Barloworld to South Africa

The Barloworld team will also be racing in South Africa this month, as Ryan Cox, Tiaan Kannemeyer, Giosuè Bonomi, Felix Cardenas and Rodney Green head south for the Giro del Capo, March 8-12. The team describes this event as a "major objective" and is likely looking for a repeat of last year's domination in which Kannemeyer won two stages and the general classification and Cox was second overall.

Barloworld will face opposition from an interesting source: the pairing of Dutch riders Robert Slippens and Danny Stam, better known as stars of the Six-Day Madison racing circuit on the track. Slippens and Stam will be joining local Team CVT/CSC for the Giro del Capo.

"Stam and Slippens will be using the Giro del Capo as preparation for the World Championships, to be held in Bordeaux in April. They're hoping for gold this year after winning silver last year and bronze in 2004," says CVT/CSC team manager Chris Willemse Snr.

Slippens and Stam will be supported by Chris Willemse Jnr, Konrad Siebrits and Mark Degenaar.