Two Soweto riders, Calvin Mono and Linda Dhlamini, had the opportunity to compete in the 2019 Absa Cape Epic as part of its sponsored development teams. With limited training and borrowed equipment, they overcame all challenges by finishing the eight day race with a time just over 52 hours. Their values and winning attitudes align with Thrifty Car Rental’s extended tagline, ‘Great Cars. Great Rates. Great People.’ and as a result the company celebrates their victory by upskilling them with professional Giant Anthem bikes to pursue their racing careers.

Thrifty Car Rental has recently added the term ‘Great People’ to its tagline signifying the pivotal role that its employees play to the success of the business.  

According to Imraan Moolla, Managing Director at Thrifty Car Rental, “We have great people working within our organisation and they need to be recognised. They often exceed their line of duty in pursuit of providing excellent customer service. However, great people are not only within our company – Calvin and Linda demonstrated a winning spirit that our employees possess. When we heard of the duos great achievement, we decided to pay it forward and provide them with the correct tools to excel”. 

Although Mono and Dhlamini have participated in cycling races, they never had the correct equipment. Dhlamini is ecstatic with his bike, “It is the first time that I receive a new bike as I often used second-hand bikes. I can now enter more races knowing that I have a competitive bike in preparation for the 2020 race,” he said. 

As overall winners of the Absa #ConquerAsOne Moment of the 2019 Absa Cape Epic, Mono and Dhlamini will receive mentorship and training for the next 12 months and a complimentary Pride entry to next year’s race. 

Adam Brooke, Absa Sponsorship Manager said, “The partnership with Thrifty Car Rental will enable us to maximise the opportunities for these two very special men and I would like to thank them for identifying the need for new equipment and fulfilling it. We look forward to working with Thrifty in supporting Calvin and Linda, providing them with the tools and equipment to take on and conquer the 2020 event.” 

“We are pleased that we could assist and will be doing regular check-ins with Calvin and Linda and look forward to their successes over the next year,” concluded Moolla.

songo.info celebrates 11 years of making a difference with Cape Town fundraiser in March

Cape Town, February 18, 2019: From humble beginnings 11 years ago as a safe space for township children to ride BMX bikes after school, songo.info has evolved into a sport and education support programme helping brighten the lives of children living in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch.

On the 7th of March this year, songo.info will once again be celebrating the amazing children that come through their programme every day, and acknowledging the friends and supporters who have helped the charity to be the success it is.

The event, which will take place at Jack Black’s Brewery in Diep River, will include a live performance from well-known South African band Watershed.

“We encourage everyone who believes in the power of bicycles to change lives to join us,” says Christoph Sauser, co-founder of the songo.info programme and multiple World Champion mountain biker. “Celebrating the achievements of the charity is not only fun, it is also an opportunity to join the cycling community in being a part of something bigger – the future of our kids. With you we can make a difference!”

The evening fundraising event is an opportunity to meet and mingle with World Champion cyclists and bid on a selection of incredible items up for auction. The two custom-painted 2019 Specialized S-Works Epics that will be ridden in the 2019 edition of the Absa Cape Epic by defending champions Jaroslav Kulhavy and Annika Langvad, will once again be up for grabs. More details on the songo.info website.

“We will be unveiling the 2019 Investec-songo-Specialized S-Works Epic and team race kit that will be ridden by all three of our teams at this year’s Absa Cape Epic,” says Sauser. “The kit will make its racing debut at our annual songo.info Champions Race, held at the Kayamandi clubhouse on the 13th of March.”

The songo.info Champions Race, which loops through the Kayamandi township, is an annual cult event that has been dubbed the “Unofficial World Cup” because of the calibre of rider in attendance, and the throngs of local supporters who line the track in Stellenbosch. Used as a fundraiser for the charity, the Champions Race attracts some of the world’s biggest names in mountain biking. Olympic Champion Jaroslav Kulhavy and multiple World Champion Annika Langvad will line up next to some of the world’s best riders, who are all in town for the Absa Cape Epic. The Champions Race is a fast-paced spectacle that Cape Epic contenders use as a leg-loosener.

