Who are these blokes from South Africa? This is probably what the British riders asked themselves on Saturday morning when Ian van der Walt and his four riders from DCM Chrome arrived at Margam Park (Wales) for the third event in the British Mountain-bike series.

It took Brandon Stewart, Rourke Croeser, Travis Walker and Candice Neethling only 48 hours to demonstrate to the British that there are South Africans who know how to win mountain-bike races.

Of the six races (cross-country and marathon), in which the DCM Chrome riders competed, they won four and achieved 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 9th places. The team owner, Ian van der Walt, watched with an ever broadening smile as his riders crossed the finishing line.

“We have certainly accomplished what we set out to do and that is to make the British Cycling Federation take notice of South Africa’s cycling talent," said Van der Walt. 

"After the events, I overheard people discussing the performance of the DCM Chrome riders and that was what I wanted to achieve. The more the South African cyclists are being noticed and talked about, the more invitations will they receive to race internationally.  People simply like to watch winners.

“The only way for our riders to continue improving, is by competing overseas on a regular basis.  If they just keep on racing in South Africa, they will develop a false sense of security in their cycling abilities.”

Rourke Croeser, who won the cross-country race for juniors as well as the half-marathon (50km), agreed with Van der Walt.

“In South Africa I am used to riding way in front and on my own, but during Saturday’s cross-country race there were four or five riders chasing me.  I must admit that this rattled me somewhat in the beginning, especially because I was still suffering from jetlag and my legs were not feeling very strong.

“It meant that I really had to dig deep into my abilities to stay in front.  I had to think hard and plan my tactics all the time, because one mistake would have meant that I would lose.  That in itself was exciting!

“There were times during the race that I really suffered because the racing had become very tough. But I said to myself ‘You don’t often get the opportunity to race at this level and you cannot afford to waste it.  Make the most of it.’”

In Sunday’s half-marathon Croeser was involved in a titanic battle with one of Britain’s top u.23 riders.

He kept his cool and allowed the British riders to dictate the pace over the first lap (25km).  However, during the 2nd lap Croeser started to attack, sapping his opponents’ energy, until only himself, the British rider and his team-mate, Travis Walker, remained.

“The moment I realized that the race was going to develop into a sprint finish, I started to relax, because I was confident of my ability to contest a sprint.”

He did manage to out-sprint the British rider, while Walker finished third.

Walker’s heroic performance on his mountain bike deserves mentioning.  It was the first time ever that the 17 year old travelled abroad, never mind race.  Until the beginning of this year, mountain biking was a mere hobby for Walker, just something to do after school.  He mostly played around on his bike, daring himself to do big jumps without getting injured.

In January he started with a proper training programme.  The best thing that could have happened to him was when Van der Walt noticed him and realized that he was a rough mountain-biking diamond who, with the right polishing, could be a champion in the making.

According to Van der Walt, he admired Walker’s attitude when he interviewed him the first time. “Travis thinks like a winner even though he lacks experience.”

Walker did not disappoint, finishing fourth in the cross-country race for junior boys.

According to Walker, there was no time for unsettled pre-race nerves. “My concern in both races was to figure out as quickly as possible who the main contenders were and then to make sure that I stuck with them.  After the first lap of the marathon race, I realized that I had a chance to finish on the podium.  Then it was a case of do or die for me.  I have never raced so hard!”

Afterwards Walker described his first ever attempt at international racing as ‘great fun’.

Candice Neethling caused a real surprise when she managed to win the cross-country race for junior girls, as well as the half-marathon for women (50km).  For Neethling, this opportunity to race abroad was also a first.

She described her victory in the cross-country race as ‘very exciting’.

“The course was hilly and rocky which made the racing quite hard.  I had to stay focused all the time, but I enjoyed every moment of it.

“To be quite honest, I have to admit that I was very nervous before the beginning of the cross-country race.”

Stewart finished ninth in the elite cross-country race and was second in the open category of the marathon race, which was won by a rider from New-Zealand.

It did not bother Van der Walt. “I told Brandon afterwards not to worry.  Today (Sunday) a second position is good enough, especially after the Bulls’ convincing victory against the Chiefs in the final of the Super 14 rugby series on Saturday.”