South African cycling distribution company Positive Sports Solutions and the Demacon Ladies Cycling Team will next year continue their partnership, which proved highly successful in 2018.
The Demacon Ladies Cycling Team had a remarkable year in SA road cycling with their team members winning 17 of the 18 races in which they participated.
Leading the way was ace women’s rider Carla Oberholzer, who won 10 of those races, including the SA national road title, the Amashova Durban Classic and the 947 Cycle Challenge.
This has led to Positive Sports Solutions, who distribute a variety of top-end cycling brands in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), deciding to consolidate their association with the team for another year.
Going forward, the outfit will be known as the Demacon-HEAD Women’s Cycling Team, in recognition of the high-quality HEAD bicycles they have been supplied with by the company.
Positive Sports Solutions product and technical manager David Pieterse said the profile of the brand had been raised to another level thanks to the team’s success.
“That most definitely created maximum exposure and as the team’s technical sponsor we were able to provide them with the best possible equipment,” he said.
A big part of the company’s focus is on raising the profile of women’s cycling in the country.
“I believe we have definitely done that,” said Pieterse. “This is the first year we have been involved and we achieved more than we expected.”
“The HEAD brand has been established in South Africa and we are looking forward to raising more awareness for women’s cycling in 2019. We would love to see more sponsors involved.”
Team captain Lynette Burger said the sponsorship had played a key role in their success and they looked forward to greater involvement in 2019.
“It is very important to us as a team as they provide us with the best possible equipment,” she said.
“Thanks to our success, Positive Sports Solutions want to expand the range of equipment they provide the team with and that can only benefit us going forward.”
This year the team also included Kim le Court, who won the Cape Town Cycle Tour, and Heidi Dalton. They will also be boosted by two U23 riders next year, but Burger said the details still had to be finalised.
“We feel that by including the two U23 riders, it can help boost SA women’s cycling,” said Burger.
“We have a highly successful team and we all have won most of the major races. With all our success and knowledge we can give them the best possible mentorship and support to start their careers.”
“David Pieterse, our team manager, has been in women’s cycling for the last 21 years and has a vast knowledge of local and international women’s cycling.”
She added that it would be difficult to improve on the success they achieved in 2018, but they would not shy away from the challenge.
“We will set the bar high for ourselves and continue to give our best to make sure we podium in as many races as possible.”