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[Tumbleweed]

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2011


TEAM BONITAS SIGNS SA ROAD CHAMP DARREN LILL

Team Bonitas, the most successful South African professional men’s road cycling team over the past two years, has added experience and depth to its line-up by signing current South African Elite men’s road champion, Darren Lill.

Lill, a strong individual time triallist and climber and an accomplished stage racer, has made the move after uncertainty over the future of the DCM team of which he has been a member since January 2011. He is one of four South Africans that were left without a team in December 2010 when the big budget Australian-based Pegasus team was denied a ProTour licence by the International Cycling Union, forcing the team to lay off most of its riders.

The 28-year-old Lill will be based in his home city of Cape Town, but will travel to all of the major South African races as well as international events in which Bonitas is competing in 2011.

Besides the 2011 Road Champs title, Lill’s other recent successes include the bronze medal at the SA Individual Time Trial Champs, overall victory at the LeCoq Sportif Tour de Boland, a stage win at the Cell C Tour of South Africa and two stage wins and second overall at the Fairbairn Capital Old Mutual joBerg2c mountain bike race.

“I’m very excited about joining Bonitas. Partly because it’s a team with good values, talented riders and supportive sponsors, but also because it’s recently become an international team with goals to achieve success abroad,” said Lill, who’s potential to shine is far greater in international events than popular local races.

"I like to race positively, and I hope to be able to use my international experience to benefit the team all round, even when it comes to doing things such as lead-out trains for the sprinters on the team like Tyler Day," smiled Lill.

Easily one of South Africa’s top international road cyclists, Lill has been unfortunate with teams over the past few years. But he’s confident the Bonitas set-up will offer him the stability he requires to achieve his potential.

“There is a good level of mutual respect within the Bonitas team and I’ve got to know some of the more experienced team members over the years. Between Johann Rabie and myself, I believe Bonitas can be a genuine force in international stage races. I still have a good few years of racing in me and I intend to make the most of this opportunity with Bonitas.”

Since 2004, Lill has done the majority of his racing overseas, first for Italian-based Team Barloworld (2004, 2005), and then for United States-based professional teams such as, Navigators, BMC and Fly V.

“We’re very keen to have Darren on Team Bonitas. His experience and strengths will change the way we race by opening up different options, especially in tough one-day races and tours,” said Team Bonitas owner, Malcolm Lange.

“I’ve known Darren for some time. He is a great talent and has achieved some awesome results. It’s a real pity Team Pegasus didn’t work out for him. He’s already shown his class this year and we look forward to having the national road champion on our team and helping him achieve his potential.”

Lill’s first racing assignment for Team Bonitas will be the Knysna Festival in early July. Lange is currently finalising some international races for the team’s schedule in August and September, with the traditional popular domestic races in October and November to follow.

For more information on Team Bonitas, visit www.teambonitas.co.za. Follow @Team_Bonitas on twitter for live race updates.

[raptor]

Good move by bonitas

[Spat]

Lill has big local fan base, myself included, he is one to watch.

[Grondpad]

I am sure it would have already been discussed, but Bonitas has been placed under curatorship. I would think that it will affect the funding to the team?

[TNT1]

I'd like to know why Lill couldn't get a ride on a European team after Pegasus' wings melted.

[Tumbleweed]

Grondpad, on 08 June 2011 - 10:07 , said:

I am sure it would have already been discussed, but Bonitas has been placed under curatorship. I would think that it will affect the funding to the team?

Dunno… maybe they paid Lange upfront in January?

[Lucky Luke.]

TNT1, on 08 June 2011 - 10:12 , said:

I'd like to know why Lill couldn't get a ride on a European team after Pegasus' wings melted.

gotta happen next season, his entry to win ratio here is about 70%. my favourite was malmesbury - won it on the tandem with Uwe Schmidt by 20 minutes. mast challenge this year was also another massive smackdown.

[NotSoBigBen]

DCM team not 'such a popular' place at the moment ..... Max then Brandon now Darren ..... #eksemaarnet

[Tumbleweed]

BigBen, on 08 June 2011 - 10:29 , said:

DCM team not 'such a popular' place at the moment ..... Max then Brandon now Darren ..... #eksemaarnet

I wouldn't been too chuffed if I hadn't been paid since January.

[Grondpad]

BigBen, on 08 June 2011 - 10:29 , said:

DCM team not 'such a popular' place at the moment ..... Max then Brandon now Darren ..... #eksemaarnet

Any news on where Brandon is going? I read on his web page that he doesnt have any current sponsors.

[Tumbleweed]

Grondpad, on 08 June 2011 - 10:41 , said:

Any news on where Brandon is going? I read on his web page that he doesnt have any current sponsors.

Nope, but I've heard that he'll be looking to set up something like George and Evans have. Talking about his website, I see the DCM logo is still on the banner.

[Kranswurm]

Tumbleweed, on 08 June 2011 - 10:35 , said:

I wouldn't been too chuffed if I hadn't been paid since January.

This year or last years January?
I remember a thread where this was raised which turned into a fairly lively debate

[Tumbleweed]

Kranswurm, on 08 June 2011 - 11:25 , said:

This year or last years January?
I remember a thread where this was raised which turned into a fairly lively debate

I remember that. Since this January.

[TimW]

Grondpad, on 08 June 2011 - 10:07 , said:

I am sure it would have already been discussed, but Bonitas has been placed under curatorship. I would think that it will affect the funding to the team?

That is the Medical Aid scheme and not the cycling team -- and it seems to refer to bad investment management which does not put the scheme in immediate danger.

This report from Personal Finance:

"In terms of the settlement reached last week and made an order of the South Gauteng High Court, Maluleke will take over as curator of the scheme, while Van Emmenis will continue as chief operating officer.

Maluleke’s job will be to investigate the irregularities that led to the Council for Medical Schemes applying to the South Gauteng High Court in January 2009 to put Bonitas under curatorship. In particular, Maluleke will be expected to deal with the scheme’s involvement in an incomplete property development in KwaZulu-Natal and other investments that put about R80 million of members’ money at risk.

The curator is also tasked with calling an annual general meeting to elect a new board of trustees.

Bonitas’s former trustees will not be allowed to take up positions on the board of any other scheme or as principal officers, a statement on the settlement by the Council for Medical Schemes says.

In its statement, the council emphasises that Bonitas is not in any financial difficulty and that it is not at risk of failing to honour members’ claims. Bonitas has a solvency level of 37.5 percent, which is way above the legally required level of 25 percent. The scheme is being put under curatorship only to resolve its governance problems, the council says.

[andydude]

Lill's been smoking hot in the Cape (and some other places), but I doubt if any European team will sign a 28 year old (or 29 next year)? That is what I think, but I guess signing with Bonitas will help.

[Lucky Luke.]

andydude, on 08 June 2011 - 12:41 , said:

Lill's been smoking hot in the Cape (and some other places), but I doubt if any European team will sign a 28 year old (or 29 next year)? That is what I think, but I guess signing with Bonitas will help.

I can't see why he wouldn't get signed, he's still young compared to teams like Radioshack. Jens Voigt is 40 this year and still commands fear and respect. Lill has some good international results too, recent stage wins at Tour of Gila and Tour of Missouri I think.