![\"ccs-62657-0-86686700-1583661796.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-86686700-1583661796-1.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>Photo credit: Chris Hitchcock.<\/span><\/p>\nWilleit, who admitted to not having had the ideal build-up and even suffering from a stomach issue earlier this week, survived early attacks from British triathlete Emma Palant to narrowly outsprint Frances Janse van Rensburg from a lead group of 12 riders that broke away up the infamous Suikerbossie climb. Willeit finished the 78km women\u2019s elite route in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 48 seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery win at the Cycle Tour is special but this was a tough one. My legs were cramping during the sprint. It was a long sprint into a headwind and I must have kicked five times in the final 500m,\u201d Willeit beamed.<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s race was characterised by early attacks and surges that started with Palant. The British rider attacked within 2km of the start and was only reeled in by the group at the top of the Smitswinkel climb.<\/p>\n
As the race turned towards Chapman\u2019s Peak, Palant was part of another breakaway of three that included Yolandi du Toit (Garmin) and Melissa Kretzinger (Customised Cycling Bioplus). But all, except Palant, were pulled back by the bunch up the famous climb before it came together in Hout Bay.<\/p>\n Up the crucial Suikerbossie climb Willeit, Catherine Colyn and Kretzinger attacked and dragged a group of six over the top. Over the final 15km the lead group swelled to 12 but Willeit proved her class in the final 100m. Janse van Rensburg finished second and former trail runner, Hayley Preen, was third.<\/p>\n Willeit has won the second most titles among the women at the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Anriette Schoeman has won the event seven times and finished in the chasing bunch.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s race, in-form Barrett upset some of the big sprint favourites to nudge out former winner Clint Hendricks (Enza) by the width of a tyre to finish in 2:30.04 for the 109km. The two were part of a lead group of 15 that broke away up Chapman\u2019s Peak and held their lead over the second bunch to the finish. Local Capetonian Jayde Julius (ProTouch) grabbed third.<\/p>\n<\/a>Photo credit: Chris Hitchcock.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Photo credit: Tobias Ginsberg.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Photo credit: Tobias Ginsberg.<\/span><\/p>\n