Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Page 49

changing lives MC

Change a
Lifers making
tracks in local
mountain
biking scene

RMB Change a Life Academy mountain
biking star John Ntuli backed up his record
BSi Steel dusi2c third place - which he
clinched with partner Ndumiso Dontso - with
an impressive top ten finish in the recent
60km Illovo Marathon, the feature race of
the 2014 Illovo Eston MTB Challenge. Photo
by Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media

By Nick Tatham

F

rom a modest hut in Valley
of a Thousand Hills has emerged
a new force in KwaZulu-Natal
mountain biking as RMB
Change a Life Academy
continues to produce results
that not only make its founder,
Martin Dreyer proud but has
also galvanised the local
community to get behind these
young and inspiring men.
Martin, no stranger to the Valley
of a Thousand Hills, having won
both the iconic Dusi Canoe
Marathon and the Non Stop
Dusi Canoe Marathon seven
times respectively, singled out

because the RMB Change a
Life team operates in the Valley
of a Thousand Hills, so in the
dusi2c the guys are basically
riding in their own backyard.”
The combination of RMB
Change a Life team coach
John Ntuli and youngster
Ndumiso Dontso made history
when they became the first
black pair to claim a podium
in a stage race in South Africa
when they finished in third
place overall at this year’s
two-day event from Camps
Drift, Pietermaritzburg to Blue
Lagoon, Durban.

“It is just fantastic to get a
podium; you get a lot more
recognition than if you are in
fourth place.”
the recent BSi Steel dusi2c as
a vital event in growing the
academy as well as receiving
the recognition the riders
deserve following a lot of hard
work and dedication.
“The Dusi valley is always
special for me, personally,
because it is a place where
I got a little bit of recognition
as a paddler,” the Dusi Duke
mentioned. “More importantly
from the academy’s point of
view though, it is also special

“It is just fantastic to get a
podium; you get a lot more
recognition than if you are in
fourth place. We also finished
with a total of three teams in
the top 10 which is lovely,” a
satisfied Martin commented.
John Ntuli is the most
experienced rider on the
Change a Life team and he
and Martin have been together
for over four years which has
allowed Martin to observe
Ntuli’s career blossom from a

solid multi-sport athlete into a
renowned mountain biker.
“John Ntuli definitely leads
by example and has been
an absolute pleasure to
mentor. He started more from
a multi-sport point of view
and he and I did the Cape
Epic together in 2012 and
finished 54th overall. Some
of the younger guys are
now giving John a proper
working over if the ride is not
too long, between 40 and 60
kilometres and it’s great to
see the youngsters starting to
make their way through the
ranks as well. The guys look
up to John as a role model
though and when they see
him performing, they know
that they can do the same,”
Martin mentioned.
Martin maintains that the
social skills that his riders pick
up during stage events such
as the BSi Steel dusi2c are
vital in helping them develop
relationships outside of their
community and mingle with
people that they would
normally never associate
with.
“There is a lot more to stage
racing. It is not all about
racing, like it is with one day
races. The dusi2c and other
stage races are also about
interacting with the other
competitors in the race
village at night. The BSi Steel

dusi2c provides that exact
chance! Guys from previously
disadvantaged backgrounds
and guys who own multimillion rand companies
all come together in an
environment where everyone
is equal and you sit at the
same table and eat the same
food. Part of my vision for the
RMB Change a Life Academy
is to get my academy guys
to guide people through
the Valley of a Thousand
Hills and the interaction
required during these stage
races means their social skills
improve tremendously as
well,” Martin concluded.
Last month’s 60km Illovo
Marathon, the feature race
of the 2014 Illovo Eston MTB
Challenge, once again
provided the RMB Change a
Life Academy with a chance
to shine and it was Ntuli who
stood out amongst the pack
as he registered a memorable
ninth place finish amidst a
classy elite men’s field.
Ntuli produced a solid ride
to finish inside the top 10 in a
race that was eventually won
by Kargo Pro MTB team ace
and current South African
Cross Country champion
Rourke Croeser with Trek South
Africa’s Brendon Davids in hot
pursuit and FedGroup ITEC’s
Max Knox in a close third.

More info can be found at www.martindreyeracademy.com
49