The Cape Town-based Kinetic Cycling Club is producing a growing stock of exciting young riders, particularly among the disadvantaged communities of the Western Cape.
The club, formed in 2000, aims to harness the “talent of tomorrow” by promoting the sport of cycling among the youth. In so doing it also combats the threats of drugs and gangsterism, so prevalent in the greater Cape Town area.
Jonathan Bouwer (pictured) was particularly impressive at the WC Track Cycling Champs last weekend, having won gold in all seven events in which he participated. Photo: Supplied
The club has shown impressive results this year, with Jessie Munton crowned the under-15 road and time-trial champion, Cameron Wilcox the under-11 time-trial champ and Mia Fortuin the girls under-15 road-race champ at the national road champs in February.
The club also registered 11 riders to take part in the European Junior Cycling Tour in Assen, Netherlands, at the end of July.
The tour is deemed the biggest cycle race in the world for children between the ages of five and 18.
Just last weekend Kinetic racked up 39 medals at the WC Track Cycling Champs at the Bellville Velodrome – 22 gold, 13 silver and four bronze.
The club’s Jonathan Bouwer was particularly impressive, winning gold in all seven events in which he participated. He was crowned the overall champion in the under-17 age category.
The club’s chairman, O’Ryan Bruintjies, said he believed they were fulfilling their objectives which were to “promote fellowship with members and further the sport of cycling under amateur status”.
“Our club has evolved on so many levels since it started,” Bruintjies said.
“We have grown in numbers and we have competent administrators, committed parents and riders who are disciplined, committed and have the will to perform.”
Bruintjies said they aimed to be “one of the biggest and most successful clubs in South Africa” without losing their core focus of “developing children from all walks of life”.
“We want to keep the club as diverse as possible to fight racism which is so evident in this country,” Bruintjies said.
The club is affiliated to the Western Province Cycling Association and Bruintjies said they would like to set a benchmark for the development of the sport not just in the Western Cape, but in SA as a whole.
“We are striving to create the blueprint for other development clubs in SA,” he said. “We want to show that with limited resources it is possible to become successful and deliver champions.
“If we can get this right on a club level we believe we will be able to influence the future of cycling in the country.”
The club, which currently leads the WP Track League standings, will next focus on the SA National Track Championships at the Bellville Velodrome from December 11 to 16.
“Despite our challenges we have managed to claim several national road and track titles,” Bruintjies said.
“I think this is only the beginning and I can assure you that with the necessary support we will go from strength to strength.”
