The New Fast One - 29 January 2012 - by Werner Venter

On Sunday morning, 29 January we lined up for the 2nd edition of the “New” Fast One outside the Midvaal Racetrack. The Mr Price vets team was represented by Emile Fouche, Mike Viljoen, Andrew Reeves, Dirk Barnard and I. With the top club structure falling away, the VA group was fairly large with most of the big teams represented and a few new teams and individuals also joining the extremely competitive 30-39 age group.


The racing started out at a fairly sedated pace of about 45km/h. One or two small attacks was made, but was reeled in easily and it became apparent that this race was probably going to end in a large bunch sprint. Our team was very active and put in a few attacks and covered all the important moves. At around the halfway point in this fast and furious race, our new found strong man, Mike Viljoen put in a big attack that resulted in the move of the day. In the break was Mike, Rowan Tyler (Fego), Craig Harvey (Cycle Nation), two MTN Club 100 riders and a rider from team without sponsor. With most of the big teams represented, most of us were happy to sit back and make the teams who missed the move chase down the break. Mountain biker, Nick Portius (Specialized) tried hard to bring the gap of over a minute down with the help of some of the other smaller teams. With around 25km to go we eventually caught the break and the racing was back on. Through Walkerville and Henley on Klip, the route makes a few twist and turns and we knew that we needed to be at the front of the bunch or risk being dropped from the group. We did just that and with around 10km to we could see MTN Club 100 organising their lead out train and it was then that Dirk Barnard (Mr Price) put in an attack to upset their rhythm. Dirk was soon reeled in and then Andrew Reeves (Mr Price) put in another attack. The finish was a 6.5km drag which was far from flat-but even the incline did not drop the speed below 50km/h! We tried to lead Andrew out for the sprint, but were outdone by a better organised MTN Club 100 team. The race was won by James Louter (MTN), with Andrew finishing in 5th place. All of us came in with the same time. After the race we learned that Emile punctured with around 3km to go-really bad luck after all the work he did for 99% of the race.


It was a very good race for our team, and even though we didn’t get the result we were looking for, we really enjoyed ourselves and proved to ourselves that we don’t need to stand back for the big teams.


Final results:


1. James Louter


2. Jacques Fullard


3. Julius Cobbett


4. Craig Harvey


5. Andrew Reeves

Photo by Mandie Herbst

KZN Champs - 21-22 January 2012 - by Mike Viljoen

This past weekend Durban became witness to arguably the best cycling event ever seen! The annual KZN Cycling champs was run over 2 days - Saturday hosting the Time Trial and Sunday the Road Race. With world class athletes participating over a world class course, the weekend was bound to bring fireworks to the tar!


The 30 + team was out in full force for both the time trial and road race . Most of us did the time trial as training for tours further down the line when there is no choice in doing the time trial. For some this proved easier than others, as on this flat circuit loop, there was no time to relax. We had 5 laps to do for a total of 45km. Sean was able to grab a podium in the 30+ cat with a fantastic third.


The following morning took us up the hill into the mountains for the 126km circuit race around Westville. As tradition would have it the start of the day brought rain – not something we really wanted as the down hills were as brutal as the up hills making an already brutal course even more testing. We were to start with the elite and u23 bunch which contained the likes of Burry Stander, Kevin Evans and David George. Not to mention the many other notable campaigners on various international circuits. If that was not enough to scare off any sane person I’m not sure what would!


Never the less we started the race and the heavens opened. Thankfully that kept the rather large and anxious peloton under control for the first 2 laps before the early break was to make a move. Aston Davies and Myles von Muschenbrook went away and managed to amass about 1m30. The lap circuit was a great way for spectators to keep in touch with the race with the climbs up towards Cowies providing fireworks on every lap! Gradually the pace set by the pros and the gradient split the group with three quarters of the bunch disappearing after about lap 4. At this stage the break was brought back and all was neutral again. A few more accelerations were metered out and on lap 8 another Split happened with about 10-15 riders getting away. At this stage only 3 30+ riders were able to hang in with Mr Price riders Sean and Mike in a perfect position to take the podium.


