Specialized MTB Team

Specialized Bicycle Components has been the proud sponsor of the Exel road cycling team since the end of 2005. This partnership has not only been renewed for 2007, but has also seen the addition of a MTB team. The MTB team will be named Team Exel Specialized while the road team remains Team Exel.

Team Exel Specialized 2007 will consist of the following four riders:

ELIAS (TUIS) SEBONA
DOB: September 28th 1980
Turned Pro: 2003 with HSBC.
2004: Rode for TUKS (University Pretoria)
2005 and 2006: Team Exel
Highlights:
2002: 5th overall Kremetart Tour, stage winner
2002: Team member of winning team at Tour of China with HSBC.
2003: Kremetart Tour, stage winner, plus yellow jersey wearer
2004: Winner of KoM at Jock Tour at Barberton / Nelspruit
2005: Winner of Middelburg Classic
2006: 3rd overall Middelburg Classic
2006: Crater Cruise MTB event 25th overall position

JACO VENTER
DOB: February 13th 1987
Cycling results:
2002:
U16 African and South African Champion
2004:
1st- Junior Expert Short Track, Sea Otter MTB Classic, USA
2nd- Junior Expert Road race, Sea Otter Classic, USA
2nd Overall (incl Elite) - Karoo to Coast
2005:
1st- South African Junior Timetrial Championships
Stage winner of the South African Junior Tour
5th- Overall Classification Tour de Lorraine World Cup, France
2nd- Het Volk Junior (UCI 1.1), Belgium
2006:
Crater Cruise MTB event 9th overall position


JACQUES JANSE VAN RENSBURG
DOB: September 6th 1987
Cycling Results:
2005:
1st- South African Junior Road Championships
Stage winner of the South African Junior Tour
1st- King of the Mountains Classification, Tour de Lorraine World Cup, France
2nd- Sprints Classification, Tour de Pays de Vaud, Switzerland
3rd- King of the Mountains Classification, Tour de Pays de Vaud, Switzerland
2006:
1st- Stage1, Transalp Challenge (Road)
1st- Stage 7, Transalp Challenge (Road)
Crater Cruise MTB event 15th overall position

OWEN CHAD HANNIE
DOB: June 6th 1978
Professional Cyclist
January 1999-December 2003
Teams: IBM Lotus (1999-2001), Microsoft (2002-2003), South African National Team (1999-2003)
Highlighted Achievements: First cyclist of colour to represent the South African National Team at World Road Champs in Verona, Italy (1999), South African National U/23 Champion 2001, Ranked in the South African Top from 1999 to 2003.



The riders will focus on the Drifter series, various other high profile races such as Sanie 2 C, Sabie Experience and most definitely the Cape Epic. The pairing for the Cape Epic 2007 will be Jaco/Jacques and Tuis/Owen.

The foray from road into MTB for the team offers exciting opportunities for all concerned. The co sponsors of Team Exel Specialized are:
(Exel and Specialized are naming sponsors)
Thule Bike Racks
Look Pedals,
SRAM Bicycle Components
Cyclesure Insurance
Volvo Bedfordview
Fast Fuel Supplements
Bene Water
Anatomic Clothing

The strong link between Team Exel Specialized and the Specialized Factory MTB Team (e.g. Christoph Sauser, Liam Killeen) will be strengthened over the course of 2007, especially during the Cape Epic.

The team looks forward to an exciting year ahead and will endeavour to leverage the exposure for its co sponsors as well as to create more awareness of mountain biking in South Africa.