can be staged in Maputo, in complete safety with road closures, clear courses, then there is a chance to increase the impact of this sport.  Quite a lot still needs to be done to raise awareness for the sport and give non-traditional racers a chance to compete.  The basis has been laid, now we must just run with it (or rather pedal!).

My warmest regards to Sebbie, Menzi and Willian and to the rest of your riders from Swaziland.  It was a real pleasure having you with us and racing together, and we look forward to the 4th of November in Swaziland for the Goba-Siteki 2 Nations race!  The reality is that both sides of the border can grow their sports if we make the effort to take part in each other's events.. and it's just a quick hop across the border!

A big thanks to Luso Africa for their 5th tour.  Joaquim, excellent coup getting the increased sponsorship for this race.  We look forward to 2013, hopefully not having to share the road with a grand-stand.  The TV coverage will raise the level of awareness for the sport and your team made sure the event went off as smoothly as possible, and in true African style found a solution to every problem that was put in our way. Thanks!

UWCT Masters World Championships 2012

Finish line. First the SA flag, then Mozambique! Probably our greatest achievement in terms of exposure.  The organisers made a big deal about our entry, and all things considered, for a country with a cycling population numbering in the 20s or 30s, to have 3 riders participating is an achievement.
NB - When I say cycling pop of 20-30, I am referring to the Amateur cyclists for fun. Mozambique uses bicycles as a form of transport and there are probably several million users, especially in the rural areas.  However the transition from bicycle as method of transport to bicycle as a recreational vehicle is very slow.

The finishing straight lined with flags of countries participating.  The organisers put on a good show, although spectators were thin on the ground.  I had a chat with CSA President William Newman and one of his challenges is raising awareness of the sport, and drumming up spectators to support the events.

Finishing is a victory!

Winner of the Women's 35-39 age-group. Lynnette Burger

Sprint finish!!

Lars Noren after his 96km race.  His race took place amid howling winds and 38 degree weather, so we didn't press him for too many comments after the race.

William Kelly, also shattered after a really tough day in the office!  He was in Andrew McClean's group.. so a tough bunch to race with.

My start number!

The calm before the storm... Team Mozambique relaxing cyclist style, with legs up.

The view of the finish from the rider's perspective

Team Mozambique in the 40-44 age category after their race.  Smiles as the pain is over

Miguel Duarte together with 30-34 agegroup podium finisher Jaco Ferreira

Which jersey do you like more?

Ahem.. delete this picture!!


Here are some articles on the race that you might find interesting:

Italy dominates final day of UWCT Finals

Double Gold for Burger

Second day of racing

Time trials and tribulations

Photos by: Mario Traversi, Miguel Duarte and Carlos Sales

The UCI World Cycling Tour starts today, Thursday 23rd of August, with a 25.6km Time Trial event.  For results, please click here.  The Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique has one rider participating in the time trial event, Lars Noren, of Swedish extraction and who has animated our local Copa Ciclismo scene, beating many younger riders and reaching the podium on multiple occasions.  He will be racing in the 60-64 age bracket and he is the last one of his age group to start (start-time at 10:59am today) - so he will be at an advantage with respect to the other riders and will hopefully be able to gain time on them in the technical time trial.


Below are profiles on the riders who are taking part in the Finals:

Miguel Duarte - 30-34 age-group.  He will be particiating in the 112km road race which starts on Sunday.  His start group contains a strong South African contingent as well as several Swazi riders that have participated in the Copa events in the past.  One rider to watch out in his group is Jaco Ferreira, winner of the Panorama Tour earlier this year together with racing partner Nico Bell.  AS for Miguel, he is current Mozambique Road champion and winner of the overall 2011 Copa Ciclismo, as well as numerous races including our most famous race, the Twin Peaks Classic.  He has been training in Portugal and came 4th in his agegroup in the 2011 UWCT qualifying event, but was unable to participate due to date clash with the African Games, where he represented his country.

 

Carlos Sales and Miguel Duarte during a training session in Namaacha

Carlos Sales - 40-44 age-group.  Carlos will also be participating in the 112km road race but in a separate start group to Miguel, leaving 10 minutes later.  His start group also contains a strong SA contingent, just over half the riders, including the likes of Stefano Madies, winner of the Msunduzi qualifying event in this agegroup, as well as Tinus Scheepers, of Lowveld Tour podium fame. There is also a strong Australian and Italian presence in this peleton, with 5 riders apiece.  Carlos' past achievements include a stunning solo victory at the 2007 Twin Peaks with a record that stands to this day, and a very strong track record in this year's Copa and FMC circuit races, reaching the podium in most of his starts.  His excellent performance in the Jock saw him reach 2nd overall in his start-group and setting the best overall Mozambican time for that race (adjusted for slightly different race distances of the years).

 

Mario Traversi, Miguel Duarte and Kinha Fonseca, podium for the 2010 Twin Peaks.  Kinha was unable to participate in the UWCT Final due to a motorbike accident, although he is fine now.

Mario Traversi - 40-44 age-group. For those of you new to this blog, this is me!  Also participating in the same group as Carlos, in the 112km distance.  This will certainly be a tough group.  Mario's past achievements include 2010 Copa Ciclismo overall champion as well as sprinter's jersey and polka-dot jersey, and 7 Copa victories overall (including 2 over Miguel, our current Champion).  His last Argus event saw him miss a sub-3 hour by 2 agonising minutes, but still, one of the best overall club times for that race.  Victories of note are the Hell of the South Race, our own version of Paris Roubaix, raced over the Moamba potholes, although a podium position in the Twin Peaks indicates potential for climbing. This current season though has not been kind to him, so the UWCT is a final chance to redeem himself.

Lars Noren receiving medal from Adamo Akuji (Father of Imran Akuji, Club president who passed away)
 
Lars Noren - 60-64 age group.  Lars will be taking part in the 96km distance to be held on Saturday 25th of August.  He has travelled from Sweden to take part in this race, where he recently came 3rd in his age-group in his National Championships, which means that he is participating in this race as a Swedish federated rider and not as a Mozambican.  No matter Lars, we know you're one of ours!  Up until April he was part of the Clube de Ciclismo de Moçambique and has reached the podium in several criterium events as well as longer racers.  Much feared within our own peleton for his no-holds-barred attacking style, he will be a force to be reckoned with in his race on saturday.  Still, he faces a tough group with again, a strong SA contingent including Christiaan Rossouw, winner of the 2012 Panorama Tour in his agegroup. 

Profile of the 112km race, which has 1350m of climbing.  The race is quite similar to the Argus in terms of distances and total climbing, except that it doesn't take part at sea level!

Forecast for race-day.  Lars will have a tough time of it with 34 degrees and a 1pm start for the road race, but his training in Mozambique should be adequate to master the heat.  Sunday's race however starts off cold and doesn't warm up much, so will be ideal racing conditions.