In the final lap Burry Stander and Kevin Evans attacked the bunch and managed to stay away to the end. With the split having enough of a gap, the final climb became a battle field of attacks with overall and category contenders fighting for line honours. Mike made the first move , attacking Nick Portious. All Sean had to do was sit and wait and then ride across to Mike and take the win in the 30+ cat with Mike taking second . Rounding out the results was Emile Fouche with a fine 4th. A really well worked result for the team!


The chase group still had catagory prizes up for grabs. Recently moving up to the 35 + cat, Mr Price team rider Andrew Reeves had to fight it out with Matt Goetch of Fego eventually securing 2nd spot.


Overall a great weekend of racing and a great start to the season for the team.

Mr Price KZN Vets 2012 Team

Herewith we would like to Introduce the Mr Price KZN Vets team for 2012!

Cat 30-34:

Sean Merredew
Mike Viljoen
Werner Venter
Emile Fouche

Cat 35-39

Andrew Reeves
Dirk Barnard

Cat 45-49

Bryan Cusack
Gwyn Pine

We are looking forward to a great season ahead!

Momentum 94.7 - 19 November 2011 - by Mike Viljoen

Saturday 19 November saw the vets 30-34 racing team very happily leave the misty, rainy weather of kzn behind and make the trek to the sunny skies of guateng. Knowing that we were not going to have any back up vehicle, we decided to use the trailor as practice in changing tyres. True to form, we changed the shredded wheel better than any formula 1 garage would expect(half an hour) and continued on our way, safe in the knowledge that nothing would stop our success !




As tradition would have it a pre-race warm up was had, dinner served at Primi and race tactics discussed for the morning. Thankfully a sneaky back entrance just round the corner from the Town Lodge allowed a not too early wake up and warm up to the start at 05h40. By the time we arrived the main contenders were lining up including: Fego ; Cycle Nation; Computer Smith and MTN Club 100. Two main thoughts for the race were going on : MTN would want to keep it together for their sprinter James Louter who at this stage had good sprint legs. Cycle Nation would want to break it up for either the in form Julius Cobett or experienced craig Harvey. For us, we were outnumbered by all the teams so were hoping for a break to go and at least be represented.


The start was slow to say the least with the m1 not having an early break as per tradition except for a dab off the front from Fego rider David Imrie. This was left alone for most of the m1 but was slowly and easily dragged back . no real attempt was made after that - most knowing that the worst was still to come. Coming off the m1 , the early hills hit hard - shattering the bunch and allowing about 20 of us to get away . luckily MTN sprinter James Louter got caught by the big moves on these climbs and was left behind . unfortunately for us we lost Werner Venter aswell by trying to avoid a rider losing his chain ! Cycle Nation remained in tact with Fego losing Imrie aswell.


Going through the cbd was a semi relaxed affair with the only move going as we left the cbd from MTN rider Jeremy Martens. MTN soon realised that their tactics weren’t going to plan so spent most of their time on the front doing the work with Cycle Nation making the big attacks. It did become evident that TCS rider Jaco Fereira was turning out to be the one to watch as he sat quietly at the back of the bunch hardly breaking a sweat and using his team to perfection to bring moves back and hurt the bunch when required.


The second set of hills that followed were ridden at a fairly tough tempo with a few moves going off the front but not enough were represented so were dragged back. Once on the n14 , computersmith riders suddenly woke up and started attacking the bunch , knowing that the hardest part of the ride was about to hit us once we left the highway. Luckily the bunch was able to stay intact leaving the N14. Summit road was where it all went down with a massive attack coming from Jaco Fereira and Julius Cobbet which in the gutter wind was the decider. Going with was an MTN rider and later Craig Harvey aswell as Brand du Plessis from TCS. Unfortunately us and Fego missed this move and a flat out chase was on. This was the move of the day as Jaco and Julius attacked again and rode clear to the finish, leaving us all to fight for the minor placings.


Julius was able to out sprint Jaco for the win with the remainder of the final move coming in to complete the top 4. Andrew was able to take 10th , Emile 13th and Mike 15th. Not exactly what we wanted but a hard fought race non the less .

