The 2016 edition of the SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships got underway in the farming area of Wartburg in KwaZulu-Natal, presenting warm and humid conditions. Time Trial specialists raced against the clock for the opportunity to be crowned the National Champion in this specialist’s race.
Keagan Bontekoning gives everything he’s got in a race against the clock, finishing 3rd in the U16 Boys’ category Time Trial at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
The seemingly gentle route provided its challenges to the competitors with many of the riders talking about the back section and the cruel final kicker hill just before the fast, sweeping downhill to the finish line.
Defending Champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla Pro Cycling) was sorely missed this morning when she withdrew due to falling ill. She is however hoping to recover in time for the Road Race on Saturday where she will embark on her title defence.
Taking the Elite Women’s Time Trial title, Juanita Venter opted for a slight change in her equipment prior to the race, which seemed to pay off with a handsome result despite thinking the course was tough. “I decided not to use a disc wheel today and to rather use the 808 because of the climbs. I knew if I could make it up on the climbs and power up the last kilometre then I would have a chance at being on the podium.”
Although still early in the season for him, multiple Paralympian and multiple World Champion H5 handcyclist, Ernst van Dyk, powered his way to yet another Time Trial Championship title at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
Coming into the Championship as a relative newcomer, mountain biker Samantha Sanders (Team Valencia) was considered a dark horse and she showed her strength in the TT discipline with a second-place finish in the Elite Women’s race. “After injuries I decided to swap my cycling a little and give road riding a bit if a crack. I got onto a TT bike about two weeks ago and preparation wise, my training was good but I’m not used to the set up of my bike just yet. I just wanted to suss out the scene today and thoroughly enjoyed it and I’ll definitely do another one. I had no expectations today other than to push my own limits.”
In the Para-cycling competition, multiple Paralympian and multiple World Champion H5 handcyclist, Ernst van Dyk, powered his way to yet another Championship title. “It’s early season now so I’m just doing all the basics right now and building the foundations for the rest of the season. The route was quick, it was fast but there was a lot of climbing too, which was very deceiving since I didn’t ride the course beforehand. My focus was the Time Trial because that is the one that I can measure myself, the road race will be fun.”
Celebrity “DJ” Palesa Manaleng (H3) competed in her first National Time Trial after diving into the deep end late last year at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Pietermaritzburg as her first opportunity to race in a Time Trial. Setting the bar high for herself, Manaleng thoroughly enjoyed the KwaZulu-Natal countryside.
Taking the Elite Women’s Time Trial title, Juanita Venter opted for a slight change in her equipment prior to the race, which seemed to pay off during the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
“The course wasn’t as hard as the World Cup course, but it was faster though. I enjoyed the downhills. Justine passed me and I was so embarrassed but then she is a World Champion,” she laughed. I had a puncture before the start but we fixed it quickly and my ride was event free. I see that I need to do a lot more work and need to ride in more competitions.”
London 2012 Paralympian Stuart McCreadie (H3) has returned to the racing scene after taking a break from competing last year. “Even though I didn’t compete, I was still riding a lot and putting in that all-important time on the bike with long rides. Coming back now I feel almost rested from the stresses and strains of competition. Today’s route profile looked rather easy, but that back section required quite a lot of work and the road surface was not that smooth in parts. But it was a nice TT course.”
Local resident and rising mountain bike star, Frankie du Toit (Kargo Pro MTB Team) enjoyed racing in her hometown on the familiar training hills of the area. “The course pushed you so it made sure that the best rider won,” she said. “I enjoyed the local support.”
Men’s T2 winner Gerhard Viljoen put in a solid performance during Time Trial at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
Eighty-year-old keen cyclist, Arthur Duncan, returned to compete in the Men’s 75+ class, finishing in second place behind Vincent Kelly. “It was a fantastic race, the course was a little bit challenging but it was really most enjoyable. I’ve got to congratulate the organisers for the actual event and the road management was absolutely fantastic. It was a thrill to be here. The people who inspire me the most are the Para-cyclists – to see them participating, I really get inspired from that!”
