![\"Evans_applying_the_pressure_at_2012_MTN__Ride_Crater_Cruise-0390.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-2-0-48089000-1350284917.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto: Zoon Cronje – www.zcmc.co.za<\/em><\/p>\n However, those who watched the race unfold may have different opinions. They were impressed by the way in which Evans made his winning move at exactly the same spot as in preceding years, namely at a bridge about 12 kilometres from the finish.<\/p>\n Evans said: \u201cThere was a lot of \u2018firepower\u2019 in the breakaway group. I attacked earlier on, but was chased down and then had to do a rethink. When we came to the bridge, I decided to put all my energy into one huge effort and to make it count. Luckily for me it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n Nico Bell (Westvaal Columbia), who finished sixth, said that the moment Evans attacked, the rest of them were put into a classic checkmate situation.<\/p>\n \u201cDavid George and James Reid (Nedbank360Life) were both in our group and this put us in a difficult situation. “If the rest of us should have decided to chase Kevin down, we would have given the two of them a free ride. If we were to catch up with Kevin one of them, or both, could immediately launch a counter attack.<\/p>\n Photo: Zoon Cronje – www.zcmc.co.za<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat was the reason why nobody really put in a big effort to give chase to Kevin.\u201d<\/p>\n Reid\u2019s second-place finish was the big surprise of the day. Even though this was only the second time that the 19-year-old competed in an ultra-marathon, he rode like a seasoned professional.<\/p>\n Reid and Lourens Luus (Valencia) had won the Three Towers stage race the weekend before.<\/p>\n \u201cThat certainly counted in my favour because it served as a good, hard three-day training camp,\u201d said Reid.<\/p>\n According to Reid the racing in the Ride Crater Cruise was not as hard as he had expected.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring the first two hours the racing was not very serious and the last 90 minutes of racing felt like an intense cross-country race, which suited me fine. I just bided my time. When I was sure that Kevin had a commanding lead I attacked and, to my surprise, I managed to open a gap.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite his success, Reid said that, at least for the foreseeable future, he will not compete in many ultra-marathons. \u201cAt least for the next two years cross-country racing will remain my top focus. My main goal will be to win a medal in the u.23 category of the World Championship. <\/p>\n \u201cAnother goal for me will be to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n