High Fives to our friends at BikeRadar for the great story about The Specialized Foundation and how it all got started by the vision of Specialized President and Founder Mike Sinyard. Then read on and get inspired to learn how the current Under 23 XCO World Champion Alan Hatherly will be racing alongside the former champion Sam Gaze for the 2019 Absa Cape Epic. The rainbow stripes duo are however not just racing for themselves, they are riding for good causes – in the form of The Specialized Foundation and the Spur Schools League.

In the early daya, The Specialized Team circa 1974.

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Specialized Founder Mike Sinyard on the Power of the Bicycle

"This is much bigger than Specialized, this is much bigger than the bike industry. It has the potential to really help kids".

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Alan Hatherly and Sam Gaze team up for Cape Epic

Having spent four years in the Spur Schools League as a high school student the South African and 2018 Under 23 XCO World Champion is undoubtedly the series’ greatest success story to date. At the 2019 Absa Cape Epic Alan Hatherly will take the next step in his career, racing alongside former U23 XCO World Champion, Sam Gaze. The pair are however not just racing for themselves, they are riding for good causes – in the form of The Specialized Foundation and the Spur Schools League.

In South Africa, the Spur Schools League is a phenomenal success story. The Spur Schools Mountain Bike League is about introducing more learners to bikes and encouraging South African schools to adopt mountain biking as an official sport. With these simple aims the Spur Schools Mountain Bike League has built a strong cross-country racing format, with four events taking place in each province between May and September. In 2018 over 5,000 students, from 500 primary and high schools across the country, took part in Schools League events. In total, 20,000 race entries were received during the 60 event provincial series.

The Specialized Foundation team is exceptionally proud to have Hatherly and Gaze racing for their cause. “I founded The Specialized Foundation on the profound belief that cycling changes lives,” said Mike Sinyard, Founder and CEO of Specialized. “Imagine a day in the near future when doctors prescribe a bike ride as treatment for ADHD. This is bigger than Specialized. This is about how the cycling industry can come together to change the world for the better — and we’re inviting everyone to join us in making that happen.”

For more information on the Spur Schools League click on www.spurmtbleague.co.za.

'Round the World News-The Specialized Foundation