Pump for Peace is a professional mountain bike team with a difference. The team brings its riders from marginalized countries and communities to pave the way for them to become professional cyclists on the world stage. The goal is to help its riders become leaders and through them inspire their communities to dream big while embracing the healthy lifestyle that cycling promotes. The team will focus on the UCI World Cup Series cross-country races, continental championships and selected stage races, including the 2023 Cape Epic.

The team was founded in 2022 as an extension of pump track construction company Velosolutions' Pump for Peace initiative and has already been working hard to break down barriers for future generations of mountain bikers from difficult backgrounds.

Unathi Nxumalo reaches for the stars

The 20-year-old comes from Hammarsdale, a rural village outside Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The talented Nxumalo finished fifth at the 2022 African Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Windhoek, Namibia, and has achieved numerous top 10 finishes in South African elite cross-country races. He is a versatile cyclist who does well on the mountain bike as well as on the road and in gravel races.

Nxumalo is studying agriculture at AgriColleges International and his studies are sponsored by the KZN Department of Sports and Recreation. He is taking part in a cycling development program run by Absolute Motion and his coach Johann Wykerd. "I'm excited to join the Pump For Peace team," says Nxumalo ahead of the team's first training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa. "Working with the team and all the sponsors will help me achieve all my goals. I want to become South African champion, ride world championships and also the Olympics."

"Unathi is exactly the rider we were looking for," says Pump For Peace Team Manager Ariane Lüthi. "He is highly motivated and has enough experience to ride cross-country races at World Cup level. He was lucky that he was already so well looked after by his coach Johann. We hope that he will continue to develop when he gets more contact with international races through our team."

Endura and Orbea strengthen the team

Scottish cycling clothing brand Endura is well known in cycling circles and is worn by some of the world's best road cycling, mountain biking and triathlon teams and riders. The team will wear customized Endura gear and be protected by the FS260-PRO helmet with MIPS Brain Protection System. A special jersey for Faranak will help her withstand the Iranian heat in which she trains, with an extra-lightweight long-sleeved jersey and leggings.

The well-known bicycle manufacturer Orbea from the Spanish Basque Country is also supporting the Pump For Peace Racing Team. The riders will compete on the recently presented Orbea Oiz 2023. The new Oiz is an uncompromising cross-country racing machine with 120 millimetres of suspension travel. It brings extra fun to every ride without compromising on weight or efficiency.

Endura and Orbea join existing sponsors Sram, Vittoria, Rockshox, Crankbrothers and Wahoo.

The coming season

The first races for the Pump For Peace Racing team are scheduled for this weekend in South Africa. The team is on the hunt for UCI points at the South African and Western Province XCO Cup races in Stellenbosch. From February 9 to 12, Unathi and Tumelo will be testing their legs and equipment at the four-day Tankwa Trek stage race in preparation for the Cape Epic. Faranak will team up with South African U23 rider Andrea Schöfmann at the Tankwa event. The notoriously hot and rugged but spectacular Tankwa Karoo region will help build endurance ahead of the cross-country season.

The 2023 team will compete in various races, with a focus on the Cape Epic from March 19 to 26 and the Cross-Country World Cup from June to September. The team will also be keeping an eye on the Pump For Peace riders at the continental championships in Africa in April and in Asia at the end of August, as well as at the Asian Games in September.

pumpforpeace.com