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<\/a>Kenton Kirkwood took the victory in the Men’s 40-44 Time Trial at Day 2 of the 2017 SA National Road Championships in Wellington on Wednesday 8 February. Photo: Double ST<\/span><\/p>\nIn the Men\u2019s 30-34 Time Trial, track cycling star Theuns van der Bank grabbed the Championship Jersey over the 27.1-kilometre course in a time of 38 minutes, 28.243 seconds. Egon Campbell took second place with Andrew Stockwell claiming the bronze medal for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n
Van der Bank, who gets his results from track cycling said: \u201cI actually enjoy road cycling the most, that\u2019s why I\u2019m so happy to have won a national title on the road at last. Now I can claim that I\u2019m a roadie as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He mentioned that the major difference between the two disciplines for him was the fact that there are always more weather conditions to factor in during a road race. \u201cThat\u2019s the real difference – I feel the wind, the heat, the rain \u2013 there\u2019s a lot more to think about,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Deno van Heerden taking a rest after the Men’s 35-39 Time Trial at Day 2 of the 2017 SA National Road Championships in Wellington on Wednesday 8 February. Photo: Double ST<\/span>\n<\/div>\nRacing in the Elite Men\u2019s team for the Road Race, Van der Bank feels that Sunday\u2019s race is going to be a difficult one. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be against a lot of the bigger cycling teams. But I think if you play it smart though, the chances of winning are always there. The preparation has been there, so I\u2019m not expecting to win but a podium would be really great,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Neil Timm rode his first race in the Men\u2019s 35-39 age group this year, and snapped up the gold medal in the category. He completed the same route as the 30-34 Men (27.1km) in a time of 38:20.948. After a second place in 30-34 last year, Timm was ecstatic. \u201cIt\u2019s a challenging route because it\u2019s undulating \u2013 you\u2019ve got to watch your power and monitor your effort. I think the wind is always a bit tricky in the Western Cape but I had a good race overall, I\u2019m very happy with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Timm felt that the road race is going to be an exciting one. \u201cThe course is one of those where small breakaways can get away and get out of sight quite easily and the heat will definitely play a big role as well,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Men\u2019s 40-44 category was dominated by KwaZulu-Natal\u2019s Kenton Kirkwood, who posted a time of 38:08.373 over the 27.1km distance. He said: \u201cThe conditions today were key, really. In the end it came down to who could suffer for the longest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirkwood mentioned that the course was very tough, and that the competitors in his category gave him a hard time out there. \u201cIt was well ridden by everyone out there today. I\u2019m very happy with my ride \u2013 it\u2019s been a tough season already,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
On the discipline itself, Kirkwood said: \u201cWe really do enjoy it though, and my sponsors (Bluff Meats Supply) have been very key to this as well. We have a great team in Durban and we are all good friends. We purely do it for the fun of it because we don\u2019t do it for anything else but the passion, which makes it such a pleasure to be here and compete.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas Marthinus Pheiffer was the Champion in the Men\u2019s 45-49 Time Trial, posting a winning time of 39:26.767. He mentioned that the choice of wheel was a tough one. \u201cThe wind wasn\u2019t blowing this morning but then it came up and then it died down again so when I went to the start line I carried two wheels with me,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
His coach advised him on the larger wheel, which ultimately paid off in the end, and Pheiffer claimed the gold medal ahead of Martin van Wyk, and third placed Graham Hulton. \u201cIt was three or four kilometres of hard work and the rest of it was with the wind, so it helped with the bigger wheel,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
The Men\u2019s 50-54 age category was the last of the morning session, and Jackie van Eeden dominated his category in a time of 40:00.467. He stood atop the podium ahead of 2016 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship silver medallist Gwyn Pine (second) and Marius Nel in third.<\/p>\n Follow the racing action live by live timing on the Mobii APP (http:\/\/www.mobii.com\/app<\/a>) available on Android and iOS devices in the relevant APP stores. Search for \u201cMobii Race Results\u201d.<\/p>\n Click here to view your finish line photo and results on Mobii: http:\/\/mobii.com\/sarc2017\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Lucas Marthinus Pheiffer claimed the gold medal in the Men’s 45-49 category Time Trial, with Martin van Wyk in second and Graham Hulton Coker in third at Day 2 of the 2017 SA National Road Championships in Wellington on Wednesday 8 February. Photo: Double ST<\/span>
This is the first time in a while where Phieffer has had four days of rest before a Road Race \u2013 he is used to only two after the Time Trial events. \u201cThe best result I\u2019ve had is a fifth place, so hopefully I\u2019ll be able to do a bit better in the Road Race this time,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n