MOUNTAIN BIKING
The first mountain bike competitions were held in California (USA) in the early eighties. Since then the discipline has grown very fast, in all aspects. The first World Championships to be officially recognized by the UCI dates back to 1990. A World Cup was set up the following year.
The mountain bike disciplines comprise the following formats:
Cross-Country Olympic (XCO)
Cross-country is part of the Olympic programme.
Cross-country races are held over undulating circuits (with technical descents, forest roads, rocky paths and obstacles) of 4 to 6 km. The race varies from 1 h 20 minutes to 1 h 40 minutes depending on the category.
Cross-country Marathon (XCM)
The Cross-country marathon events are a long version of cross-country held over a course of 60 to 160 km. A special feature is that riders from all categories, from enthusiasts to professionals, race together. The marathon is held in a mountainous region.
Downhill (DHI)
Downhill is a race against the clock in which the rider negotiates a succession of fast and technical passages. The participant must demonstrate courage as well as sharp technical and piloting skills in order to affront tree roots, banked sections, bumps, jumps and other natural obstacles along the way. Speeds reach around 80km/h in the men’s races and 70km/h for women.
Enduro (END)
Enduro events includes several liaison stages and timed stages. The times achieved in all timed stages will be accumulated to a total time. An enduro course comprises varied off-road terrain. The track should include a mixture of narrow and wide, slow and fast paths and tracks over a mixture of off-road surfaces. Enduro racing requires athletes to use a combination of endurance, speed and technical skills.
Cross-country Eliminator (XCE)
The Cross-country eliminator event must be between 500m and 1000m. It’s is a fast-moving, dynamic, action-packed format in which four riders race in heats on technical tracks featuring obstacles such as jumps and bridges. Competitions begin with a qualifying heat that takes the form of an individual timed lap of the circuit, as a result of which the fastest 32 men and 16 women qualify for the main competition. The fastest two riders in each heat thereafter qualify for the next round, with the format continuing until only four riders remain to contest the final.
Four-Cross (4X)
In four-cross (often abbreviated to “4X”), four participants set off together to ride down a track that alternates banked corners and jumps. The races are very rapid (between 30 seconds and one minute) and give rise to fierce and closely contested confrontations between the riders. The winner is the first to cross the finish line. The four-cross races take place over several qualifying rounds.
PAOLA DAMILANO
MTB Director
DELLAH PAUL
Sport and Technical Manager (Cycling SA office)
IAN SMITH
High Performance and Convenor of Selections
SIPHO MADOLO
Transformation
ANDRE BOTHA
Safety & Security
TOBIAS LUBBE
Schools CyclingSA
MARTIN FOURIE
Technical
TIM KEEP
Veteran and Masters
Name | Cell | ||
DISCIPLINE PORTFOLIOS | |||
Director elected | Paola Damilano | 083 252 3752 | mtb@cyclingsa.com |
Sport & Technical Manager | Dellah Paul | 082 781 5656 | dellah.paul@cyclingsa.com |
High Performance and convenor of selections | Ian Smith | 082 322 8307 | ian.smith@Massmart.co.za |
YTD Commisioner | Sipho Madolo | 083 966 7989 | sipho@songo.info |
Safety & Security Commissioner | Andre Botha | 074 440 3819 | andre@macesafety.co.za |
Technical Commissioner | Martin Fourie | 083 300 0527 | martin.fourie41@gmail.com |
SA Schools Cycling | Tobias Lubbe | 071 410 4299 | tobias.lubbe@affies.co.za |
PROVINCIAL MTB COMMISSIONERS | |||
Eastern Cape | Shane Bridger | 082 558 4248 | shanebridger75@gmail.com |
Free State | Danie Swanepoel | 082 926 8488 | fscfmtb@gmail.com |
Gauteng | Paola Damilano | 083 252 3752 | mtb@cyclingsa.com |
Kwa-Zulu Natal | Greg Stedman | 082 449 2265 | greg.stedman@un.co.za |
Limpopo | Willie Willemse | 083 254 6752 | Wwwillemse830@gmail.com |
Mpumalanga | Danie Botha | 076 745 0516 | daniebotha72@gmail.com |
Northern Cape | Mandie Burger | 072 457 3056 | Amandaburger1974@gmail.com |
North West | Sias Le Roux | 082 925 7911 | sias.leroux2@harmony.co.za |
Western Cape | Geoff McGiven | 083 357 4575 | geoffmc@mweb.co.za |
REGIONAL MTB COMMISSIONERS | |||
ECC – Amathola | Shane Bridger | 082 558 4248 | shanebridger75@gmail.com |
ECC – Nelson Mandela Bay | Chris Botha | 071 886 2062 | chris@ecotanks.co.za |
Gauteng – Central XCM | Enzo di Sante | 071 414 1382 | igdisante@gmail.com |
Gauteng – Central XCO | Paola Damilano | 083 252 3752 | paola.damilano@me.com |
Gauteng – East | Conrad Stark | 083 264 3711 | conrad.stark@live.com |
Gauteng – South | Massimo Guglielmi | 072 547 3328 | chairman@sedibengcycling.co.za |
North West | Annesta Luyt | 081 010 2777 | annesta@luyt7.co.za |
Western Cape – Eden | Marike Vreken | 082 927 5310 | marike@vreken.co.za |
Western Cape – Overberg | Maresa Maree | 083 798 9815 | maressa.maree@gmail.com |
MTB SELECTIONS PANEL | |||
Convenor of Selectors | Ian Smith | 082 322 8307 | ian.smith@Massmart.co.za |
XCO Specialist | Paola Damilano | 083 252 3752 | mtb@cyclingsa.com |
XCM Specialist | Greg Stedman | 082 449 2265 | greg.stedman@un.co.za |
DHI Specialist | Chris Pearton | 084 657 1582 | peartonc@gmail.com |
Women Representative | Cherise Williet | 067 403 5190 | cherise.willeit@gmail.com |
PDI Representative | Sipho Madolo | 083 966 7989 | sipho@songo.info |
VACANT POSITION
Men’s Road Cycling
VACANT POSITION
Women’s Road Cycling
VACANT POSITION
Men’s Track Cycling
VACANT POSITION
Women’s Track Cycling
VACANT POSITION
Men’s Mountain Biking
VACANT POSITION
Women’s Mountain Biking
BYRON ROBERTSON
Men’s BMX
PAIGE MULLER
Women’s BMX Representative
PIETER DU PREEZ
Men’s Para-Cycling
TONI MOULD
Women’s Para-Cycling
ERNST VAN DYK
SASCOC Athlete Commission
MOUNTAIN BIKING NEWS
2023 CAC Mountain Bike African Championships Team Announcement
CyclingSA and the Mountain Bike Commission are excited to announce the riders selected to represent South Africa for the CAC Mountain bike African champs for 2023.
CAC MTB African Championships 2023
South African is set to host the CAC MTB African Championships 2023 for 2-4 June 2023 at Thaba Trails, Gauteng.
Notice Regarding Venue Change for XCO National Championships
Notice regarding venue change for the upcoming XCO National Championships. New venue will be Thaba Trails in Gauteng.