![\"Timo-Cooper-2.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-29391000-1372230810.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCape Peninsula University of Technology\u2019s Timo Cooper won the national student mountain biking title at the Bestmed USSA cycling championships in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday. Photo: Coetzee Gouws\/Full Stop Communications<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Cooper, who rides professionally for Team Bridge, demonstrated his technical skills on an undulating 50km cross-country circuit at Hopewell Trails just outside the city.<\/p>\n He crossed the line first in 1:36:08, 39 seconds clear of the University of Cape Town\u2019s Greig Knox, while CPUT team-mate Adriaan Louw overcame mechanical problems to take third in 1:42:10.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a lucky day. It was a proper cross-country course, with loads of technical descents, climbs and good single track,\u201d said Cooper, who podiumed with German partner Nico Pfitzenmaier in the recent RE:CM Knysna 200 stage race.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m targeting both the mountain bike and road events, so this is a good start.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Cooper, the race started at a conservative pace on the 7km flat stretch that linked the start\/finish area to the 5km loop, which the riders had to do eight times.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the type of course where you knew that if you went into the lap first, you\u2019d come out first,\u201d said Cooper.<\/p>\n Stellenbosch University\u2019s Dominic Calitz was the first to show intent when he attempted a breakaway on the first technical downhill, but a puncture put paid to his efforts.<\/p>\n Former Wines2Whales winner Louw then set a high tempo on the ensuing climb and, with only Cooper able to follow, the CPUT riders opened up a gap on the chasers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got away and rode nicely together,\u201d said Cooper. \u201cOn the downhill he\u2019d drop me and then I\u2019d ride hard to catch him again on the climb.\u201d<\/p>\n The two drove the pace upfront on the first three laps until disaster struck on the penultimate loop.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the fourth lap Adriaan punctured and from then on I just rode on my own to the finish.\u201d<\/p>\n The third-year sports management student said he had ridden hard enough to win but conservatively enough to sustain his energy levels for the three-day road tour.<\/p>\n \u201cI did enough to keep my lead because there is still a week of hard racing to come.\u201d<\/p>\n The women\u2019s event over 35km was won by Emily Clarke of UCT in a time of 1:34:08. She was followed home by Stellenbosch University\u2019s Anja van Zyl in 1:36:11, with Nina Sender rounding out the podium for UCT in 1:39:01.<\/p>\n The five-stage road tour kicks off at 9am on Wednesday morning with an 84.4km ride from Altona Primary School. This will be followed by a 10km time-trial from the back entrance of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University at 2pm.<\/p>\n