Hanco Kachelhoffer to lead a youthful Team Bonitas in Cape Argus

Team Bonitas will mount its Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour 2013 challenge on the able shoulders of its young 10-member professional cycling team. The Team is fielding five new team members and is being led by all-rounder Hanco Kachelhoffer. Under his le

The investment in and commitment to the young team is paying rich dividends and the team management believes its strategy is working and will dictate how it finds and develops new riding talent.

Herman Fouche, 25 who finished 2nd in the 2012 edition of the iconic road race is already looking good and is seeking to better his standing on the podium at this year’s Argus. He won his first race of 2013 at the Optimum Berge en Dale Classic in Krugersdorp earlier in February 2013.

Team Bonitas owner Malcolm Lange says, “2013 started well for the team in terms of working as a cohesive unit and supporting each other on the road. The races we entered gave the young riders an opportunity to compete alongside the best and the experienced”

“With that temperament in mind, the focus of the team is now to test their mettle at the Cape Argus”

The 2013 team consists of climbers Luthando Kaka and Jason Bakke, sprinters Herman Fouche and Christoff van Heerden, and all-rounders Hanco Kachelhoffer, HB Kruger, Pieter Seyffert, Clint Hendricks, Willie Smit and Chris Jennings.

Dr Bobby Ramasia, Principal Officer, Bonitas Medical Fund says, “In essence cycling is all about healthy living and enjoying the great outdoors and we hope that our sponsorship of the Team will inspire South Africans, and especially young people, to take responsibility for their health and lifestyle choices.”

Team Bonitas is committed to nurturing young talent and developing cyclists through exposure in domestic and world circuits. The Team will continue to build on previous successes, both from within the team and with newly acquired cycling talent.

“Team Bonitas has established a partnership with French team La Pomme Marseille that kicked off in 2013. This gives us a three-level system for our riders,” according to team manager Barry Austin. “The first level is South African racing, the second level is the French First Division with La Pomme Club and the third level is the Continental team calendar in Europe, Asia and Africa with La Pomme Marseille’s pro team.”

For Austin, this gives him chance to rotate Team Bonitas riders on a constant basis, keeping them fresh and motivated and relieving performance pressure when needed, while also developing the team’s ability to race with distinction at a higher level.

Lange is confident that the winning combination of talent and experience, efforts of the riders and team management, together with the support and enthusiasm of the sponsors, should result in Team Bonitas continuing its good fortune at the Cape Argus Cycle Tour.