Office automation and communications group, Itec has long been a supporter of local mountain biking. As one of the earliest sponsors of the sport, Itec’s involvement and support has continued to grow, a fact that was most evident at the fourth edition of the Old Mutual joBerg2c.
Itec took a multifaceted approach to its sponsorship of the event in 2013, with its support of the FedGroup-Itec professional team, the provisioning of WiFi at the joBerg2c race village, in partnership with Vodacom, a community upliftment project aimed at local schools in the area and the launch of the Itec Ride Like a Pro initiative.
“Itec’s involvement in the sport began when the company chose to support some of the considerable talent we have in this country, starting with Brandon Stewart,” explains Gavin Meyer, MD at Itec Connect Group.
“He, like many other talented riders, didn’t have the funding to follow his passion and become a full-time professional, so we helped him start his own team. The team has since grown to become a considerable force under Brandon’s guidance, and now includes elite riders Neil MacDonald and Kevin Evans, under-23 rider Brad Stroberg and elite female Bridgette Stewart.”
Stewart and his team have continued to reward this support with numerous podiums and a few big wins on the local mountain biking circuit, most notably the title of 2013 Old Mutual joBerg2c champions.
Stewart, riding with former champion Neil MacDonald, took the overall victory in the nine-day mountain bike stage race, which finished at Scottburgh on Saturday 4 May.
The FedGroup-Itec riders completed the 910km journey from Heidelberg in Gauteng to the KwaZulu-Natal south coast in 34:11:05, taking four stage wins in the process. Kevin Evans finished fourth overall and took the solo rider category for FedGroup-Itec in a time of 35:51:13.
In addition to sponsoring two iconic multi-day stage races in the form of the Nedbank Sani2c and Old Mutual joBerg2c, Itec has plans to find an additional, but similar sponsorship property that could offer the company naming rights.
“Within the executive leadership team at Itec we felt that mountain biking was the embodiment of a number of our personal and corporate values, such as the importance of health and celebrating the beauty of our country. There is also a strong sense of community within mountain biking, which we also value. A number of our executives are keen mountain bikers too, so we share a passion for the sport,” explains Meyer.
It is for these reasons that Itec remained invested in the sport and expanded their involvement to include sponsoring the Old Mutual joBerg2c.
“This event has grown tremendously in popularity over the last three years, to the point where it is totally over-subscribed. We were obviously very keen to get involved in a race of this magnitude. However, we were keen to partner with the organisers and offer something extra than merely using it as a branding exercise,” continues Meyer.
To that end, Itec has provided WiFi connectivity for riders, launched the Ride Like a Pro initiative, and has donated money and hardware to local schools in the area as part of the Itec printer charity drive.
The Ride Like a Pro initiative was launched this year when joBerg2c race organiser, Craig Wapnick, approached Itec for assistance.
“Craig had a number of extremely talented international riders who wanted to ride the race, but didn’t have the financial means. We therefore stepped up to subsidise their entries, provide them with kit and paired them up with some of our top local riders, to ensure they had a chance to podium,” explains Meyer.
Local Team GT professional rider, Oliver Munnik, was selected to captain the six Ride Like a Pro Itec teams, which included top British marathon riders Tim Dunford and Ben Thomas. Munnick partnered Italian Vanni Balboni, a previous winner of the gruelling Ironbike race in Italy, while teammates Nic White and Grant Usher competed in the joBerg2c on rigid single speed mountain bikes for the second time.
“This was a great initiative by Itec as it gave aspiring pro riders a chance to ride and exposed international riders of the highest quality to this legendary multi-day stage race,” says Munnick. “It also gave local riders like myself the opportunity to interact and race with international riders of this calibre, which can only boost the quality of racing here in SA.”
Munnick is also grateful for companies like Itec, as they have made it possible for a growing number of talented local riders to become full-time professionals.
