DSV Shift Academy celebrates a successful year

On the 6th of November 2024, the DSV Shift Academy proudly hosted its graduation ceremony in Paarl, Cape Town, to celebrate the achievements of its newest class of cycling graduates. The recently appointed Executive Mayor of Drakenstein, Stephen Korabie, joined the event, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in driving skills development and investing in South Africa's youth.

The DSV Shift Academy, a partnership between DSV and Lange Sports, was launched in 2021 to provide young, aspiring cyclists from underprivileged communities with an opportunity to develop their talent both on and off the bike.

Based at the Faure Stadium in Paarl, the Velodrome provides an ideal "home base" for the young cyclists, aged 13 to 18, to prepare for upcoming races, receive physical and physiological coaching, undergo life skills training, and study after school.

Johan Dekker, Managing Director for DSV Solutions, South Africa, highlighted the academy's alignment with DSV's values, saying "As a responsible organisation, DSV is committed to promoting sustainability, education, healthcare, and social well-being. Healthy living and youth development are key focus areas in our business, and through our sponsorship of organisations that share our values, like the DSV Shift Academy and SA Rugby Legends Association, we aim to inspire active lifestyles while nurturing young talent into well-rounded, responsible adults."

Marius Schoeman, CEO of the SA Rugby Legends Association, who was in attendance added, "As one of our key partners, DSV's support of the SA Rugby Legends Association helps us to further our commitment in creating opportunities and investing in youth development at grassroots level. We would like to congratulate DSV on the success of the DSV Shift Academy and the growth of this programme."

In 2024, the cyclists represented DSV's colours in races across South Africa, with some of the cyclists reaching podium finishes on the international stage. Reflecting on the year, DSV Shift Academy Coach Elrick Kulsen shared, "2024 was a year of hard work for the academy, and it showed in the results that were achieved at the Western Cape and National Championships. Our cyclists brought home an impressive 33 medals, including 8 Western Cape tiles, and 43 medals including 12 National titles. with six cyclists winning gold. Their dedication also showed in our road racing results, with the academy securing 12 road race victories and multiple Top 5 finishes."

The graduation ceremony was a momentous occasion, honouring each cyclist's accomplishments and provided an opportunity to celebrate their hard work, dedication, and successes alongside fellow teammates, family, coaches, and sponsors.

Malcolm Lange, Co-founder of the DSV Shift Academy expressed his pride in the young cyclists, saying "As the co-founder of the DSV Shift Academy, it has been an absolute joy to witness each child's achievements. It all starts with committing to the hours of training, giving up weekends to go to races, and learning to become part of an Academy where we all care about each other. The daily highlights for me personally are when I see healthy, well-balanced, and happy children who positively contribute to society. We are extremely grateful to DSV and all their staff who believe and share our vision of supporting youth. Each child and our support staff has inspired us in 2024."

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