Defending champions Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEdge) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Hitec Products) retained their Elite National Time Trial titles on day 3 of the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban.
The Elite men started earlier than normal at 7am and Impey delivered a smooth performance to keep the charging Jay Thomson (Team MTN-Qhubeka) and Conrad Stoltz (Specialized Racing) at bay along the 40km course. Impey’s winning time was 50 minutes 48 seconds with Thomson claiming silver and Stoltz, a four-time Xterra World Champion, a bronze medal.
Defending champion Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEdge) retained his Elite National Time Trial title when he blitzed the 40km course in 50 minutes and 48 seconds during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
Impey was very happy with his victory. “The route was pretty straight forward. I knew that the guys were all hungry for the win and I had to keep it consistent.
“I feel less prepared than I was for last years Champs, but sometimes with a more relaxed approach when you go into these races, it all just works out on the day. I felt confident after the Tour Down Under, and I rode very strong there. It all went well for me today.”
Elite women’s race favourite Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Hitec Products) charged to victory in a time of 42 minutes and 39 seconds in the 30km race distance during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
Elite women’s race favourite Moolman-Pasio charged to victory in a time of 42 minutes and 39 seconds in the 30km race distance. She was followed by Heidi Dalton, a newcomer to the Elite category with Leandri du Toit claiming the bronze medal.
“I prefer the technical courses, the lap structure was nice and I really enjoyed it,” said Moolman-Pasio. “The wind was strong but that also worked in my favour to a certain extent. It is great to start the year off with an SA title.
Silver medallist Jay Thomson (Team MTN-Qhubeka) during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
Moolman-Pasio is optimistic ahead of Sunday’s road race in Westville: “I will give it my best, and what will be, will be. I haven’t seen the route yet, but I hear it is quite tough, so all I can do is give of my best and hope that it works out in my favour.”
The under-23 men’s category saw Louis Meintjes (Team MTN-Qhubeka) successfully retain his title and national jersey. Racing along the same 40km course as the Elite Men, Meintjes clocked the fastest time of 51 minutes 36 seconds. Silver went to Nicholas Dougall, with bronze going to Rohan du Plooy.
Heidi Dalton claimed a silver medal in her first year in the Elite women’s class during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
The Junior Men’s race presented a large field of competitors, all eager for the title. It was Gustav Basson who claimed the national title in this hotly contested class along the 30km course, in a time of 40 minutes and 19 seconds, just one second ahead of silver medalist Ivan Venter. Bronze went to Stefan de Bod, who finished a further 26-seconds back.
It was the Junior Women that wrapped up the day’s racing over a distance of 21km with Michelle Benson taking gold in a time of 32 minutes and 27 seconds. Monique Gerber claimed silver, only 7-secons behind, with Bianca Haw claiming bronze.
Team EuropcarSA’s Paul van Zweel Jnr during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
Race organizer Kelvin du Sart has been pleased with the positive race feedback from the Time Trial along the Durban beachfront, but he now focuses on the road race route in Westville for the remainder of the event.
The M13 will be closed to traffic from 45th Cutting, all the way until where the M13 almost meets the N3. Both the eastbound and westbound carriageways will be closed. Cyclists can access the route from 5am.
Cherise Stander on her TT bike, shortly before she had to switch to her road bike after her rear tyre came off, during the Time Trial at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Durban on Thursday 6 February. Photo credit: Mylene Paynter
For more information, please visit our dedicated 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships web page to download the TT start list and times, as well as the Race Bible for all information pertaining to the race. The full race route description can also be viewed here.
Full race results for each category are available here. This link also provides live timing during the race.
Great to see that Orica gave Impey time to come and defend his title .
Well deserved !