KZN Lassen Series Race 11 - 13 November 2011 - by Andrew Reeves

On the morning of 13th November a bunch of about 60 dedicated roadies lined up for the final race in the 2011 Lassen clothing road race series.The weather was perfect, a little overcast with no rain, comfortable tempratures and only a slight wind. The race was held on the NMR circuit, a 5km flat criterium type circuit. This was a nice change from the hilly Vans circuit where all the previous races in the series had taken place.


Just after 7am the racing got underway, and the bunch was straight into it, as there were points and cash hotspots up for grabs at the end of nearly every one of the planned 20 laps. The attacks were going off the front all the time but with a lot of fresh legs in the bunch they kept being reeled in. The cash hotspot sprints caused major accelerations and the bunch began to split up. A few breaks got small gaps but with the wrong combination of riders they were chased down.


At the halfway mark Deno van Heerden (Fego) attacked and Sean Merredew (Mr Price) followed him, Brett Berrimman (Cycle Lab) then jumped across to them with myself on his wheel. With riders from 3 main teams represented the bunch did not chase seriously and the break was allowed to move clear.


This proved to be the winning break and once the riders settled into a working rythmn a steady gap of about 1min was held over the bunch. Some riders did try to cross over to the break but since Mr Price had 2 riders in the break they wouldn't allow riders to get away and neutralised their attacks. Myles van Musschenbroek did manage to get into the break and then we had 5 riders in the break.


The finish of lap 19 was a cash sprint and Sean asked if I was going for it, I did and got the sprint. Myles then came steaming past me and I jumped onto his wheel and we were away. That last lap was a blur of flatout pacing as we worked hard to stay ahead of the 3 riders behind.


At the finish Myles opened up the sprint and kicked really hard but I just managed to squeak past him and win by a tires width. Sean came 3rd with Deno and Brett finishing off the top 5 places.

All the riders agreed it was a good race on a nice fast circuit and the race was enjoyed by all.


The Mr Price Vets team would like to say a BIG thank you to all the organisers, marshals and officials who worked so hard to make this race series a success. Of course a huge thanks goes to Lassens sportswear and Crusader Logistics for their generous sponsorship of the races.






Andrew Reeves

OFM Classic – 6 November 2011 - by Emile Fouche

On the morning of the 6th of November 2011 we lined up for the start of the 2011 version of the MTN OFM Classic. Our team was represented by Andrew Reeves, Werner Venter, Bryan Cusack and me. The other teams we knew we had to keep an eye on were Cylce Nation, Fego and a very well represented MTN Club 100 Team.

Five minutes behind the Pro’s and Elites our start gun sounded and the VA batch rolled down Nelson Mandela Avenue towards the right hand turn into Markgraaf Street. The attacks started early with us trying to cover as much as we can. The route took us through a bit of a Tour de Suburbs through Pellisier, Fichardt Park and Universitas before we turned right onto the N1 North. Amashova winner, Jeremy Maartins, was ahead in a solo break and we knew we would have to work to get him back. As Jeremy was a MTN rider we had help from Cycle Nation and Fego. An acceleration from the bunch eventually reigned him in but it was not long before another attempt went and we missed it again.

A strong break represented by Cycle Nation, MTN and Fego went of the front and we knew our work for the next lot of kilometres were going to be cut out for us. A couple of the names of the riders in the break were Craig Harvey, Julius Cobbett (both Cycle Nation), Rowan Tyler (Fego) and Jeremy Maatens (MTN). It was up to me, Werner and Bryan to lead the chase. The MTN team were doing a good job at blocking riders from rolling through. The route turned back onto N1 South and Sunning Hill and then left on Andries Pretorius. We were working our butts off. Every now and then some individual riders would make suicidal attempts trying to bridge the gap instead of helping us with the chase. I couldn’t help myself having a word or two with one of these particular riders. It was only once we turned left onto Rudolph Greyling road where the chase got momentum and we also received a lot of help from some individuals and our PE allies, Donovan O’Reilly and Awie Jacobs. On the N8 towards Lesotho we gained a lot of distance on the break and just when we were about to turn left on De la Rey road, Andrew attacked the bunch, crossing over to the break which now split. The break was reigned in but the bunch made a fatal error not continuing with its momentum as Julius and Jeremy was still ahead and gaining distance on the bunch again.

