The team will be powered by Felt bicycles and driven by Subaru adding to the already impressive list of partners the team is also endorsed by PVM nutrition, Maxxis, Joe’s No-flats, UVEX, Muc off and EBC brakes. Jock Green previously from team Barloworld commented that the team is just as well looked after if not better than he was when he was based in Europe with the Barloworld team clearly taking MTB’ing in SA to a new level.

Best of luck to the new team members with the new bikes, and new sponsors.

The team will be based in South Africa and will be focussing mostly on the bigger local races like the ABSA Cape Epic, Subaru Sani2C and the National series events but will also include an international stint in conjunction with the team’s European partner adidas with races to be confirmed.

The star rider on the team is none other than “Mr African” himself, Mannie Heymans who has in his career won the ’98 Trans Alp 8 day MTB race, the African MTB Champs in ’99, ’01 & ’03, also the 2004 Cape Epic, as well as finishing a credible 26th at the Sydney Olympic Games. Heymans will be paired with compatriot Marc Bassingthwaighte who stands to gain lots from the vast experience Heymans built up over his illustrious career.

The addition of the two Pretoria (South Africa) based youngsters Philip Buys and Francois Theron further proves the team’s investment in future talent. Both riders have done exceptionally well in their short careers and at only 20 years of age and have the potential to become household names in the next three years.

The only lady on the team will be the recent winner of the recent Pick n Pay MTB Cycle Challenge in Johannesburg Samantha Oosthuysen. Oosthuysen finished off her 2008 season with a series of wins that catapulted her into the spotlight and confirmed her spot in the team for ’09.

The full team Garmin adidas powered by Felt line up looks as follows:

1.       Mannie Heymans (Namibia)

2.       Marc Bassingthwaighte (Namibia)

3.       Francois Theron (RSA)

4.       Philip Buys (RSA)

5.       Jock Green (RSA)

6.       Samantha Oosthuysen (RSA)

7.       Renato Albrecht (RSA)

8.       Shaun Mackenzie (RSA)

2009 Team Garmin adidas powered by Felt official partners:

1.       Garmin South Africa

2.       adidas

3.       Felt bicycles

4.       Subaru

5.       PVM nutrition

6.       Joe’s no flats

7.       UVEX

8.       Maxxis

9.       Muc-off

10.   EBC brakes

To keep up to speed with the team visit www.teamgarmin.co.za

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