Pro cyclist Neil MacDonald retires after 15 years

With 15 years under his belt since competing on a professional cycling level, Poortview resident Neil MacDonald said it was more than the right time for him to retire from professional cycling.

“I’m leaving the competitive world of cycling knowing in my heart that I am content with what I have achieved and how I conducted myself in all aspects of the sport.”

In his 15-year career, for the first 12 years, he had been on the road scene representing top South African cycling teams.

“I also competed in my country 14 times at international competitions.”

For the past three years, MacDonald made a switch in his career and focused more on mountain biking which, he says, it turned out to be his true passion.

“I was able to notch up some impressive results in a short period of time which, among others, included two-time winner of the Old Mutual 9 Day Joburg2C, three-time Absa Cape Epic Finisher and twice the winner of Subaru Sanic2C.

Attributing them for his success, he thanked his family for their support throughout his career.

“It’s not an easy lifestyle to be a professional sportsman, and if it was not for my wife Catherine, my seven-year-old daughter Kaitlyn and the rest of the MacDonald clan, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to follow my passion for so long.”

The retirement is not the end of relationship between MacDonald and cycling. “Now my attention is on giving back to the sport that gave me so much over the years.”

MacDonald added that to ensure that development happens at grassroots level, he has partnered with cyclist Tony Harding and they formed a company called Strategic Cycling. The duo plans to focus on the development of cycling. “We are busy with some schools in the area, where we want to see the possibility of cycling being introduced as one of extra-curricular activity at schools.”

According to MacDonald, Harding is one of the people who played a role in in making cycling a success in the country.

MacDonald also has plans to develop Little Falls Resort and develop a mountain bike trail at the resort.