Declan Sidey returns to Team Mad Mac p/b häzz when he lines up for the Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge in Oudtshoorn tomorrow.
Sidey, who nearly quit cycling after the Stellenbosch Cycle Tour last month, had a corporate invitation to ride for the Stellenbosch-based team in the Double Century and Stellenbosch Cycle Tour at the end of last year.
However, without an official sponsor, he contemplated giving up cycling to pursue a career in finance.
Declan Sidey returns to Team Mad Mac p/b häzz when he lines up for the Attakwas Extreme MTB Challenge. Photo: TrailSeeker Series
Now, after being signed to ride for Team Mad Mac this year, Sidey returns to compete in the 121km Attakwas, which forms part of the UCI MTB Marathon Series for the first time.
“I’m thrilled to have this opportunity,” Sidey said today. “To have signed on only now may seem bizarre, but my teammates took the bigger picture into consideration.
“I had a challenging off-season but the team have re-instilled my confidence in my ability.”
Sidey said he had mapped out a three-year plan for which he had received much support from Mad Mac.
“They have done everything conceivable to help me achieve my ambitions,” he said. “I intend to go from strength to strength for the team for, I hope, the next three years.
“I want to embrace this opportunity, deliver big results and offer valuable exposure for our ardent partners.”
The 23-year-old Sidey helped Mad Mac win bronze at the Double Century in November and the team’s owner, Alex Heward, has expressed his delight at having Sidey back on board.
“Declan had a really impressive year in 2017,” he said. “He has made a huge leap, performance-wise, and has become a serious contender.
“When the opportunity presented itself to get him back, we jumped at it. We did everything we could and he will definitely be an asset to the team.”
Sidey will compete in mountain-bike events and on the road for the team this year and has already set his sights on races such as the Herald Cycle Tour, the PE Plett and joBerg2c.
