01 December 2011 No better way to finish the season
Team bizhub finished their season on a successful note winning the overall ladies elite category in the Omnicane Southern Tropical MTB Challenge ...
Konica Minolta Pro Cycling Team owner John Robertson is a former independent cyclist
who first developed his passion for cycling at the age of 8 “my Father was a top
rider in the sixties and seventies and I grew up around bikes and racing. As long
as I can remember, I have always loved this sport” said Robertson.
Athletes under the management of John Robertson have won more National Championships
titles than under any other manager in the history of South African cycling this
includes five back to back victories at SA Elite National Championships (2001–2005).
Teams under his management have won South Africa’s 2.2 ranked Giro Del Capo 4 years
running (2003-2006). He has managed riders to victory in South Africa’s premier
Pick & Pay 94.7 cycle race with 25000 participants for four years running (2004-2007).
In 2006 for the first time in the history of the race Konica Minolta won both the
Elite men’s and woman’s categories.
John Robertson was the vision behind Team Barloworld. He conceptualized, initialized,
and established Team Barloworld. Following which he owned and managed the team for
a period of three years (2003-2005). In May 2005 Team Barloworld was ranked as the
No1 Pro Continental Cycling team in the world. The team completed the season with
more than 28 international victories including the HC Tour of Portugal, Tour of
Malaysia and Tour of Wallone. He secured funding for the team in excess of Euro
3 million per year. In 2005 he signed the outgoing Elite World road race champion
Igor Astarloa together with the Italian sponsor Valsir for Euro 1, 4 million. He
established holding companies for the team in Italy, South Africa and Britain through
which the team was managed. Building on the foundations put in place by John Robertson.
The Team progressed to be ranked amongst the top three teams at the 2007 Tour de
France winning two Tour stages together and the King of the mountains Jersey.
Robertson has successfully served as South African National Team Manager on a number
of occasions. In February 2007 he managed the South African National Team in its
first ever victory at the Tour of Egypt. Team Barloworld had won this race in 2003
whilst under his management. He managed and provided the logistical support for
the SA under 23 National Team to compete in the 2007 European GP Des Nations from
April to September 2007. At the Giro Del Regionne, ranked as one of the most difficult
under 23 tours in the world. The National Team gained a substantial amount of credibility
on the international circuit by winning the points jersey and in the process beating
some of the world’s top ranked cycling nations.
Robertson has largely redefined the sport of professional cycling in South Africa
in many aspects he has set the bench mark by which other teams follow. He has been
instrumental in setting up a gate way and laying the foundations through which many
of South Africa’s top riders have passed to compete in Europe. He has instilled
South African Professionals with the belief that they are capable of racing against
and beating the world’s best.
In the 2008 Tour de France more than 10 athletes competing in the Tour had been
scouted and developed by Robertson. These included Peter Velits, the 2007 world
under 23 road race champion; John Lee Augustyn, the first rider to pass the highest
point in the 2008 Tour de France; Vladimir Elfimkin, wearer of the yellow jersey
in the 2007 Tour of Spain; Chris Froome a Kenyan rider who under the guidance of
Robertson first competed in Europe in the colours of Konica Minolta in 2007.
He has excelled in developing some of Africa’s leading female athletes. In August
2007 Cherise Taylor a Konica Minolta rider representing South Africa at the world
junior championships in Mexico finishing 2nd in the road race, winning South Africa’s
first ever medal at junior world championships. In 2007 two of his athletes won
both the junior and elite woman’s time trial and road race categories at South African
national championships. Yolandi Du Toit a Konica Minolta riding for Konica Minolta
in 2007 won the all Africa championships in Algeria. Currently the only two South
African Professional ladies racing on European teams have passed through the doors
of the Robertson stable. At the 2008 Olympic Games Cherise Taylor Represented South
Africa and Aurelie Halbwachs who currently rides for Konica Minolta represented
Mauritius.
His background includes a BA Social Sciences degree from Rand Afrikaans University.
He has been extensively involved in the management of professional cycling teams
since 1998. He has lived abroad in Italy, France and Belgium. Robertson founded
and currently manages Worldvision Sport International. At the 2008 Tour de France
he worked with the tours vehicle sponsor Skoda assisting with VIP hospitality. To
date he remains one of a select few English nationals who have successfully made
inroads into what is predominantly a European sport.
Nicolene Cronje PR / Marketing
Nicolene Cronje joined the team on a full time basis at the beginning of 2009.
She represented South Africa at the 2004 Athens Olympics games for the 20km walk,
is also five times National 20km walk Champion.
Nicolene has brought a wealth of new ideas to the team. She is assisting the team
with their marketing strategy and Public relations.
Nicolene has a passion for cycling much the same as she does for walking, her passion
and level of professionalism can only bode well for the future of the team.
Liani MorkelNickname: I don't have one...
