Subscribe to L2P News London, UK. 11 March 2009
The HotChillee Challenge Team survived the scorching wind and a South African heatwave in last weekend’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour in Cape Town.
The women’s team, the first women’s international visiting team to compete in the event, are celebrating two top ten finishes in the elite group, with Tanja Slater and Nikki Harris finishing 9th and 10th respectively. Penny Krohn posted her 25th win in a row in the event, finishing 1st in her age category. In the men’s event, HotChillee’s Jerone Walters, a London-based Australian, finished 2nd in the men’s invitational group.
(From L to R:) Alice Monger-Godfrey, Tanja Slater, Nikki Harris, Penny Krohn and Emma Davies
Nikki Harris, from Derbyshire, who rode in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, said: “It was a fantastic experience and an amazing week spent with a real variety of people. The whole HotChillee team did their very best and it was great that Tanja and I managed to get good results.”
Tanja Slater, a former GB cyclist and international tri-athlete said: “The camaraderie in the HotChillee Challenge Team was brilliant and the Cycle Tour was rather interesting due to the very strong winds but it was a lot of fun to be racing again and I was pleased with my performance.”
David Bellairs , co-director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust said: "Sunday was without a doubt the toughest Cycle Tour ever. Never before have we experienced such gale force winds during a race. We were honoured to have the HotChillee Challenge Team in Cape Town and hope they'll be back for Cycle Tour 2010.”
While in Cape Town, the HotChillee Challenge Team presented a cheque for £17,800 (260,000 South African Rand) to the Christel House charity which works to empower children through education. The money was raised by riders in last year’s London-Paris Cycle Tour which is staged by the HotChillee sports events company.
Tanja Slater said: “To top off an amazing week we visited a newly built school for underprivileged kids, Christel House, and were given a song and dance reception by the young kids. We presented them with a donation from London-Paris 08 and I would like to thank the sponsors for making this trip possible.”
Team owner and HotChillee chief executive, Sven Thiele, said: “I am so proud of my team. They did a fantastic job and I hope we’ll be back next year.”
(From L to R): Emma Davies, Alice Monger-Godfrey, Grant Haskin (Deputy Major of Cape Town), Nikki Harris, Tanja Slater and Penny Krohn
The Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Grant Haskin, said: "When I met the ladies from HotChillee I thought ‘they are as hot as Cape Town’ – it was over 40C! I think they are a true inspiration for all women and especially those in the cycle fraternity. I will keep track of them and may they all be back next year."
The HotChillee Challenge Team’s sponsors were sports consultancy, Cyclevox; cycle retailer, Sigma Sport; sports skincare company, Sportique and leading sportswear and equipment brand, adidas.
Mark Sinclair, from adidas UK who also rode for Hot Chillee and who manages adidas' sponsorship of British Cycling, said: "The girls had a fantastic ride in tough conditions but it was the role that they played with HotChillee in making a difference to the Christel House and the impression they made on young women in South Africa, that has made our involvement so worthwhile.”
Emma Davies - www.emmadaviesjones.co.uk
Nikki Harris – www.nikkiharris.co.uk
Cyclevox – www.cyclevox.com
adidas – www.adidas.com
Sigma Sport – www.sigmasport.co.uk
Sportique – www.sportique.net