CAPE EPIC PREVIEW – Martin and Fabian

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After weeks of training, preparation, travelling and fine-tuning, the Cape Epic has finally arrived!

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Tomorrow, Sunday 15th March, many of the best mountain bikers in the World will roll down the start ramp of the infamous untamed African stage race, among them will be the Novus OMX Pro Team pairing of Martin Gujan and Fabian Giger.

 

The superstar Swiss duo are in high spirits and fighting form. They have ridden together around the Durbanville Hills this week and on Wednesday night they both laid down very strong performances at the Aramex songo.info Race of Champions in Kayamandi. Fabian rode in the front group, animating the latter stages of the race before finally finishing in third place, a few seconds down on Jaroslav Kulhavy and Emil Lindgren. Martin, who hadn’t raced yet in 2015 except for the Swiss National Cyclocross Championships, started a little slow but soon found his fast legs and came close to latching onto the lead riders. He finished in 7th position, ahead of the Multivan Merida pair of Jose Hermida and Rudi van Houts, and four-time Cape Epic Champion, Christoph Sauser.

 

With this positive display under their belts, Martin and Fabian head into the Cape Epic with renewed ambition for a stage win. There is no firm strategy in place, instead the boys will assess their own form, and that of their competitors, and make a plan on a full assault on a stage.

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Of course, a lot can happen in the Epic. Only time will tell whether this team – who are flying a little under the radar at the moment – can step up to the challenge and into the limelight. We have every confidence that they can. Watch this space!

 

You can follow Martin and Fabian’s Cape Epic here on our website and across social media. Join the journey!

#weareOMX #EpicOMX

 

CAPE EPIC PREVIEW – Mariske and Cherie

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Eight days. Seven hundred and thirty-nine kilometres. Sixteen thousand metres of climbing. 

The journey starts on Sunday. The Cape Epic is here.

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Mariske Strauss and Cherie Vale are in high spirits as they make their final preparations for the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race. There is a real sense of excitement among the young South African duo and this energy – which positively bounces between the girls – will certainly help see them through the gruelling stages.

 

That said, Mariske and Cherie don’t underestimate this race and will treat it with the respect it deserves. There are no grand goals, more a day-by-day approach where they will concentrate on trying to eliminate risks and mistakes.With this strategy in place, they have the talent and mental steel to see them onto a strong final result.

 

Cherie felt the form coming at Wednesday evening’s Aramex Songo Race of Champions which gave her a timely boost in confidence ahead of her first Cape Epic.

“It hasn’t sunk in just yet that the ABSA Cape Epic is starting on Sunday but I’m feeling ready and excited for the journey,” she says.

 

For Mariske, who rode her inaugural Cape Epic last year, the challenge this year is to put into practice everything she learnt from the race and lead the pair through the tough physical and mental journey.

“I’m excited the time has arrived to embark on our Epic adventure and I’m so happy to be able to share the experience with Cherie and the Novus OMX Pro Team”.

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Follow Mariske and Cherie’s Cape Epic journey across social media and on the Novus OMX Pro Team website.

#weareOMX #EpicOMX

Songo Race of Champions

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Songo Fipaza – “We strive to improve the lives of children living in townships by providing them a safe place to play, grow and develop.”

Cherie and kids

The songo.info organisation has grown from humble beginnings. Everything started with Songo Fipaza’s dream to uplift Kayamandi, the community that he has lived in for numerous years of his life and where he has been working hard to bring about change for his community.

 

The Aramex songo.info Race of Champions is a part of this social development scheme. Many of the top elite riders who are in South Africa for the Cape Epic take part in this charity race, giving the grid a front row not dissimilar from a World Cup!

 

The short course winds up through the township, weaving between houses and flying down streets. There’s even a small pump track and some jumps! The townsfolk come out in their hundreds to shout their support and give the event a real carnival atmosphere. Children crowd onto the main hill, singing and chanting, cartwheeling and running in the low evening sun.

 

Strong performances from Cherie (6th) and Martin (7th) were a fantastic bonus to a magical night.

 

Martin start smile

Boy on bikeCherie start smile

 

at the railing

Martin

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Find out more here: http://www.songo.info/

 

Cape Epic for Novus OMX Girls

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Novus OMX Pro Team’s South African Women to take on Absa Cape Epic

 

Mariske Strauss Epic-Girls-3and Cherie Vale will pair up for the first time as teammates to compete in their home country  of South Africa, at the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race.

 

The team’s title sponsor, Novus Holdings (formerly Paarl Media Group), have invested in getting the ladies to the Cape Epic and take great pride in supporting two of South Africa’s biggest mountain bike talents through this iconic eight-day stage race.

 

The young duo, both known for their enthusiasm and megawatt smiles, will tackle this race with incredible determination and focus. These traits will not only see them through the race, but make them serious competitors.

 

“Thanks to my amazing team and sponsors, I will be aboard the dreamy Silverback Superbike Concept. Cherie is such a joy and I’m sure we are going to be, hands down, the happiest team. Along with such a great team backing us I don’t see how we can have anything but an amazing race,” says Mariske, who raced the Cape Epic for the first time in 2014 and is ready to step up to the challenge again.Epic-Girls-2

 

Both Mariske and Cherie will be riding Silverback’s aptly named Superbike Concept, a full suspension frame that will offer them a light and responsive yet comfortable ride. The ladies will be able to confidently rely on the bike during each gruelling stage.

 

As a professioEpic-Girls-1nal photographer, Cherie has seen the race through a lens but this will be her first year as a rider.

“I am really excited for the challenge and thrilled to be racing with Mariske. She is an inspirational athlete and has assisted me so much with my cycling performance. With an amazing support team and the award winning Silverback Superbike Concept we can focus on flying the Novus OMX Pro Team flag high,” says Cherie.

 

 

Partnership, pride and ambition. We are taking this on. #weareOMX

South Africa Cup #1

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Shlomi and Cherie were in action for the opening round of South Africa’s National XC Series this weekend in Port Elizabeth.

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The course was steep, rocky and technical both ascending and descending, and with temperatures in the high 20s it made for a demanding day’s racing.

What undoubtedly heightened spirits was the prospect of racing for the first time on their new Silverback bikes! It is often hard to race on a new and unfamiliar bike but feedback was immediately positive and spirits were high.

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Cherie got the racing underway for Novus OMX Pro Team and quickly settled into second position. The commentator was full of praise for Cherie’s smooth bike handling but Cherie was in fact finding it difficult to find her rhythm. Nonetheless, a solid start to the series and more race conditioning under her belt.

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Shlomi found himself pitted against many of South Africa’s top talents, plus a handful of international visitors, many of whom are gearing up for the infamous Cape Epic. As with Cherie, Shlomi struggled to find his fast legs and really get into the race. The heat was a problem for Shlomi who, after a fast start, had to back off the pace set by front runners such as Philip Buys and Emil Lindgren and just put in the best performance he could on the day. Ninth place was a good round-off to a tough couple of weeks’ training in the Southern hemisphere sunshine.

XCO#1-PE-127Many thanks to Ewald Sadie for the fantastic photography –  http://www.esphotography.co.za/