The 2013 Clover SA National Junior, U23 & Elite Road Cycling & Time Trial Championships kicked of yesterday with the individual time trial, followed by today’s team time trial in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
The time trial sees participants race against the clock in an effort to post the fastest time of the day. Full accolades go to Olympian Daryl Impey, racing for the international Orica GreenEdge Cycling team, winning the 32,6 kilometre Elite men’s time trial in 42 minutes 53,460 seconds, with an average speed of 45,612km/h. It was Jay Thomson (Team MTN-Qhubeka) who posted the second fastest time of 43’09”410 with Johan Rabie (Tasol-GT) rounding out the podium in 43’35”470.
Fellow Olympian Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Lotto Belisol) claimed the women’s championship jersey when she completed the 33,0km course in 50 minutes 31 seconds, ousting Lee-zaan Hinrichsen (Bestmed ASG Woman’s Cycling Team) into second place (52’40”) with Lise Olivier third (53’08”).
“Yesterday was a perfect day,” said Cycling SA road director Hendrik Wagener. “The weather was extremely hot, but the full road closure on the TRAC N4 and cycle safety at the event was well received.”
Cyclists such as Impey as well as the pro continental Team MTN-Qhubeka praised the organisers on a world-class event.
“It is always great to receive excellent feedback from our riders, and to know that the event has achieved the high standard it was aiming for,” continued Wagener.
The under 23 men’s race was won by Louis Meintjes (Team MTN-Qhubeka) in 43’41” with JC Nel (Team MTN-Qhubeka) claiming second in 44’21” and Willie Smit (Team Bonitas) third (45’16”).
Participants in the junior category showed immense talent, with Ryan Felgate (Team ASG) and Heidi Dalton taking charge in their races. Felgate completed the 33,0km course in 46’29”, and Dalton completed her 15,0km challenge in 24’22”.
Today however, the participants of the Team Time Trial event were exposed to entirely different conditions, and had to contest their race in the rain. Heavy rains on Thursday night and this morning created very wet roads, yet the day ended without incident.
Top honours went to the MTN-Qhubeka World Cycling Centre Africa team, completing the course in 1 hour 13 minutes and 29 seconds, with Team ASG finishing in second position (01:14:03) with Team Europcar third (01:15:04).
The winning team acts as the development squad to Team MTN-Qhubeka powered by Samsung, and the team riders were JC Nel, Calvin Beneke, Alem Grmay, Tesfu Redge, Getachew Yohans and Estifanos Gebresilassie.
Full results can be downloaded on the dedicated National Champs web page.
Saturday 2 March: Road Races – Women
- Elite Women – Start Mbombela Stadium – 2 laps (112km)
- Junior Women – Start Mbombela Stadium – 1 lap (60km)
Sunday 3 March: Road Races – Men
- U23 and Elite Men – Start Mbombela Stadium – 3 laps (160km)
- Junior Men – Start Mbombela Stadium – 2 laps (112km)
Late entries will be accepted for the road race only, and close on Saturday at 17:00. For any further information, results, route maps and stage profiles, please visit http://www.cyclingsa.com/National-Champs-Discipline.aspx?uid=10&fid=9
