![\"ccs-62657-0-91872600-1430058767.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-91872600-1430058767.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe UCI Category 1.2 races will see some of the country\u2019s and Africa\u2019s top cyclists battle it out for UCI points at the 2015 KZN Autumn Series, which takes place in Pietermaritzburg, Pietermaritzburg to Margate, and in Margate on Monday 27th April, Friday 1st May and Sunday 3rd May respectively. \/\/ Photo credit: craigdutton.com.<\/span><\/p>\n When chatting about the KZN Autumn Series, Hoffman had this to say: \u201cWe\u2019re very nervous \u2013 it\u2019s the first of its kind since 2007\/8. The last time that we had this sort of level of racing here in KZN was 1.1 Category racing in World\u2019s View. We are looking forward to these races, but the terrain takes no prisoners – there\u2019s nowhere to hide. The cream is going to rise to the top of the crop and we\u2019ll be seeing all the best guys battling out for the win. It\u2019s a true circuit. The prestige of winning will be up there with that of some of the great SA races.\u201d<\/p>\n Team Abantu will be racing aQuelle Tour Durban on Sunday 26th April as well, and says that doing well in the race will give the team the strength and boost of confidence that they need for the KZN Autumn series. \u201cThe team has had a solid block for the whole year so far. I\u2019m confident that the races and training we have done have been sufficient. It should be good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Another rider on the road to recovery is U23 Women\u2019s XCO star, Bianca Haw. \u201cI was supposed to race at Mankele this weekend, but I unfortunately broke my elbow on a practice round over the Easter weekend. So I\u2019m so thankful that I can ride,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Red Bull rider\u2019s major discipline lies in cross-country, although she has had many successes in road racing as well. \u201cI am meant to be out of action for eight weeks, but the doctor has allowed me to do this race as it is a road race and there are less jolts and bumps. So road for me is really good right now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Haw will be competing in the Freedom Day Classic (27th April) and then heads off to Cape Town for another race.<\/p>\n Team Europcar U23 rider Ryan Gibbons says that they are all ready to go, and discusses the dynamics of the team: \u201cWe are nervous because we know there are a few national teams competing and these points are important, but we are excited. We do have a goal in mind. UCI points for a team don\u2019t mean as much for a team as it does for individuals. So that\u2019s where our focus is \u2013 to try and get the younger riders and U23 guys individual points. The senior guys in the team are also so committed to helping us as well, so there really is a great sense of positivity and excitement from the team.\u201d<\/p>\n For some teams it works, and for others, a much more professional approach is required, but Team Europcar seems to be doing something right in terms of dynamics. \u201cWe are all friends before we are teammates, if that makes sense,\u201d he said. \u201cWe go out together for dinners and meet as mates and discuss our rides. It\u2019s a much more relaxed and atmosphere and this way we are more approachable with each other. We all stay within close proximity, but the coaches and managers stay a little bit further out of the way, so sometimes when they can\u2019t meet with us, we still meet up and have a good time, as friends. Of course it\u2019s not an entirely professional approach, but we gel, understand, and respect each other, and have goals and focus,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Gibbons recently took the Mayoral Cycle Race victory in Polokwane – adding to many of his 2015 season successes so far.<\/p>\n The Cycling South Africa Women\u2019s Commission has put together two teams that will be participating in the Freedom Day Classic (27th April) and the Hibiscus Coast Cycle Challenge (3rd May). Commission Director, Lise Olivier is overwhelmed by the response from fellow women cyclists, teams, and sponsors who have come on board to support the medium to long term approach to getting more women on the bike. \u201cIt\u2019s been something that we have been trying to implement for a long time now, and we are so ready,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Olivier said that the commission is always ready to get more women involved in cycling in the country, across all disciplines, and was very happy to see women from other disciplines entering road events. \u201cA lot of cyclists start out in one discipline and move across to another later on, so it\u2019s really great to see so many other disciplines coming to try road out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve had an incredible response, and not just from the top riders, but from lots of women who are keen to come and race.<\/p>\n \u201cKZN as a province has been so incredibly supportive and to have races like these UCI 1.2 category ones is something very special. We saw it as an opportunity which may or may not come around again anytime soon, so we had to get involved,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day the girls love having fun, and if others on the side-lines see us having a good time then hopefully it encourages them to come and want to have fun as well,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n