In the Bunch show – Stellenbosch World Cup half full

In this episode of the In the Bunch Show, we travel from Stellenbosch to Europe and back.

We ask Stellenbosch UCI Mountain Bike World Cup director Glyn Broomberg why next year’s event is off, touch on Alan Hatherly’s superb victory at Mont-Sainte-Anne and delve into the Western Cape’s aspirations to be the cycling capital of Africa.

Ben King’s fortune and Louis Meintjes’ misfortune at the Vuelta a Espana come under the spotlight and we speculate whether Stefan de Bod, DiData’s latest signing, is the future of South African cycling.

We then touch on Reinardt Janse van Rensburg‘s impressive performance in Germany and Morne van Niekerk‘s victory in France.

Back on the African continent, we have a look at ProTouch’s plans to register a Continental team next year.

Staying on course was evidently the major obstacle in both Trans Baviaans races and, while the leaders were trying to find their way, former winner Matt Beers was busy collecting his second road tour title of the season at the Lowveld Tour.

The choice of bicycle was the topic of discussion at the inaugural Race to the Sun while another new race, the trapNET 360, turned out to be one for the sprinters.

Carmen Buchacher’s doping suspension, Cycling South Africa’s ban on e-bikes in sanctioned events and rumours about a new SA Cycling Association end this edition of the “world’s fastest cycling show”.

Episode 19 includes:

• UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Stellenbosch cancelled;
• Alan Hatherly wins at Mont-Sainte-Anne;
• Western Cape adds Department of Cycling Tourism;
• Bicycle lanes boost cycling tourism;
• Louis Meintjes spearheads DiData at Vuelta a Espana;
• Ben King wins at the Vuelta;
• Stefan de Bod signs for DiData;
• Reinardt Janse van Rensburg impresses in Deutschland Tour;
• Morne van Niekerk wins Rout d’or du Poitou;
• ProTouch to register Continental team;
• Matt Beers wins Lowveld Tour;
• HB Kruger’s chooses the right bike at Race to the Sun;
• Steven van Heerden triumphs at trapNET 360;
• Carmen Buchacher suspended for doping;
• Cycling SA ban e-bikes;
• Cyclist survives shooting.

Credits: Shannon Valstar/Epic World Cup, Team Spur/RSA Web Pty, Full Stop Communications, Pedal Power Association, Redbull TV/Redbull Media House, Tiz-cycling.racing, Stiehl Photography, Rob Ward, Alexia Tintinger, DirectVelo, Sasha Eliot/ProTouch, Plaisir Muzogeye/Fulgence Kwizera/Kigali Today, Jacques Marais Photography, Trans Baviaans, Air Relax/Lowveld Tour, Hayden Brown, Race to the Sun/Advendurance, trapNET 360, Cycling SA, Jon-Jon Pietersen/Facebook, Wikimedia Commons (https://bit.ly/2wsSghc; https://bit.ly/2wvB7Th; https://bit.ly/1pawxfE)