Yet again the chase was on. As we neared the first kick I could feel I was starting to get in trouble. Team mate Bryan Cusack was setting the pace on the hills and probably knowingly getting me dropped. I managed to stay in touch over the hill in Albrecht Street but when we reached the Lucas Steyn climb I just could not keep contact and had to watch the bunch go.

Meanwhile in the bunch Werner and Bryan were working like demons. The break was caught and it was going to end in a sprint finish.

The sprint was on! Unlucky for us Andrew suffered some mechanical issues with his chain as it started skipping and he could not risk standing. James Louter (MTN) won the sprint followed by Craig Harvey (Cycle Nation), Julius Cobbett (Cycle Nation), Dylan Joseph (Fego) and our team mate Andrew Reeves (Mr Price), finishing off the prize money positions. Bryan and Werner finished in the bunch with Bryan getting a top ten position.

This year’s OFM was a challenging route and hopefully the organisers keep it this way for a few years to come. Afterwards we went to prize giving to enjoy the live Afrikaans music and beer drinking vibe.

Well done to the MTN OFM Classic organisers for hosting a great event.

UCI WORLD CYCLING TOUR - Msunduzi Road Challenge - 30 October 2011 - by Mike Viljoen

As the name suggests, this was a very a hugely important race, especially for those wanting to qualify for the world masters champs next year in August. In essence - this was racing at its highest quality – an SA champs type event ! What we were blissfully unaware of was the quality of the course and field.


The day started out slightly overcast but humid as we warmed up for what was going to be a long day in the saddle. The who’s who of cycling arrived and by the time we lined up to start , the sun was out in full force - a sign of things to come . We all knew that the course was hilly but little did we know how hilly. The suspects to keep an eye on: Mtn club 100, Cyclenation, Team Computer Smith, Fego and various other classy individuals .


The first couple of km took us winding through the streets of Pietermaritzburg at a rather moderate pace and then onto the first climb of the day at 7km. This was the first of many tempo climbs of the day. This was where the first move of the day went clear with Sean Merridew(Mr Price) riding casually off the front half way up the climb. Seans move was soon covered by Julius Cobbet of Cycle nation. I suppose with 90% of the race still ahead of us everybody thought that it would not stick and let it go. It was now left to the individuals, Fego and Mtn to do the chasing. The pace however remained at a moderate tempo and the break managed a maximum of 4min!


No major moves really stuck after that with the course taking its toll on the bunch. With no effort from the chase, the course managed to slowly cut the group down. Slowly but surely the hills left groups scattered all over the road. The next major move came at about the 50km mark on the climb towards Dalton where the Computer smith boys made a telling move half way up the climb. At that stage the wind had reared its ugly head and was blowing us all over the place. The group was split in two with myself and Emile and Andrew not making the move. Unfortunately for Werner, he punctured and had to wait an hour and a half for assistance .This was perhaps the biggest let down of the event. If team vehicles are not allowed then maybe a better system of back up is needed?


The top of the climb was no time to rest as we worked hard with our bunch at between 55 and 60km /h in hectic cross winds to try and regroup. Unfortunately the wind and the previous hill mixed with the talent in the move, we were unable to bridge and settled into an uncomfortably hard pace in the cross winds to manage the damage. Again the course had its way, throwing second hand chip and spray, heavy cross winds and blazing heat. This took its toll and the group number shrunk all the time. At this stage it was only me and Emile left. Going up Brunys hill to the highest point of the race the bunch shattered and a small group of chasers made their way to the final climb of the day before dropping into Pietermaritzburg to contest the sprint for the final positions. I managed to make it into the final group but was in no shape to contest the sprint. The final climb saw Mtn take control, launching attack after attack to try and get there rider - Jeremy Martens away. This along with a lack of water and the still blazing sun made the final few km into Pietermaritzburg extremely tough. Luckily the end was in sight and after the criterium style finish and a speed bump interrupted sprint it was over.


The race in the 30 to 34 cat was won by Julius Cobbett, with Jaco Ferreira in 2nd and Hannes Botha in 3rd. Well done to Sean for keeping the Mr Price name high and finishing 4th in the category.