Gert Heyns and Biogen are new additions to the Valley Electrical Titan Racing team for 2023.
Article Credit: TREAD Media
As one of South Africa’s leading sports supplement brands, Biogen has increased its commitment to mountain biking in 2023
In addition to being a long-time sponsor of major mountain bike races and selected mountain bike trails parks, Biogen has added some high-profile mountain bike racers to #TeamRed for this year.
Biogen’s Commitment to Mountain Bike Racers
Mountain biking is one of Biogen’s primary focus markets and the brand’s Perform-X Range is ideally suited to providing committed mountain bikers with high-quality energy, recovery and peripheral support products, which come in powdered mix drinks, ready-made mix drinks, capsules, effervescent tablets, gels and bars.
In addition to its significant backing of UCI events, Attakwas Extreme, Tankwa Trek and Cape Pioneer Trek (in conjunction with Momentum Medical Scheme), Biogen also supports a number of other established South African mountain bike events as well as the MTO Garden Route MTB Trails in Plettenberg Bay.
Biogen has supported both individual athletes and teams in various sports for more than a decade and will increase that support this year, adding South Africa’s double-Olympian and top-ranked international female racer, Candice Lill and the Valley Electrical Titan Racing team to its athlete programme.
South Africa’s top female mountain bike racer, Candice Lill | Photo: Craig Kolesky
South Africa’s Double-Olympian, Candice Lill
“It’s an honour to be partnering with one of, if not THE premium sports nutrition brand in South Africa. Biogen always has such a big presence at major mountain bike races and I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together as a partnership. We have some cool ideas to build up the women’s side of mountain biking that I’m looking forward to being a part of,” said Lill.
“As a professional athlete it’s comforting to know that my nutrition supplement brand is firmly against the use of drugs in sport. And to back that up, they have reserved batches of certain performance-focussed products that are sent through the Informed Choice and Informed Sport testing and certification process in the UK. This is really important when you invest so much into a professional sports career,” added Lill.
“As a South African athlete, it’s awesome to partner with a proudly South African brand. I have been using Biogen products throughout December and January in my training and am impressed with the quality and the broad range. From a favourites perspective so far, I’m loving the grape-flavoured Cytogen and Carbogen carb drinks – it tastes like a fizz pop sucker to me! I also enjoy the Strawberry Recovergen and the Beetroot and Pumpkin Energy Gel. Never thought that would be something I’d consume on the bike, but it’s really good! And I do also enjoy the Chocolate and Caramel nougat bars. They’re tasty and so easy to chew while riding,” grinned Lill.
Bronze medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Lill is once again aiming high and has a few primary goals for 2023.
“I want to win the Cape Epic this year, with Mariske Strauss as my partner. We have been second a few times, but I’m hoping we can pull off the win this year. And then in Cross-Country, which is my main discipline, I want to win the National and Continental titles and finish in the top 10 at a World Cup,” said Lill.
Leading professional team, Valley Electrical Titan Racing, appreciates Biogen’s Informed Sport batch testing for improved peace of mind.
Valley Electrical Titan Racing team for 2023
Biogen’s backing of the Valley Electrical Titan Racing team will see a number of strong mountain bike racers enjoying the benefits of high-quality Biogen products for racing and recovery. The team is headed up by former Junior African Champion, Rossouw Bekker and includes multi-discipline racers, HB Kruger and Tiffany Keep and mountain bike racing specialist Matt Key. A new addition for 2023 is former Elite South African XCO and Marathon Champion, Gert Heyns.
“As the Valley Electrical Titan Racing Team, we are super excited to be partnering up with Biogen for the 2023 season. As a team, it’s always difficult to find a nutrition brand that firstly works for everyone and then also offers a good range of products that fulfils everyone’s needs,” said Rossouw Bekker, team owner.
