{"id":17097,"date":"2017-02-12T14:05:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-12T14:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2017\/02\/12\/second-success-for-dalton-at-sa-road-champs-r6132\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T07:12:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T07:12:05","slug":"second-success-for-dalton-at-sa-road-champs-r6132","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/second-success-for-dalton-at-sa-road-champs-r6132\/","title":{"rendered":"Second success for Dalton at SA Road Champs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cooler, but still very warm Western Cape temperatures greeted the Elite, U23 and Junior Women at the start of their Road Races for the 2017 South African National Road Championships in Wellington on Saturday 11 February. Team Demacon\u2019s Heidi Dalton rode away to take both the Elite as well as U23 Women\u2019s titles after claiming the U23 Time Trial win on Thursday.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-32846200-1486908324.jpg\"<\/a>Heidi Dalton raced across the finish line to take the Elite Women’s and U23 Road Race victory at the 2017 SA Road Championships in Wellington on Saturday 11 February. Photo: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 127,8km course, which consisted of ten laps around the Lady Loch circuit through farmlands and vineyards, offered something new on each lap.<\/p>\n

The first break attempt came from Sanet Coetsee, 19km into the race, but was quickly swallowed by the bunch. Michelle Benson then made an attack at 28km, in but was soon also caught.<\/p>\n

The real fighting began 49km into the race, where Demacon\u2019s Elmarie de Wet kept her breakaway (often over two minutes ahead) for close to 40km.<\/p>\n

The next 15km displayed aggressive riding and attacks from Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and An-Li Kachelhoffer, and soon, there was a lead bunch of eight riders, which included Dalton, Yzette Oelofse, Juanita Venter, Chane Jonker and Samantha Sanders.<\/p>\n

More attacks by Moolman-Pasio and Kachelhoffer were seen, but soon both riders were back in the bunch.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-88388000-1486908331.jpg\"<\/a>The Elite Women’s and U23 Road Race took place in the stunning setting of Wellington at the 2017 SA Road Championships on Saturday 11 February. Photo: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct<\/span><\/p>\n

At the start of the last lap, Dalton broke off the leading group to ride solo and open up a gap. Her time gaps began to grow from 37 seconds, to 47 seconds, and before long, close to two minutes ahead, and rode to victory over the line in a time of three hours, 43 minutes and 37.572 seconds.<\/p>\n

On her victory, Dalton said: \u201cToday was absolutely awesome, I mean, I\u2019m still under 23 so the main goal was to get the under 23 jersey, but to get both of them is just absolutely incredible. I\u2019m really, really over the moon. I gave it everything I had and I\u2019m really enjoying this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dalton spoke of teammate Elmarie de Wet who worked hard for the team as well. \u201cShe went up the road for a couple of laps and we sat on and relaxed little bit while she gave it her all\u201d said Dalton.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-91755000-1486908316.jpg\"<\/a>Elmari de Wet worked out in front for 40km in the Elite Women’s and U23 Road Race at the 2017 SA Road Championships in Wellington on Saturday 11 February. Photo: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy other teammate Carla (Oberholzer) covered a lot of moves out there as well. My team manager, Dave, has been absolutely incredible and been with me forever, so it was really just a team effort today and I\u2019m super chuffed to be the SA Champ,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Second position in the Elite Women\u2019s race went to An-Li Kachelhoffer (Bestmed ASG), with Time Trial Champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo Bigla) crossing the line in third.<\/p>\n

Michelle Benson won the silver medal in the U23 Women\u2019s Road Race. \u201cToday was hot, and very hard,\u201d she said. Benson added that after she had seen Dalton had a chance of the win, she tried her best to stick as hard as could in order to get the second spot on the podium.<\/p>\n

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Video highlights:<\/h2>\n

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