![\"ccs-62657-0-42327500-1479395688.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-42327500-1479395688.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cGreen are the hills of Natal\u201d. The world\u2019s best professional women road cyclists explored the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands on a 118-kilometre route that tested their mettle at the KZN Summer Series for Women – Queen Sibiya Classic – in Pietermaritzburg and surrounds on Thursday 17 November 2016. Photo credit: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct<\/span><\/p>\nFrom roughly 10 kilometres into the race, there were attempts at breakaways on the descents, but they were all contained within 30 seconds. With a strong tempo early on, it was at this point that riders started dropping from the main bunch.<\/p>\n
The peloton remained together through the meandering hills of the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal Midlands towards Nottingham Road, where the route took the riders past Rosetta through to Mooi River. Heine, the previous day\u2019s winner, could always be seen in the top five at the front of the peloton.<\/p>\n
At the 18-kilometre mark, riders were greeted with the most exquisite views and scenery that the lush, green Midlands had to offer. Time Freight eTeam\u2019s Zanele Tshoko made an attempt to head up the front of the group at 19 kilometres, while the race was taking its early toll on the back of the field with riders dropping off the main bunch.<\/p>\n
After several failed breakaway attempts, five riders made a decisive break at the 46-kilometre mark. Heine, Vilmann and Oberholzer with South African Candice Neethling (Pretoria Box Pro Cycling) and Namibian Vera Adrian (Time Freight eTeam) extended their lead to two minutes 28 seconds until just under 97 kilometres into the race.<\/p>\n
Then, the unique and most-talked about section was upon them as they prepared to tackle the district gravel road en route to Curry\u2019s Post, just past the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in the Lions River Valley. At this point, the pace slowed as the intense climb began, with Adrian and Neethling dropping back slightly at the 100-kilometre mark.<\/p>\n With the lead trio of Heine, Vilmann and South Africa\u2019s hope of a podium, Oberholzer, on their own in the front, they powered ahead through the Main Street in Howick and back to Midmar Dam where, in a repeat of yesterday\u2019s action, Heine calculated her winning move to perfection once again.<\/p>\n Race winner, Norway\u2019s Vita Heine (HITEC Products) said: \u201cAt about 40 or 50 kilometres, our team was covering every attack so we started to attack as well. When it was my turn I was lucky and got a big gap with four others. We were then together all the way until the gravel. In the gravel, I put in a little bit more speed until there were only three of us girls going to the finish together. Then I attacked \u2013 it was fun! The gravel wasn\u2019t different or hard for me in any way; I\u2019ve had much worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Second-placed Dane Marie Vilmann (Cervelo-Bigla) said: \u201cToday\u2019s race was a little bit easier than yesterday\u2019s but it was still really hard. We were lucky with the team, who were covering when there were attacks. Suddenly I just went away with the right people including Vita Heine from HITEC. Then we were five girls, and we all worked together until the gravel section, which was really hard. There was a lot of climbing and everybody was tired from yesterday. Vita managed to attack on the second-to-last corner and I just tried so hard, but I was so tired. I am very happy to have finished second.\u201d<\/p>\n South African Carla Oberholzer (Demacon Cycling Team) finished in third place: \u201cAfter yesterday\u2019s stage, I wasn\u2019t disappointed. It was an okay race but I really hoped to do better today. And then when I saw the move going I realised the quality of girls that was in the move and I just knew I had to go in there and do my absolute best because it was going to be my best shot at good results.<\/p>\n \u201cTo be the only South African on the podium is really something special as well and a great honour. I had a very good support system and an amazing team and amazing sponsors who really make life so much easier so it\u2019s a great privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n South African Steven Sergeant, who is the Team Manager for Norwegian-based HITEC Products, said: \u201cIt was fantastic bringing my team out. We planned this quite late in the season and arrived here with three sprinters out of the five. Looking at the circuit, it was always going to be quite challenging. Our main aim was to have a good result at the Telkom 947. But coming out of these races was fantastic and looking at the roads, the organisation and the work that Alec (Lenferna) has done is absolutely fantastic. I\u2019m pretty excited to win these two races with my team. I\u2019m also a South African, and so winning with my team in my home country is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>The eventual podium positions of Norwegian Vita Heine (HITEC Products), Dane Marie Vilmann (Cervelo Bigla) and South African Carla Oberholzer (Demacon Cycling Team) crest the final major climb on the technical district road section en route to Curry’s Post at the KZN Summer Series for Women – Queen Sibiya Classic – in Pietermaritzburg and surrounds on Thursday 17 November 2016. Photo credit: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>Norwegian Vita Heine (HITEC Products – centre) made it two-out-of-two when she claimed a calculated victory in a time of three hours 18 minutes and 10 seconds at the KZN Summer Series for Women – Queen Sibiya Classic – in Pietermaritzburg and surrounds on Thursday 17 November 2016. Photo credit: Stuart Pickering\/Cycling Direct<\/span><\/p>\n