Testing conditions no match for Team FedGroup-ITEC Connect & Momsen Bikes

MTBing in the mud is no mean feat. To race against some of South Africa’s fastest professionals in what can best be described as swampy conditions to claim a podium result is a feat well worth celebration.

Team FedGroup-ITEC Connect’s three riders in Brandon Stewart, last month’s MTN National MTB Barberton 2012 Marathon race winner Jacques Rossouw and Bridgette Stewart did their sponsors proud when they persevered to walk away with another raft of medals and trophies on their Momsen SL929 Team Issue machines in only the new team’s second major race of 2012.

In the 80km Extreme MTB Challenge Race in Addo on Saturday morning, Jacques battled against former event winner Kevin Evans. The race was decided on one final turn, one in which Evans knew he would need to be first through to claim the win. It was a gutsy sprint to the finish, with Jacques glued to Evans’ rear wheel. Jacques pedaled to reel in Evans over the final meters of the race to finish just 2 seconds adrift.

The Herald VW Cycle Tour 2012 proved to not only be a trying and testing weekend for event organisers, who had to swap out large sections of the route as many parts were flooded, but Team FedGroup-ITEC Connect’s riders can be proud of their respective performances. A 12-hour journey for Brandon and Jacques from Howick, KwaZulu-Natal to Port Elizabeth saw the team owner Brandon struck down by a migraine that required medical attention but was cleared to race on Saturday.

Brandon’s race, in which he was in the middle of the lead bunch of seven riders along with Jacques, took a wrong turn after dropping off the lead pace through a particularly muddy section. Brandon rejoined the correct race route, but after crossing the finish line his race distance was a whopping 123km! Later race officials adjusted his time but still placed him in 5th Place Overall.

His wife, who is equally as strong on her Momsen SL929 Team Issue weapon, was lying second in the Women’s Category of the race, but damaged the bicycle’s rear derailleur that led to her having to run the final 20km of the race. Her dedication and commitment were rewarded with a strong fourth place result!

Jacques will be competing in this weekend’s first round of the National XCO Series. It will be the 30-year-old’s first foray into lap racing since 2004 and one which many of his competitors will be watching very closely.

Momsen Bikes is proud to be associated with Team FedGroup/ITEC-Connect, and all of the winning team’s sponsors: FedGroup, ITEC-Connect, Kathea, Biogen, Thule, Salomon, Adidas, Kia Motors as well as co-equipment suppliers SRAM, NO TUBES and Lezyne.

Provisional Results:

80km Extreme (Men):
1. Kevin Evans – 3:10:17
2. Jacques Rossouw (Momsen SL929 Team Issue) – 3:10:19
3. James Reid – 3:14:39
4. Oliver Munnik – 3:20:26
5. Julius Cobbett & Brandon Stewart (Momsen SL929 Team Issue) – 3:41:29

80km Extreme (Women):
1. Candice Neethling – 4:06:35
2. Heidi Koen – 4:26:12
3. Andrea von Holdt – 4:41:37
4. Bridgette Stewart (Momsen SL929 Team Issue) – 4:42:51

60km Adventure (Men):
1. Andre Hugo – 2:39:25
2. Johan Britz – 2:44:15
3. Marco Joubert (Momsen AL729) – 2:45:37
4. Benjamin Giliomee – 2:47:14
5. Andrew Schubart – 2:49:08

60km Adventure (Women)
1. Nicola Giliomee – 3:18:41
2. Michelle Reed – 3:32:34
3. Chanel Rood – 3:54:55

Watch the Team FedGroup / Itec – Connect Video

The Official Team website is www.fedgroup.co.za/proMTBteam

For further information on the team please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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