Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 76, November 2015 | Page 51

News items that
you simply need
to know.
SHARES IN BIKE SHOP
Stellenbosch-based bicycle store, BMT has
taken employee job satisfaction one step
further by introducing the BMT Trust.
“The BMT Trust effectively gives 30% ownership
of the BMT Bicycle Store to BMT employees,”
says store owner Chris Norton.
“I want a bright future for my children. By
being a shareholder I have the opportunity to
earn more, learn more and in so doing ensure
that my children have a better start to life than
I had,” says employee Thando Nthuthu.

Short Rides

VW GETS IN ON QHUBEKA ACTION
After donating 1 100 bicycles to learners
from 20 rural schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal
and the Eastern Cape in April and May
respectively – Volkswagen South Africa
together with its partners Qhubeka and
World Vision South Africa returned to a
Kwa-Zulu Natal school to conduct bike
maintenance, a road safety clinic and
deliver backpacks filled with books and
stationery.
Local mechanics are trained to maintain
these bikes and enter into a service-toown contract, whereby they pledge
to provide repair support to BEEP for a
certain period of time, typically two years.
With the help of 12 participating Kwa-Zulu
Natal Volkswagen dealerships, a number
of books and stationery were collected
and used to fill backpacks which were
also handed over to the schools.

Ayanda Booi, Marc Bassingthwaite, Max Mathini,
Thando Ntuthu, Chris Norton (store owner of
BMT Bicycle Store), Geordie Robinson, Bongani
Busakhwe, Dewald Oosthuizen, Guy Smith and
Freda Swanepoel. Photograph from BMT

GRANT IS
LAUREUS
AMBASSADOR
South African survivor and ultraendurance cyclist, Grant Lottering,
has been named the newest
Ambassador for the Laureus Sport for
Good Foundation, joining a long list of
inspiring sports stars affiliated with the
global sport foundation.
Chairman of the Laureus Sport for
Good Foundation SA, Morné du
Plessis, said: “Grant’s harrowing
journey and continued fight has been
truly remarkable and a joy to watch,
his involvement in the work of the
Laureus Foundation will certainly play
a massive role in uplifting many lives
through sport.”

Mc

ELITE WOMEN AIM
AT W2W PRIZES
The seventh annual FNB Wines2Whales (W2W)
Mountain Bike (MTB) Race will see a stellar
field of elite female competitors at the start at
Lourensford Wine Estate (Somerset West) on
Friday, 6 November.
Top names include Ariane Kleinhans, Candice
Neethling, Jennie Stenehag and South African
national MTB champion Robyn De Groot.
According to Ariane, W2W is one of South
Africa’s greatest stage races. “The route and
the organization of the event are absolutely
first class. I love the amount of great single
track as well as the beautiful landscape of this
race. The stages are not too long and not too
short. Riders get to experience a variety of
terrain over the three days, so it’s never boring.
Our goal will definitely be to win.”

VW has also taken to supporting the Qhubeka
program, but has increased the effort to include
books. Photograph from Volkswagen South Africa.

Only one conquered
Only one of the five enthusiastic cyclists who
tackled the PinkDrive Everest Linksfield Ridge
Challenge managed to complete all 83 repeats.
Alan Warrener, Charles Zeelie, Gareth Mackenzie,
Godfrey Tiedermann and Lionel Heyl started
their quest on Friday 2 October with the aim of
completing 83 repeats of this hill, thus ascending
the height of Mount Everest.
In spite of massive efforts by the cyclists
themselves, a huge and passionate support
team, which saw many local riders including
Bradley Smith actually ride with the “PinkDrive
Everesters”, the gradient and heat took its toll and
four of the five riders had to throw in the towel.
However, Lionel was indeed the last man
standing (or should we say riding) at the end of
the day. Well done Lionel.

Lottering joins an impressive list of
current and former sportsmen and
women around the world who support
and promote the Laureus Sport for
Good Foundation.
Read the article about his recent Alp
conquest on pages 10 and 11 in this
issue.

Jennie Stenehag (seen here in action during the
2014 event) and Robyn De Groot will team up for
the 2015 FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race that will
take place the weekend of Friday, 6 November
until Sunday, 8 November 2015. Photograph by
Cherie Vale / NEWSPORT MEDIA

Lionel Heyl pedalled hard up Linksfield Ridge
during the attempt.

ISSUE 14 NOVEMBER 2015 / www.moderncyclist.co.za

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