“CSA don’t see this from a rider’s point of view” – Western Cape Downhill issues statement
In response to the comments in the media by CyclingSA on the article we published on the Unusually small SA Team announced for UCI DH World Championships, the Chairperson of Western Cape Downhill has issued us with this statement.
Western Cape Downhill is administered by a voluntary group of people, like it is across all cycling disciplines in CSA — in other words, we have normal day jobs and do this for the love of the sport. We represent the largest number of Downhill Racers in South Africa, but in relation to the other cycling disciplines, Downhill has a smaller contingent of participants.
We only became aware of the changes to the selection criteria for the South African Team (for the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships) in March 2024. Since then we have been in contact with the Mountain Bike Commission at CSA, trying to avert this situation we find ourselves in. Up until now, we have not gone to the press at any point and have tried to work through the internal structures to avoid this scenario.
What we would like to see is CSA focus more on what’s best for the riders, especially since CSA have no funds. Comparing themselves to international standards of other cycling federations when they don’t have government funding to the same extent as those federations, makes no sense. CSA has different challenges and should focus on what’s best for South African Athletes.
It is the position of WC DH, that allowing a bigger quota of riders to represent the country allows these riders to attract sponsors. Since these riders pay for everything themselves (it costs CSA or the country nothing) they should not be stopped by CSA from participating. Most of the riders that should be included in the team, are in Europe already, where the World Championships will take place.
There has to be limits to who can compete and we believe whilst the selection criteria hasn’t served the talent of riders we have, it merely needs some slight adjustments, to make it a fair criteria for the racers. Currently, due to financial reasons, this new selection criteria makes it incredibly difficult or almost impossible for riders to gain international experience and meet the demands of the selection policy. For riders to travel all over South Africa and then expected to travel all over the world to get experience without backing from CSA, shows that CSA don’t see this from a rider’s point of view.
Something we could do, is register our Nationals on the UCI calendar to allow our riders to score more points, but this requires money and will not expose riders to international standards that are required to be competitive.
We also understand there are challenges at CSA. These challenges are mainly due to CSA being mostly a voluntary organisation, with limited funds to carry out whats best for all riders. We are committed to working with CSA for what we feel is best for the riders.
Chris Nixon – Western Cape Downhill Chairperson