Height: 159cm
Favourite colour: Lime green
Favourite food: Pizza : )
Pre race meal: Muesli and Strawberry yoghurt
Eye colour: Green
Greatest achievement to date: 1st overall at MP champs in both the road race
and the TT and 2nd at Dome to Dome 2010 (Junior)
Pets: I have a cat
Name of Pet: uhm haha we just call her Katteraas
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: My team mates and the new kit.
Catherine Williamson
Nickname: None
Height: 5ft3 and three quarters in old English terms
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite food: My mam's chocolate fudge cake
Pre race meal: Cereal and toast when its such an early start
Eye colour: Bluey grey according to my husband!!
Pets: Cats
Name of Pet: Blossom (nicknamed big bum) and Bizzie (nicknamed little bum!!)
Best pal name: Rob, my husband
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: Riding with a great bunch
of girls
Caitlin de Wet
Nickname: Caity
Height: 1.67m
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Pizza
Pre race meal: Future Life
Eye colour: Blue-Green
Pets: A Great Dane, 2 sausage dogs, and my faithful retired pony.
Name of Pet: Dane: Ullrich; Worsies: Dash & Daikin; Pony: Pepsi
Best pal name: Erin
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: The fact that we all get
along with each other so well! We have a variety in ages, nationalities, and disciplines
which makes it even more interesting.
Ischen Stopforth
Nickname: None
Height: 171 cm
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Apples
Pre race meal: Muesli & banana
Eye colour: Green/brown
Greatest achievement to date: Winner of 2009 MTN Marathon series, selection
to represent SA at Worlds Marathon Championships 2009
Best pal name: Pete
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: We get to ride Specialized
bikes and we have the coolest kit
Lindi Erasmus
Nickname: Peanut, Lindz, Kabouter J (mom)
Height: 165 cm
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Anything with Spinach
Pre race meal: Potatoes or Pasta and Cytomax Muscle Milk Shake
Eye colour: Green
Greatest achievement to date: Racing for bizhub ladies team
Best pal name: Kevin
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: Being able to share my experience
of racing in the team with the other ladies in my team.
Linn Torpe
Nickname: None
Height: 168cm
Favourite colour: Red, white & black
Favourite food: Mexican, braai (braaibroodjies)
Pre race meal: oats, muesli
Eye colour: brown/green
Greatest achievement to date: 2 times national road champion
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: Its a professional and friendly
team.
Yolandi du Toit
Nickname: Lans
Height: 176cm
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Any home made meal
Pre race meal: A mixture of muesli, all-bran fruitful flakes and Herbalife's
specialized protein powder.
Eye colour: Blue-Green
Greatest achievement to date: 1st at African Games road race and 3rd at African
Continental XC Championships.
Best pal name: If I name only one, I risk losing one :)
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: The team has a really nice
group of girls and I look forward competing alongside them this year.
Monique Gerber
Nickname: Nikki
Height: 169 cm
Favourite colour: Pink
Favourite food: Fruit Salad
Pre race meal: Pronutro (for morning races)
Eye colour: Brown
Pets: 6 Cocketiels (Madiba,Gena,Roxy,Scotty,Junior and Snowy), 1 African
Grey (Vicky) and 1 Sun Conure(Barney), 2 Jack Russels (Teddie and Sparkey)
Best pal name: Jamie-Lee
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: We have the best looking
kit by far. (and the team boss never take no nonsense from nobody, especially officials)
Nicci-Mari Grobler
Nickname: Nicci
Height: 174cm
Favourite colour: Pink
Favourite food: Fillet steak and Toni’s pizza
Pre race meal: Spaghetti bolognaise the evening before the race.
Eye colour: Blue-green
Greatest achievement to date: Sabie Experience 2010. It was my first stage
race and we (my boyfriend and I) came 2nd in the mixed category.
Pets: Two dogs, Tammy and Lady
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: The opportunity to do so
many races all over the country (that I otherwise would not have been able to do)
as well as being in the company of riders that have achieved so much and are willing
to help me out.
Candice Neethling
Nickname: Candy
Height: 170cm
Favourite colour: Pink- just as well : )
Favourite food: Mugg and Bean.. anything from there
Pre race meal: Any good pasta.. with a tomato type sauce
Eye colour: Brown
Greatest achievement to date: 3rd at XC Junior World Championships in Canberra
Pets: 2 dogs and a Dalmatian who thinks he is human
Best pal name: Jaclyn
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: I love the “girl factor”.
Unlike other teams its all about making the girls the best riders they can be. It
is very unique to find such a wonderful group of girls all in one team : )
Lilandi Swanepoel
Nickname: Landi
Height: 175cm
Favourite colour: Purple
Favourite food: Food!
Pre race meal: Pasta/Patato , lean meat and salad
Eye colour: Brown
Greatest achievement to date: 2010 SA Time Trial Champion
Pets: Dog (German Shepherd)
Best pal name: Ulrike Rautenbach
One thing you like about riding for team bizhub: Bizhub girls know how to
combine fun with performance and we are the best looking and by far the best dressed
ladies team!
