Danish Teammates in SA to join Cyclist Luthando Kaka for SA's Premier Cycling Event

Top European team in SA for international cycling event.

Cape Town, South Africa, 2 March 2009.

Five top European cyclists from Team Glud Marstrand Horsens (Team GMH) - a talent team for the world's number one pro-cycling team - have arrived in South Africa to compete alongside their South African teammate, Luthando Kaka. Kaka, who was born and raised in Khayelitsha, joined Team GMH in June last year.

This will be the first time in South Africa for four of Kaka's Danish-based team mates and the second visit for GMH rider Michael Christensen, who competed in last year's Giro del Capo as part of the Danish National Team. The four newcomers to the Giro del Capo Tour - which has subsequently been replaced by UCI one day events - are Michael Berling, Jacob Nielsen, Ricky Eno and Mathias Kristensen. They are all young, talented cyclists who have either won or were placed in the top three positions in several time trials, championships, tours etc. in Europe.

Team GMH sports director Michael Skelde says the Cape Town UCI event is the first of the year for Team GMH, which has been in training since December in cold and snowy conditions in Europe. "So, they will probably 'feel the heat' in South Africa," he says.

Team rider Jacob Nielsen is expecting tough competition from local cyclists. "We are definitely not underestimating the local riders; we expect the standard to be as high, if not higher, than in Europe at this time of year."

Skelde is hoping for a good performance from Kaka, who last year took the lead, for almost 30 minutes, during the 2008 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour before being chased down by the peloton. He also did well in the 2008 Giro del Capo; he was placed 19th and 23rd on two of the toughest days. Kaka's team members say they will be relying on him to show them the way. "He knows the local conditions so will have an important role to play in the team's approach to the one-day UCI races," says Nielsen.

Skelde says the team is delighted to be racing on Luthando's home soil and to be spending time with him in Khayelitsha. "When he met us at the airport it was like seeing an old friend," he said. Skelde, who has been impressed by Kaka's potential since he arrived in Europe in June 2008, says he will be keeping an eye out for new talent while in South Africa.

"Bringing Luthando to Europe has been a good experience and I'm definitely open to doing it again! I was able to see, in a very short time, a remarkable change in Luthando; he is more confident and has definitely grown as an individual. When he came to Europe he seemed unsure as to whether he deserved the chance; now he knows that he belongs, that he has earned his place in the team and the opportunity to race at the highest levels in Europe."

While their stay in South Africa will be a short one, Kaka's team mates nevertheless took time out from their training to visit Khayelitsha and the Velokhaya BMX Oval.

Team GMH has also decided to raise funds for Velokhaya's Phase 2 project - the building of the Velokhaya Cycling Centre - and will be organizing a special fundraiser cycling event from Horsens to Paris in July this year. All funds will benefit Velokhaya.

Kaka will return to Europe after the Giro and SA Championships to continue his European cycling career.