08 November 2012 – South African cyclists opened their medal tally today at the African Continental Road Cycling Championships in Ougadougou, Birkina Faso with a gold and silver medal in the women’s individual time trial.
Elite women Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and An-Li Pretorius finished first and second respectively on the flat, 10.6 kilometre circuit, in sweltering forty-degree Celsius weather. Vera Adrien of Namibia finished in third position, as they clearly outrode their rivals. The women had to complete two laps.
The team’s success in this opening event has not come without its tribulations, as most of the team arrived in Birkina Faso on Tuesday without bicycles and luggage! Team manager George Cornelissen has been working around the clock to assist those hapless team members with alternative arrangements, as their bicycles were only expected to arrive later today (Thursday).
A team was thus unable to participate in the team time trail event. Using a borrowed road bicycle and takkies, junior team member Ryan Felgate put in a gutsy performance to finish his individual time trial in 4th place overall, whilst Nicol Germishuizen, also using borrowed equipment, finished 6th overall.
Cycling South Africa can now confirm that the missing bicycles and luggage arrived in Birkina Faso, late this afternoon.
Some poor spelling i think. its Burkina Faso but anyhow, they should have prepared betterfor this, full knowing that multiple flights are involved.