READY FOR
BATTLE
They might be the teams with both riders hitting their
forties or more, but the winners of the Dimension Data
Masters category are regularly seen racing among
the elite riders at the front end of the field.
O
ver the past six years, the Dimension Data Masters riders have fi nished
11th, 14th, 16th, 21st, 20th and 24th. Competition in the category has
sharpened over the years and it now routinely attracts riders with
outstanding records. These have included the likes of former Olympic gold
medallist and world champion, Bart Brentjens, and Tour de France winner
turned mountain biker, Cadel Evans. The winners over the six years include
some of the most revered riders in the sport: Nico Pfi tzenmaier and Abraao
Azevedo in 2013; Brentjens and Azevedo in 2014, 2015 and 2016; Evans and
Tour de France legend George Hincapie in 2017; and former marathon world
champion Massimo Debertoli and Ondrej Fojtik last year.
This year is set to be similarly competitive. Robbie Hunter, the fi rst Saff a to
ride the Tour de France – famously taking a stage win in 2007 – will bring an
additional element of road cycling glamour. The former Barloworld sprinter will
ride with René Haselbacher for ProTouchGlobal. Haselbacher, also a retired
roadie, spent his best years competing against Hunter in the Gerolsteiner colours.
René Haselbacher with
Sabine Sommer in 2015
Dark horses in the Masters category this year might be the Dutch combination
of Erik Dekker and Maarten Tjallingii (IBS Capital Allies). Both are former
professional road riders who have competed in the Tour de France and have
now converted to mountain biking with considerable success.
104 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
2018 Masters winners
Massimo Debertoli and
Ondrej Fojtik
Last year’s winner, Italian Massimo
Debertoli is back but will be riding with
Costa Rican Dax Jaikel (Mitas Head
New Race Team).
Another team to watch will be Scott-
SRAM Old Dudes, the formidable Swiss
pairing of Thomas Frischknecht, a
three-time former world champion, and
Urs Gerig. If they are on their game
they will be strong challengers.
Thomas Frischknecht and Urs Gerig
of team Scott-SRAM Old Dudes in 2018