“When I started mountain biking there were perhaps only one or two guys who were able to ride and race full-time. However, over the years the industry has become more professional thanks to companies like FedGroup and Itec, who offer financial assistance to riders. This means we can focus 100% on the sport, which is what a rider needs to succeed.”
According to Munnick, the joBerg2c is also the ideal race to bring together a team of riders like those found on Team Itec Ride Like a Pro.
“Everyone who rode under this banner started riding because they love the sport, not for a pay cheque. And the joBerg2c, with the type of route, the people and the vibe, represent all the greatest aspects of the mountain biking culture. I hope the Ride Like a Pro initiative continues in years to come as I think it is a great addition to an already great race.”
As the sport moves towards an era of greater professionalism, with a growing number of hardcore events that are more tailored to elite riders than the average mountain biker, Munnick believes that events of this nature keep the old ethos and values of mountain biking intact.
“It is for this reason that races like the joBerg2c and Sani2c retain an aura about them and invoke such special emotions in those who ride them. Everyone riding in Team Itec Ride Like a Pro was therefore keen to do as well as possible, but also have some real fun in the process,” he says.
White and Usher completed the course on their single speeds in an impressive time of 37:26:05, which secured them 14th overall. Four other Itec Ride Like a Pro teams finished in the top 60, which is testament to the level of talent assembled through this initiative.
“We are extremely grateful to have such avid supporters of mountain biking as part of our team,” comments Wapnick.
“Itec understands the value of being associated with mountain biking, as it attracts a very specific type of person. This means they can connect with the right LSM to boost their business, a fact that has numerous businesses clamouring to sponsor mountain biking now, while also supporting the sport we are all so passionate about.
“Itec has been an incredible sponsor over the years and their unique involvement in this event should generate a great return for the company.”
“As this race, and the sport as a whole, continues to grow we look forward to our continued involvement in South African mountain biking,” continues Meyer.
“In fact, we are now looking to expand our reach further by finding a multi-day stage race where we can secure a title sponsorship. It is the next step in our quest to leave an indelible imprint on this amazing sport and the great people who participate in it. However, right now we are just proud to have played our part in making the nine days of the 2013 joBerg2c an unforgettable experience for all involved,” he concludes.
Itec took a multifaceted approach to its sponsorship of the event in 2013, with its support of the FedGroup-Itec professional team, the provisioning of WiFi at the joBerg2c race village, in partnership with Vodacom, a community upliftment project aimed at local schools in the area and the launch of the Itec Ride Like a Pro initiative.
“Itec’s involvement in the sport began when the company chose to support some of the considerable talent we have in this country, starting with Brandon Stewart,” explains Gavin Meyer, MD at Itec Connect Group.
“He, like many other talented riders, didn’t have the funding to follow his passion and become a full-time professional, so we helped him start his own team. The team has since grown to become a considerable force under Brandon’s guidance, and now includes elite riders Neil MacDonald and Kevin Evans, under-23 rider Brad Stroberg and elite female Bridgette Stewart.”
Stewart and his team have continued to reward this support with numerous podiums and a few big wins on the local mountain biking circuit, most notably the title of 2013 Old Mutual joBerg2c champions.
Stewart, riding with former champion Neil MacDonald, took the overall victory in the nine-day mountain bike stage race, which finished at Scottburgh on Saturday 4 May.
The FedGroup-Itec riders completed the 910km journey from Heidelberg in Gauteng to the KwaZulu-Natal south coast in 34:11:05, taking four stage wins in the process. Kevin Evans finished fourth overall and took the solo rider category for FedGroup-Itec in a time of 35:51:13.
In addition to sponsoring two iconic multi-day stage races in the form of the Nedbank Sani2c and Old Mutual joBerg2c, Itec has plans to find an additional, but similar sponsorship property that could offer the company naming rights.
“Within the executive leadership team at Itec we felt that mountain biking was the embodiment of a number of our personal and corporate values, such as the importance of health and celebrating the beauty of our country. There is also a strong sense of community within mountain biking, which we also value. A number of our executives are keen mountain bikers too, so we share a passion for the sport,” explains Meyer.
