Garmin Southern Africa has partnered with Yolandi du Toit, a South African mountain biker as the company's brand ambassador. She will be riding in her own design of Garmin branded kit as well as training using the company's equipment, says Garmin.
According to Garmin, with the help of its equipment, Du Toit will be able to monitor her heart rate, record her speed, distance, route, tracks and altitude. The vector power meter pedals will also assist her in training where the measuring tools will record the power output from the pedal.
"Garmin is extremely proud to partner with an inspiring athlete like Yolandi. She is a great cyclist, brand ambassador and person. We have found a partner who shares our values and we look forward to supporting each other during the course of the year" says Walter Mech, CEO of sub-Saharan Africa.
Du Toit and her partner in this year's Absa Cape Epic took second place in the SA ladies team category in the event which took place from 23 March to 30 March 2014. She started her professional cycling career in 2004 at the age of 18 while completing school at the University of Potchefstroom. She formed part of the Liberty Ladies cycling team and was offered a contract with a Belgium team, Lotto Belisol. After fulfilling her cycling ambitions she decided to switch to mountain biking in 2009 in search of new challenges.
Du Toit says she was introduced to cycling by her mother who needed a training partner. "My dad was the first one in the family to take up cycling. He heard of the famous Argus and dragged my mom along on training rides, but he soon got too strong for her. She needed a new training partner and asked me to join her on a ride one day. I can't remember much about that specific day, only that I was 12 years old and that I enjoyed it so much that I went out the following day, and the following day and haven't stopped since," says Du Toit.
"Consumers in SA, and Africa at large, can expect a range of new tools and technology from the GPS lifestyle company going forward," says Mech.
"Satellite navigation in the rest of Africa is an emerging market, and our intention is to begin delivering products more suited to that particular geography." He adds that Garmin intends to make all technologies available at the most reasonable cost by working with local partners.
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