Kyle heads for academy
By Daryn Wood
IT is all freewheeling from here for Walmer cyclist Kyle Bradford, who has been selected for the MTB Talent Support Academy, and earned himself a sponsorship.
At the end of last year Kyle, 18, came second in the EP Road Bike Championships and third in the junior male category of The Herald Cycle Tour in January.
Last week he returned from the Cape Argus Cycle Tour finishing 16th in the u-18 age group in a time of 2:56:12. A week before he was placed in the top 20 in the SA Road Champs.
The Victoria Park High matriculant has, up to now, concentrated on road and track cycling, but is now focusing on his mountain biking.
He was placed second in the Longmore Classic mountain biking event last year. As a result Kyle was selected for the talent support academy and received a sponsorship from Momsen Bikes.
"I do mostly mountain biking now, I want to grow in it,” said the Main Road resident.
He said he preferred this form of cycling because he seemed to be better at it, and "likes getting dirty”.
"It is just more adventurous. You are going over rocks and it’s just more fun.”
Kyle has been cycling for the last five years. His friend, Bay cycling star Kellan Gouveris, got him involved when he asked Kyle to join him for a ride.
He trains twice a day, every day, cycling for an hour on the road in the morning and having a two-hour mountain bike session in Kragga Kamma in the afternoon.
Kyle’s 14-year-old sister, Shannon, also has a passion for pedalling and has her Eastern Province colours in road cycling thanks to Kyle’s influence. She also attends Victoria Park High.
The young rider’s goal is to become a pro and move to Johannesburg where all the bigger teams are based.
"I also want to go overseas. You get a lot of coverage over there.”
Kyle races every weekend. His next event is the local leg of the national cross country race.