Elite South African sport has long thrived on the competitiveness and depth of the country’s school sport. Rugby, cricket, athletics, netball, and field hockey are prime examples of the talent factories of the nation’s schools. In recent years, mountain biking has benefited from this too, with 2024 XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly the most high-profile example of the Schools’ League system. Marco Joubert, Tristan Nortje, Rudi Koen, and Lood Goosen all progressed through schools’ racing to the elite level of the sport, and now Imbuko Pro Cycling is launching a junior team to develop the next generation of South African mountain biking talent.
The Imbuko Junior Racing will focus on rising stars from the Boland, drawing talent from Wellington, Paarl, Durbanville, and Stellenbosch. Launching with seven riders aged 11 to 17, the team will provide technical assistance, coaching, mentorship, and most importantly, a pathway from junior success to a potential career as an elite mountain biker. In a sport that demands physical commitment and mental resilience, the support of an experienced organisation will undoubtedly make a material difference to the young riders’ progress.
“Cycling in general, and mountain biking in particular, are great sports,” Imbuko Wines founder Theunis van Zyl emphasised. “I wish I had discovered them sooner, and I’m proud to have been able to support the cycling careers of a group of young men and women since the foundation of Imbuko Pro Cycling in 2018. The next phase of the team is one I’m particularly excited for. Alongside the professional team, which will be expanding in 2026, we have launched a junior team to develop stars for the future.”
“The team will be managed by former Imbuko Pro Cycling rider and experienced team manager Nicol Carstens,” Van Zyl confirmed. “Nicol will be coaching the young riders and actively mentoring them through training and racing, as well as fostering connections with the senior team to ensure that the junior programme riders gain insights from Joubert, Nortje, Koen, and Goosen.”
The Imbuko Junior Racing’s founding members are Emke Moolman (11), Logan Gouws (12), Liam Vorster (12), Steffan Moolman (13), Henry Vorster (15), Daniel Steyn (16), and Lodewyk Uys (17). The squad is sponsored by BioCertica, Sonke Produce, GVV, and Toyota South Africa, with support from Specialized Bicycles, Van H, and Versus Socks, alongside the title sponsor, Imbuko Wines.
“In Schools League races, the riders will represent their various schools, but in the Western Cape XCO, and South African Cup races, as well as in marathon events, they will race in the Imbuko Junior Racing colours,” Carstens explained. “We’re looking forward to building on the base provided by the schools and helping the young men and women in the team maximise their potential as cyclists. I know that cycling is a tough sport and that it can feel like hard work, but I’ve got plans to keep it fun for the team too because, regardless of how far they progress as racers, I’d love to see them maintain their passion for cycling throughout their lives.”
“We noticed a significant dropout rate of talented young riders, who won races in high school but who never reached the elite ranks,” Van Zyl noted. “The team aims to form a bridge between high school and elite racing. With this first group, we have the opportunity to grow the programme as the riders mature and forge a path which, in time, will help talented cyclists remain in the sport.”
To share the Imbuko Junior Racing journey, follow @imbuko_juniors on Instagram, or follow the elite squad at @imbukochemchamp or like the Team Imbuko Facebook page.
