30 August 2010 Stopforth issues a reminder in Cullinan
Even with the defence of her MTN Series title in tatters after an early-season crash,
Team bizhub's Ischen Stopforth sent out a reminder of her pedigree ...
17/02/2010 SA Championships
TT Juniors 1st Lilandi Swanepoel
13/02/2010 Jim Fouche cycle race
1st Arien Torsius
13/02/2010 Ninety Niner Race in Durbanville
4th Yolandi di Toit
5th Lise Olivier
30/01/2010 Barberton Classic
3rd Yolandi du Toit
24/01/2010 Pick and Pay Fast One
4th Jennifer Hohl
16/01/2010 Attakwas Extreme Mountain bike race
2nd Ischen Stopforth
16/01/2010 10th Caltex Sunny Hill
1st Catherine Williamson
10/01/2010 Journey4Sight and Service Cycle Tour
1st Jade Roberts
John Robertson Team Owner
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.
Catherine Williamson Road Cycling
Date Of Birth: 13 March1982
Star Sign: Pisces
Age: 27
Place of Residence: UK and Bloem while in South Africa
Favour colour: Blue
Jade Roberts Road Cycling
Date Of Birth: 16 Nov 1989
Star Sign: Scorpio
Age: 20
Place of Residence: Cape Town and during racing season Pretoria
Favour colour: Green
Ischen Stopforth Mountain Bike
Date Of Birth: 22 April 1972
Star Sign: Taurus
Age: 37
Place of Residence: George
Favour colour: Green
Jennifer Hohl Road Rider
Date Of Birth: 3 February 1986
Star Sign: Aquarius
Age: 24
Place of Residence: Switzerland and Bloem while in South Africa
Favour colour: Blue
Linn Torpe Road Rider
Date Of Birth: 22 April 1977
Star Sign: Aries
Age: 32
Place of Residence: Norway
Favour colour: Red, White and Black
Lise Olivier Road and Mountain Biking
Date Of Birth: 30 May 1983
Star Sign: Gemini
Age: 26
Place of Residence: Pretoria
Favour colour: Yellow
Michelle Corbett Road Cycling
Date Of Birth: 1 October 1991
Star Sign: Libra
Age: 18
Place of Residence: Roodepoort
Favour colour: Burnt Orange
Yolandi du Toit Road and Mountain biking
Date Of Birth: 3 June 1985
Star Sign: Gemini
Age: 24
Place of Residence: Heidelberg
Favour colour: Green