Cycling South Africa’s Road Commission Director, Bosseau Boshoff, was pleased with the race organisation and the level of racing on the opening day of the Championships. “On the first day of a competition there’s always going to be some teething problems but between the organisers and the Commissaires I think they sorted it out well – the riders had to wait a little bit for their results. It’s nice to see new faces on the podium, which means there’s new blood coming into the sport – it’s refreshing.”
In terms of the status of the event, Boshoff added: “Not only is there pride for the riders to compete but there are some UCI points and the national jersey up for grabs. For the riders, it ups their status and their value as a rider. It’s then easier for them to get into bigger teams and build a better cycling career.”
Cycling SA Para-cycling Commission Director, Dr Mike Burns explained how the National Champs has many functions. “For example, there about five new riders who have just started Para-cycling, so it was nice to see them compete for the first time. I think we’ve got at least two new riders, Gary Coetzee (C4) and Gavin Cowden (C5), who look really competitive today so I’m looking forward to seeing these new riders shape.
Celebrity “DJ” Palesa Manaleng (H3) competed in her first National Time Trial and thoroughly enjoyed the KwaZulu-Natal countryside at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
“It’s also about team selection for the national team that will compete in the very first UCI World Cup of the season in Pietermaritzburg in May. So we will be making the national team selection based on these results. Thirdly, it’s the very first race on the road to Rio, so it’s incredibly important to see how our Rio Squad riders are looking. It’s from this base that we are going to monitor them, then the World Cup in Pietermaritzburg, and so on.
Burns said that some of the standout performances for him were Coetzee and Cowden, as well as Tricyclist Gerhard Viljoen (T2). It was so unfortunate that his teammate Goldy Fuchs suffered a broken chain as he started his ride because I would’ve loved to have seen them race. I have a lot of hope for Craig Ridgard (C2) for Rio, and of course I was expecting Ernst and Stuart, Pieter du Preez (H1) and Justine Asher (H2 – both double World Champions) to do well as well, which they did.
Local resident and rising mountain bike star, Frankie du Toit (Kargo Pro MTB Team) enjoyed racing in her hometown on the familiar training hills of the area during the Time Trial at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
Racing continues tomorrow in Wartburg with the Elite, U23 and Junior Men Time Trial from 08:30 onwards, plus the Masters’ Men 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49 as well as the Para-cycling Road Race, which begins at 11:35. Come and support South Africa’s greatest road cyclists in their quest to be crowned the SA National Road Champion. There is no entry fee to watch this fantastic display of road cycling, but please take note of the road closures and alternative routes in order to get to the race venue timeously.
For further event information, please visit http://www.cyclingsa.com/2016-sa-road-champs/
Results can be followed on live timing: http://www.mobii.com/csa/sarc/
