A little bit about me, my name is Nic White, and I have enjoyed a South African based pro cycling career spanning 13 years. Many more than that have been about riding and racing bicycles. From the age of 15 or so, I have been in love with the aspect of going out and riding a bicycle.
Some of the highlights of my racing career have been the 2008 UCI Africa tour winner. 2007 African Champion. Multiple winner of Tours du Maroc, winner of theTour of South China seas (Hong Kong), the Giro del Capo and Tour de Eden (SA). Stage wins in Granitier Breton (France), FBD Milk Ras (Ireland), Tour of Serbia, Mi-Aout Bretone (France), Rapport tours (SA). I have placed high up in many tours, and worn a fair amount of leaders jerseys. For the most part this has always been in the road racing arena, until post retirement from full time pro racing, when I became more into the mountain bike riding scene.
Accompanied by many race wins in South Africa over the period, the break through being in 1997, when I won the inaugural 94.7. My best year on the local scene probably 1999, with wins at the EP Herald, Race for Victory, Tour Durban, Amashova, and a mountain jersey in Giro Del Capo, 3rd overall. Stage win at the Rapport tour and 3rd Overall.
My final race ended up being the Momentum 94.7 cycle challenge again, and I won it for the second time. Ending my full time career on a high note.
The teams that I rode for during my career:
- 1993-1994 - Lanco watches (Beveren wielerklub)
- 1995 BMW M-Tel
- 1996 Deo Gloria (Kortrijk Groenigige Spurters)
- 1997 Belgian Club : Kortrijk Groenigige Spurters
- 1998 AIG Insurance
- 2000-2004 HSBC
- 2005-2006 Microsoft
- 2007-2008 MTN
- 2009-2010 Medscheme
- 2011-2012 Toyota CSA Cycling Academy manager
- 2013-2015 EuropcarSA Cycling Team manager
- 2016 - 2017 RoadCover Cycling Team manager
- 2018 - 2019 Officeguru Racing - associate
In 2011 I joined Cycle Lab, a retail bike store. Involved in sales and assisting other aspects of the store, I learnt more to the art of the cycle industry, and gained a love of mountain biking and in particular, single speed mountain bikes. This became, and still is a passion, and I had the opportunity to race a few events, in a strange way, on rigid steel single speed bikes, and with some success. Old Mutual’s joBerg2c became my preferred event over the years from 2011-2013, and twice on SS bikes. Riding mostly with Grant Usher - my single speed mentor!
Along with riding mountain bikes, I became involved in a development team, as a team mentor and ‘manager’. Aimed at the u23 level, we have had 2 years of sponsorship from Toyota and CSA, and run from CycleLab Supercycling club. We have helped developed young riders and the most successful have been Louis Meintjes and Willie Smit. Others who have moved on to bigger opportunities have been Johan van Zyl, and Christian Kriek.
The following opportunity was running the team of EuropcarSA, in the same guise as a development team, with mostly u23 riders, all be a few just over that age, and with the intention of developing riders and their abilities. Most are students and their development in life includes them riding and racing bicycles. Along with the u23 Team EuropcarSA, we have created an academy to assist younger riders and hope to nurture talent to spread into the u23 level.
On a personal note, I am still racing mountain bikes, in my age category, which is now post 40.. I have enjoyed some success, with a masters podium in the ABSA Cape Epic in 2016 & 2014, with partners Adi Enthoven and Warren Squires respectively. In 2017 a slower year, winning the solo category of the Old Mutual joBerg2C being the highlight of the year for me.
I have always enjoyed the passion of a bike ride with a destination as the purpose, mostly a far flung destination. Borne from this was my Big Sky Ride through Lesotho, scaling some altitudes, and fabulous mountain passes. This is still a in progress, and although changed shape slightly, but still mountain bike based, and with a mountain or two to ride. We have had many bike trips and dubbed the participants, members of the 2.mile.high.club! Just because it was started on that road up at 3200m above sea level in Lesotho!
I still enjoy riding my bike, where ever it may be, and I am willing to pass on some of the knowledge I have gained. Along with my wife Di, we will be able to assist people in their cycling goals under White Inc.