SwiftCarbon partners with Team BCX as technical supplier for 2017

South Africa’s top cycling team is joined by SwiftCarbon bikes, for both their road and mountain bike outfits

Two former rivals, teammates and now partners reunite again for the 2017 racing season – Malcolm Lange, owner of Lange Sports and Mark Blewett, SwiftCarbon’s founder were professional cyclists, both representing South Africa in their careers on the road. Now, they represent two of the top brands in cycling and inked a deal for 2017 to form a formidable union – South Africa’s top road and MTB athletes riding world-beating bikes. “Mark and I go back to 1994 when we raced on the national team, so it’s cool that we’ve come full circle,” says Lange.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje.

The team will swing their legs over SwiftCarbon’s range toppers: the Hypervox and the Evil Twin – aero road and full suspension mountain bike frames. Riding the bikes since late last year, till last week, in Team Telkom colours Lange says, “They’re really enjoying them, plus they’re already winning – we’ve only lost two races this year!” He adds, “I had heard a lot about SwiftCarbon. Knowing Mark, and actually riding a Swift myself, I can say it’s no surprise that these are awesome bikes.”

On the road side, they’ll be targeting the country’s biggest races, the likes of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Telkom 947 Cycle Challenge and Tsogo Sun Amashova. Accomplished sprinter Nolan Hoffman is no doubt the star of the team, as South Africa’s most successful road and track sprinter over the past few years. Hoffman likes the idea of riding a bike with a South African connection, and says, “This is the best transition between bikes I have ever had. I am normally very fussy with my set up and I got it right very easily – the geometry is perfect. I enjoy the handling a lot and when you pedal it goes, very stiff at the BB.”

He has a multitalented team roster to back him up. David Maree, Reynard Butler, Steven van Heerden, Wesley Eslick (who’s just returned from a racing stint in the US) and Calvin Beneke (son of South Africa racing legend Gary Beneke). When not on trail duty, mountain bikers HB Kruger and Waylon Woolcock will be on hand to bolster the ranks.

Photo credit: James Garaghty.

Off road, team BCX have made no secret that their eyes firmly set on the red Absa African jersey at the Absa Cape Epic. Some big ambitions indeed, HB Kruger partners with 2016 Absa Cape Epic red jersey winner Waylon Woolcock – a highly rated match of youth and experience. “HB is actually an experienced roadie, and with that he already understands the value of teamwork, which we all know is essential if you want to do well in off road stage racing,” says Woolcock. “and the bike is fast! It climbs unbelievably well.” The pair recently finished second at Tankwa Trek among a stellar field that included Christoph Sauser, 2016 Cape Epic champions the Bulls and 2014 champions Topeak Ergon. “There is no flex in the rear stays so it’s really responsive and the handling – super agile on the singletrack,” says Kruger.

Commenting on the new team, Blewett says, “Malcolm today is as competitive, if not more so than when he was racing, which says a lot. Plus his outfit has endured and prevailed as a team, outlasting many others! Joining up with him is kind of nostalgic, but at the same time exciting for the future…”

The road team will head up to PE for the Herald Continental Cycle Tour, on the Sunday 26th February.

Production Hypervox frames and complete builds are available online – the brand’s main sales channel in their direct-to-consumer business model. Visit www.swiftcarbon.com to view the bikes.