It is for these reasons that Itec remained invested in the sport and expanded their involvement to include sponsoring the Old Mutual joBerg2c.
“This event has grown tremendously in popularity over the last three years, to the point where it is totally over-subscribed. We were obviously very keen to get involved in a race of this magnitude. However, we were keen to partner with the organisers and offer something extra than merely using it as a branding exercise,” continues Meyer.
To that end, Itec has provided WiFi connectivity for riders, launched the Ride Like a Pro initiative, and has donated money and hardware to local schools in the area as part of the Itec printer charity drive.
The Ride Like a Pro initiative was launched this year when joBerg2c race organiser, Craig Wapnick, approached Itec for assistance.
“Craig had a number of extremely talented international riders who wanted to ride the race, but didn’t have the financial means. We therefore stepped up to subsidise their entries, provide them with kit and paired them up with some of our top local riders, to ensure they had a chance to podium,” explains Meyer.
Local Team GT professional rider, Oliver Munnik, was selected to captain the six Ride Like a Pro Itec teams, which included top British marathon riders Tim Dunford and Ben Thomas. Munnick partnered Italian Vanni Balboni, a previous winner of the gruelling Ironbike race in Italy, while teammates Nic White and Grant Usher competed in the joBerg2c on rigid single speed mountain bikes for the second time.
“This was a great initiative by Itec as it gave aspiring pro riders a chance to ride and exposed international riders of the highest quality to this legendary multi-day stage race,” says Munnick. “It also gave local riders like myself the opportunity to interact and race with international riders of this calibre, which can only boost the quality of racing here in SA.”
Munnick is also grateful for companies like Itec, as they have made it possible for a growing number of talented local riders to become full-time professionals.
“When I started mountain biking there were perhaps only one or two guys who were able to ride and race full-time. However, over the years the industry has become more professional thanks to companies like FedGroup and Itec, who offer financial assistance to riders. This means we can focus 100% on the sport, which is what a rider needs to succeed.”
According to Munnick, the joBerg2c is also the ideal race to bring together a team of riders like those found on Team Itec Ride Like a Pro.
“Everyone who rode under this banner started riding because they love the sport, not for a pay cheque. And the joBerg2c, with the type of route, the people and the vibe, represent all the greatest aspects of the mountain biking culture. I hope the Ride Like a Pro initiative continues in years to come as I think it is a great addition to an already great race.”
As the sport moves towards an era of greater professionalism, with a growing number of hardcore events that are more tailored to elite riders than the average mountain biker, Munnick believes that events of this nature keep the old ethos and values of mountain biking intact.
“It is for this reason that races like the joBerg2c and Sani2c retain an aura about them and invoke such special emotions in those who ride them. Everyone riding in Team Itec Ride Like a Pro was therefore keen to do as well as possible, but also have some real fun in the process,” he says.
White and Usher completed the course on their single speeds in an impressive time of 37:26:05, which secured them 14th overall. Four other Itec Ride Like a Pro teams finished in the top 60, which is testament to the level of talent assembled through this initiative.
“We are extremely grateful to have such avid supporters of mountain biking as part of our team,” comments Wapnick.
“Itec understands the value of being associated with mountain biking, as it attracts a very specific type of person. This means they can connect with the right LSM to boost their business, a fact that has numerous businesses clamouring to sponsor mountain biking now, while also supporting the sport we are all so passionate about.
“Itec has been an incredible sponsor over the years and their unique involvement in this event should generate a great return for the company.”
“As this race, and the sport as a whole, continues to grow we look forward to our continued involvement in South African mountain biking,” continues Meyer.
“In fact, we are now looking to expand our reach further by finding a multi-day stage race where we can secure a title sponsorship. It is the next step in our quest to leave an indelible imprint on this amazing sport and the great people who participate in it. However, right now we are just proud to have played our part in making the nine days of the 2013 joBerg2c an unforgettable experience for all involved,” he concludes.