While establishing themselves in the mountain biking scene, the duo of Jaco Venter and Jacques Janse van Rensburg have not forgotten the discipline that saw them racing around the world for over 12 years. Venter and Janse van Rensburg will be adding select road race events to their 2020 mountain biking schedule in a new partnership with First Move Sport and Team Alfa Bodyworks.
Image: Max Sullivan“I am looking forward to racing on the road again, and racing in a team of 6 instead of a team of 2 gives us the best opportunity to make the most of the races we can fit into our MTB schedule. Jacques and I hope to share what we know with the younger riders, and take our chances in getting a few road results too. Alfa Bodyworks are a great group of people that really live cycling, and we are excited to race with them this season!” said Jaco Venter.
“We’re not the biggest team on the SA road circuit, so having Jaco and Jacques race with us is great because they have a lot of knowledge and experience to share, and it will give our riders exposure to the standard and professionalism of international level athletes while racing locally.” commented Hannes van der Walt, Manager of Team Alfa Bodyworks.
The first events that Venter and Van Rensburg will be racing under the adopted red colours of Team Alfa Bodyworks will be The Tour of Good Hope and the Cape Town Cycle Tour, both this coming week.
“Racing Tour of Good Hope and Cape Town Cycle Tour is ideal for our Absa Cape Epic preparations as it’s an ideal time for a final week of intensity before the rest week leading up the the ‘race that measures all’. The composition of the Tour of Good Hope fits perfectly into what we should be doing with two weeks to the Absa Cape Epic, and Cape Town Cycle Tour is a great final test of our shape as it’s always full gas from the gun.” added Jacques Janse van Rensburg
The Tour of Good Hope is based in the Paarl valley, and the race format comprises four race villages over 5 days. The five stages will cover 530km including 5600m of ascent through the Cape Winelands. Stage 5 finishes at the iconic Taal Monument on the Paarl Mountain.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour needs no introduction, but in its 42nd edition this year, the largest timed cycling race in the world is guaranteed to be red-hotly contested by all 35,000 participants.
