Cycle Sport

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing of u19 rider Calib de K**k of Phonix cycling club. He was out training this morning when someone opened their car door, and he collided with it. He passed away of his injuries. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and fellow club members. 🙏🏾

The road to recovery....

Not sure what is pointing out here... maybe something ate the morning? 😁🤷

The past week I learned a few things regarding the sport we all cherish..
I saw the other side of the fence regarding organizing, safely, rules and regulations in the sport.

I've been involved in road cycling since 1996, been a road cyclist almost my whole school years and never left the sport in some way or the other. I made many friends and still making new ones every day.

Within South Africa, we struggle with a corrupt economy, road safety, crime and hard to find sponsors with the same passion for this beautiful sport.
I've taken it up to try and promote road cycling since 2022 via my YouTube, Instagram and Facebook channels. My aim is to not just bring road cycling to the living room, but to bring the cyclist closer to the fans and followers. To meet and make friends within the sport and create a "family" - to capture special moments we can cherish forever.

I do not want to be the cameraman who films an event and the riders, then go home and forget about them.
I want to have a drink with the riders and organizer, friends and family after these events. I want to go for a braai and have casual interviews, find out how it is to be a cyclist in South Africa these days.

I've been privileged to spend time at the National champs last week and experience both the behind the scenes, in race action, post race emotions, rivalry, friendships, good and BAD sportsmanship and also the organization side of things.. I've seen and heard the complaints and the praise from various sources.

I learned that it is not always the strongest riders who win, but how you play your cards, and who your friends in the peloton are.
I learned that people over 60 can avg 40kmh on a bike in 35° heat where most 60+ people are feeling "old"

I learned that the underdogs can win if they believe in themselves and worked hard for it, I saw friends and families cry from joy and cry from disappointment, I saw dreams come true and dreams come crashing down - all in the name of the sport.

I do not know what tomorrow or the day after holds, what I do know is we can learn from the past and we can all help to make the sport even better.

From the riders perspective I have seen mostly positive reaction regarding the event and the routes.
There have been some concerns raised and one that stands out is live race coverage.

I am lucky to be in a neutral position regarding Riders and Organizations and am able to view everyone's feedback.

From the riders and spectators, it is understandable that they want to share their experiences and results with their loved ones, people who couldn't come but would like to be part of it and cheer on - DON'T WE ALL!

But then we must all remind ourselves too, that 90% of CSA event staff are there at their own expense, free will, volunteers who love the sport.
We need to remind ourselves that CSA are allocated a set budget to perform in.
Remind ourselves that CSA have daily struggles with government, towns and clubs to help them find suitable events, routes and permissions for them to have these events.

This becomes harder every day as we unfortunately sit with a sport, that only a handful of companies and organizations want to be part of - even companies withing cycling.

I truly believe both, rider & organizer want to see road cycling grow to what it used to be 30years ago. BUT this can only happen if we all work together in a positive way, to set up meetings and work as a team. Find sponsors, municipalities and events who want to work with us, get sufficient sponsors and funding and more.

I hereby invite people and organizations to come forward with ideas and plans to make this happen, to work together as a team and grow the sport and interest in it.

I speak on behalf of myself and maybe many others who feel the same.
With regards to my channels, I am alone and an event like last week takes its toll, 5 days away from wife and kids, no pay, 5am to 7pm on your feet in the sun so that some person 2000km away can also be part and riders who were there have some special memories.

I am learning as I go and I always try to capture special moments, I try to make these moments unforgettable for each one of you and I value the feedback, I value the likes, shares, waves and thank yous. I value the friendships I make.

Unfortunately I am not the best live commentator and am shy to walk up to strangers during these events - but I am trying and it will get better by the day.

I thank each and every supporter out there, I have many images and videos that will be shared in the coming week/s

Go well, keep safe and see you all soon 👊

Marco
CycleSport

Baie geluk

Tristan was van die begin af in die break en in Suikerbos het hy almal agter gelaat.
Ryan het hom ongelukkig ingehaal en sy bene was gaar maar het aanhou baklei tot die einde en n welverdiende 2de plek!

Still friends 😁👌