Full results from Day 1 here: http://www.cyclingsa.com/s/20160210_02-2016-SA-National-Time-Trial-Championships-results-day-1-10-February-2016-Amend.pdf
A Masters’ Men competitor in amongst the stunning cane fields during the Time Trial at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
Summary of Results – SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships – Wednesday 10 February 2016
Eighty-year-old keen competitor, Arthur Duncan, returned to compete in the Men’s 75+ class Time Trial at the 2016 SA National Road, Time Trial and Para-cycling Championships in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Wednesday 10 February. Photo credit: Darren Goddard
Elite Women (24km)
1.Juanita Venter 39:19:52
2.Samantha Sanders 39:51
3.Cashandra Slingerland 40:28
Junior Women (24km)
1.Lynette Benson
2.Nicolene Marais
3.Danielle Strydom
Women 30-34 (24km)
1.Riana Robertson 43:06
2.Engela Conradie 44:12
3.Tanya Barnes 44:26
Women 35-39 (24km)
1.Desray Sebregts 41:12
2.Bianca Holtzkampf
3.Monique King
Women 40-44 (24km)
1.Jodi Zulberg 43:05
2.Adele Janse van Vuuren 44:04
3.Anchen Naude
Women 45-49 (24km)
1.Kim Watchurst 42:35
2.Monica Glover 43:18
3.Nicolene Thiebaut 43:46
Men 50-54 (24km)
1.Gwyn Pine 35:57
2.Anthony Bennett 38:12
3.Jackie van Eeden 38:23
Vet Men 55-59 (24km)
1.Neville Ackerman 37:07
2.Charles Nienaber
3.Anton Rossouw
Vets Men 60-64 (24km)
1.Johan Spies
2.Pierre van Hell
3.Noel Ziady
Tandems – Open (24km)
1.Johan Geyser / Piet Laubscher 38:43
2.Ian Gray / Leslie Penny
Tandems – Mixed (24km)
1.Stefan Oberholzer / Carla Oberholzer 38:08
2.Mira Spring / Gavin Castlemen
U16 Boys (15km)
1.Rickardo Broxham 20:50
2.Jean Pierre Lloyd 20:54
3.Keagan Bontekoning 21:09
U16 Girls (15km)
1.Tiffany Keep 23:06
2.Kelsey van Schoor 23:24
3.Ashleigh Parsons 24:07
Women 50-54 (15km)
1.Elize Janse van Rensburg
2.Tina Brenzel
3.Christa Botha
Women 55-59 (15km)
1.Sonet Matheson 26:12
2.Hester de Klerk 26:21
3.Valda Scheppel 27:19
Women 60-64 (15km)
1.Ilna Lemmer 25:39
2.Jill Edwardes 25:56
Men 65-69 (15km)
1.Tim Oglesby 23:12
2.Michael Anthony Lombard 23:15
3.Roger Rennie 23:31
Men 75+ (15km)
1.Vincent Kelly 24:45
2.Arthur Duncan 31:13
Men H3 (15km)
1.Stuart McCreadie 21:55
2.Nic Whiteing 34:27
Men C2 (15km)
1.Craig Ridgard 21:56
2.BJ van der Walt 23:40
Men H5 (15km)
1.Ernst van Dyk 22:01
2. Andries Scheepers 23:55
Men T2 (15km)
1.Gerhard Viljoen 25:55
Men H4 (15km)
1.Gysbert van der Niet 28:44
2.Barend Coetzee 30:25
Men H1 (15km)
1.Pieter du Preez 36:56
Men T1 (15km)
1.George Rex 38:18
Men C2/3 (24km)
1.Juan Odendaal 44:10
2.Phillo Verlaat
Men C4 (24km)
1.Gary Coetzee 40:40
2. Ruben van Niekerk 46:38
3. Attie Botha 50:40
Men C5 (24km)
1.Gavin Cowden 41:47
2.Dane Wilson 42: 22
Women C4 (15km)
1.Vicky Scheepers 24:16
Women C5 (15km)
1.Estelle vd Merwe 25:56
Women H2 (15km)
1.Justine Asher 33:08
Women H3 (15km)
1.Palesa Manaleng 46:54
Women T1 (15km)
1.Toni Mould 52: 33
Not part of the SA Championship, but awarded special trophies and jerseys:
U10 Boys (10km)
1.Francois de Jager 17:51
2.Evan Moolman 18:06
3.Nathan Hattingh 20:56
U10 Girls (10km)
1.Danel de Jager 19:32
2.Jessie Munton 21:32
3.Chanica Botes 23:22
U12 Boys (10km)
1.Jaydon Botes
U12 Girls (10km)
1.Lalique Broxham 18:46
2.Mia Fortuin 19:36
3.Emma Clipstone 19:42
U14 Boys (15km)
1.Callum Osborne 23:52
2.Travis Stedman 24:54
3.Luhandre Ludik 25:29
U14 Girls (15km)
1.Chante Olivier 25:54
2.Mischka Strydom 26:20
3.Chloe Bateson 26:55
