On Sunday, 22 May, Philip Buys (Garmin-adidas) made cycling history in Yorkshire’s Dalby Forest when he raced across the finishing line at the second UCI Cross Country World Cup event.

It was the first time that Buys finished a World Cup race.

“I really enjoyed myself while I was out on the course. It was tough but pleasant. The only bit of bad luck that I experienced during the race was when had to stop to “bomb” my tyre. That was when I realized that it was one thing to race in South Africa and something quite different to race in Europe.

During the past weekend (7-8 May) Philip Buys and Marc Bassingthwaighte (Garmin-adidas) dominated the national cross-country event in Port Elizabeth by finishing first and second respectively.

As was expected, Buys did not waste time before taking control of the pro-elite race. The moment he reached the single-track section, Buys took the lead and rode a near perfect race, increasing his lead with almost every pedal stroke.

Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser and his South African teammate Burry Stander are on a winning streak by again finishing first in Thursday’s trial ride (Stage 4) of this year’s Cape Epic.

They completed the tough 32km course in a time of 1:10.01,1 and are now 7 minutes and 48 seconds in the lead. They were again followed by Hannes Genze and Jochen Kloss in 1;11.34,0 with the team of Sergio Gutierrez Mantecon and Carlos Nicolas Coloma in third place in 1:12.08,0.

It is a first for the Cape Epic’s two time trials in the 2011 race.

“A most enjoyable ride!”

This is how Burry Stander (Specialized/USN) described his winning performance in the pro-elite race of the African Cross Country MTB Championship at Jonkershoek, near Stellenbosch, on Saturday (12 February).

Crank attended the UCI African Continental Champs in Jonkershoek on Saturday. The riders were met with stifling hot conditions and a super technical 4km course designed by Chris Nixon. There was some great racing to be seen with Yolande Speedy, Burry Stander and James Reid securing African titles.

Dare to do something different.

This, in short, is what Francois Theron (Garmin-adidas) decided that his cycling motto for 2011 will be.

Keep reading for an insight into the 2011 season plans for Francois Theron and Team Garmin Adidas.

If Kevin Evans (MTN-Energade) wins he will be the first rider to defend his Crater Cruise title successfully; if Max Knox (DCM) manages to be the first across the line he will complete an amazing hat trick of victories in the space of just four weeks; if Ben-Melt Swanepoel (Specialized/Mr Price) wins he will the first to boast with three Crater Cruise victories.