![\"ccs-62657-0-16676900-1430493943.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-16676900-1430493943.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNicholas Dlamini (MTN-Qhubeka Feeder Team) and HB Kruger (Team Abantu) crossing the finish line at the May Day Classic in Margate on Friday 1 May 2015. Photo: Supplied<\/span><\/p>\n Due to a traffic infringement in the final kilometre, the Commissaire\u2019s made the decision to have two race winners.<\/p>\n A cool, early morning start saw some of South Africa and Africa\u2019s elite cyclists extend their competitive abilities on a long and tough route, which saw several breakaways during the event.<\/p>\n Siyabonga Sonchiza (Rand Water Velokhaya) was the first to go only 3km into the race and he managed to hold off the chasing peloton until the 10km mark. \u201cI tried to do my best to win today but in the last 40km I could just feel the pain. Maybe next time I can do better; it\u2019s not what I\u2019m used to because it\u2019s very long. Maybe on Sunday I can do better because it\u2019s a 130km race,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The second breakaway happened with nine riders at the 16km mark, which soon became 18 riders at 21km. The bunch was riding comfortably until the 72km mark, when Tesfom Okubamariam and Clint Hendriks from the MTN-Qhubeka feeder team made a break for it.<\/p>\n As the kilometres clocked up, the gap opened and the chase was strong until 135km, where the two were eventually reeled in. The lead bunch stayed together until 173km, where Nicholas Dlamini (MTN-Qhubeka Feeder team), HB Kruger (Team Abantu) and Metkel Eyob Tewelderberhan (MTN-Qhubeka Feeder team) broke away and opened a sizeable gap from the peloton until the sprint finish.<\/p>\n An early breakaway was made by MTN-Qhubeka Feeder Team riders Tesfom Okubamariam and Clint Hendriks (front) at the May Day Classic in Margate on Friday 1 May 2015. Photo: Supplied <\/span><\/p>\n Team Abantu rider HB Kruger, broke the race down: \u201cThe bunch split quite early in the race and I was caught on the back foot a bit and I jumped across with two riders and you know, from there the race was a bit negative because there was quite a big split up front. The last 100km was a block headwind and the guys weren\u2019t really going anywhere, and two MTN-Qhubeka feeder team riders jumped clear and David Maree and Myles van Musschenbroek from Team Abantu – they started pacing and they reeled them in quite steadily and then we raced on again.\u201d<\/p>\n With a KZN Autumn Series podium finish already to his name, Kruger was determined to fight until the end to try to do it again. \u201cThere was quite a big bunch 10km from the line and the MTN guys really had us under pressure. They worked really hard and I struggled a bit, but I jumped across and I was fortunate enough to stick with them to the line. Unfortunately a few technicalities which involved cars and bikes in the sprint meant there was a shared win between myself and Nic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In terms of the shared win, Kruger is even more eager for Sunday\u2019s race. \u201cI think it\u2019s a fair compromise but it really motivates me for Sunday so I\u2019m looking forward to the next race,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cycling South Africa\u2019s General Manager, Mike Bradley, is pleased with the day\u2019s racing. \u201cThe race went very well today, and the weather was great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bradley mentioned that there was quite a divide due to the length of the race. \u201cA lot of riders dropped off the pace in the first 40km or so, who then had to get taken off the circuit because the gap was too big unfortunately. We had to do that to control the peloton all the way here to Margate so that the race field didn\u2019t get too stretched out.<\/p>\n \u201cThe riders looked pretty good when they got to the end so all in all a good day,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n The chase group looking solid on the KZN coastline at the May Day Classic in Margate on Friday 1 May 2015. \/\/ Photo: Supplied.<\/span><\/p>\n Tomorrow, the Hibiscus Coast Classic takes place, which is aimed at the young age categories from under-10 through to the Veteran age categories of 60+ years, as well as the Elite\/U23 and Junior classes. Racing in the various categories starts at 10:00 until approximately 15:30 and the roads will be closed to traffic during this time. KZN Cycling will be handing over 50 bicycles for local community development as part of the KZN Cycling Development Programme at 09:00 on Marine Drive, Margate beach.<\/p>\n Sunday will see the Elite Men and Women cyclists compete in the third and final round of the KZN Autumn Series in and around Margate. The Elite\/U23 Men will start at 07:30 and complete 10 laps of the 15.5km circuit (155km), while the Elite Women will start at 07:35 and complete seven laps (108.5km).<\/p>\n For more information about the KZN Autumn Series, click here: http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/kzn-autumn-series\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n