{"id":20071,"date":"2015-04-30T08:50:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T07:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2015\/04\/30\/tshoko-making-her-mark-at-kzn-autumn-series-r2490\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T10:59:42","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T10:59:42","slug":"tshoko-making-her-mark-at-kzn-autumn-series-r2490","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/tshoko-making-her-mark-at-kzn-autumn-series-r2490\/","title":{"rendered":"Tshoko making her mark at KZN Autumn Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

With only two riveting top-end road cycling races to go in the inaugural KZN Autumn Series \u2013 the Maritzburg to Margate Mayday Classic on Friday 1 May and the Hibiscus Coast Cycle Challenge on Sunday 3 May \u2013 the series has already set an exceptional level and allowed local cyclists to experience standards set by the International Cycling Union (UCI). This is a fantastic opportunity for SA road cyclists to gain first hand experience of just how tough this type of racing is.<\/p>\n

Competing in the KZN Autumn Series is Women\u2019s Elite rider, Zanele Tshoko from Velokhaya Life Cycle Academy. Tshoko has joined the CSA Women\u2019s Development team and secured a ninth place position at the Freedom Day Classic on Monday.<\/p>\n

\"ccs-62657-0-03029200-1430383725.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Zanele Tshoko (far left) in action at the Freedom Day Classic in Pietermaritzburg on Monday 27 April – part of the KZN Autumn Series. \/\/ Photo: Andrew McFadden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMonday\u2019s racing was great,\u201d said Tshoko. \u201cI managed to be a part of the first breakaway but I couldn\u2019t keep up, the pace was too high for me so I had to fall back. When it came to the sprint, I tried really hard and finished ninth, so I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tshoko\u2019s gutsy move in the first breakaway impressed her team captain and race winner, Cherise Stander, who was also delighted at the opportunity to compete in the team along with fellow teammates Catherine Colyn, Candice Neethling, Bianca Haw, and Sinazo Matholeni. <\/p>\n

When chatting about the upcoming Hibiscus Coast Classic (Sunday), Tshoko said: \u201cI am very excited for the weekend, I am not too sure if I will be riding on Saturday, but definitely on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked if she found the longer distances of these UCI Category races more challenging, Tshoko said: \u201cI\u2019m pretty used to riding these distances so I\u2019m not finding it a problem at all. When I\u2019m training I\u2019m riding around 100km so it\u2019s no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

The importance of the series, Tshoko feels, is great for the country and in particular, women cyclists. \u201cTo have races like this here in SA is such a good thing – especially for the women to race. As individuals you don\u2019t really have a chance to race in events like these so it\u2019s good to be part of a team.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing in the team is great. Everything is great. I\u2019m learning a lot as well,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n

The recently launched KZN Autumn Series provides cycling fans and enthusiasts the chance to watch South Africa and Africa\u2019s top cycling teams battle it out for UCI points in three road race events on 27 April (Freedom Day Classic) for Elite Men and Women, 1 May (Mayday Classic) for Elite Men only and Hibiscus Coast Challenge (3 May) for Elite Men and Women.<\/p>\n

The Saturday event, Hibiscus Coast Classic, is aimed at the young age categories from under-10 through to the Veteran age categories of 60+ years, and provides the Elite riders a chance to ride on the exact same route that will be used for the Sunday UCI 1.2 event.<\/p>\n

For more information about the KZN Autumn Series, click here: http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/kzn-autumn-series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To view the edited video package of the Freedom Day Classic, click here:\n<\/p>\n

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