To buy your ticket to attend the charity auction on the 7th of March, stand a chance to win one of the limited edition Investec-songo-Specialized S-Works Epics, or to view details about the Champions Race please visit www.songo.info

Web & Social Media:
Website: www.songo.info
Facebook: songo.info
Twitter:@songoinfo
Instagram: songoinfo

-- ENDS --

Notes to the editor:
The official Investec-songo -Specialized Teams racing at the 2019 Absa Cape Epic are:
1. Annika Langvad DEN & Anna van Der Breggen NEL
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy CZE & Howard Grotts USA
3. Christoph Sauser SWI & Simon Andreassen DEN

Racing for The Specialized Foundation, in support of Investec-songo-Specialized are:
1. Alan Hatherly RSA & Sam Gaze NZL

The Charity Auction event details are:
Venue - Jack Black Brewery, 10 Brigid Road, Diep River, Cape Town
Time 6pm – 12pm
Ticket price - R350 per person which gets you a burger, a beer, live performance by Watershed

South African ultra-endurance and marathon mountain biker and SPOT athlete, Timothy Hammond, will officially be crowned the first South African Epic Legend, when he completes the New Zealand Pioneer Mtb race later this month.

“The reality that I could soon be South Africa’s first Epic Legend hasn’t really sunk in for me yet,” explains Timothy. “I lined up for the start of the FNB Wines2Whales at Lourensford last week for the first time since the ABSA Cape Epic used to finish there many years ago. Back then there was a small race on the last day of Epic called Vigne a Vigne. It was before I started racing seriously and can recall very clearly waiting for the leaders of the Epic to come in after our small race around Lourensford had finished. I remember being in complete awe of them and wondering if I would ever be capable, or get the chance to finish a Cape Epic one day. I stood there on the start of day 1 of W2W last week with 3 Cape Epics under the belt and on the verge of becoming the first South African to complete the series. I really had to calm myself down. Being able to ride the best trails in Switzerland, New Zealand and South Africa is a real blessing, too stoked!”

Founder and CEO of the Epic Series, Kevin Vermaak says he feels very proud that Timothy will be the first South African to take this title. ““With the Epic Series, we’ve created a global community of like-minded athletes who want to challenge themselves and their teammates on the world’s most iconic mountain biking terrain. Any rider who has conquered the Swiss Alps, New Zealand’s backcountry wilderness or the untamed African Absa Cape Epic has passed the ultimate test of any mountain biker,” says Kevin. “To complete all three Epic Legend Races deserves the utmost respect of the mountain biking community and of course the coveted Epic Legend medal. It’s always a proud moment for me when a South African achieves something great. We are holding thumbs for Tim as he aims to complete the final leg at The Pioneer this month.”

Becoming an Epic Legend was not a title Timothy ever thought he would be able to add to his belt, mainly because he didn’t think it would be financially possible for him to complete all three events. “When I met Sean McCormick from SPOT Africa a few years ago, it didn’t occur to me that his Botswana based company would very soon become a leader in satellite based tracking; that would eventually become integral to the Epic series,” says Timothy. “I am very proud to have been part of SPOT’s growth in the sport and will forever be grateful for the opportunities they have given me to race around the world.”

Despite injuries and falls during 2018 Timothy has still achieved great results, setting a new course record with his cycling partner, Ben Melt Swanepoel, at Trans Baviaans, of 7hrs52min. “I learnt a great deal this year from Ben Melt and Arno du Toit about the true value that you have whilst racing with a team mate,” says Timothy. “The dynamics in team events are way more important than I ever realised. You are capable of achieving so much more when you and your partner look after each other sacrificially.”

Timothy has big plans for 2019, where he and his racing partner, Alan Gordon, will be backed up a fully supported racing crew thanks to SPOT Africa and Insect Science, a biological pest control company from South Africa, to take on their goal races of Attakwas, Tankwa Trek, ABSA Cape Epic, JoBerg2c, Swiss Epic and Cape Pioneer Trek.

To follow Timothy’s journey on twitter @timothy_hammond or through the SPOT Africa social media pages –
Website - Africa.FindMeSpot.com
Facebook - @SPOTinAfrica
Instagram - @spotafrica