Johann Rabie (Bonitas) sprinted to victory on the opening stage of the Le Coq Sportif cycle tour outside Rustenburg on Wednesday. The top professional teams started stage one at ATKV Buffelspoort over 129km, very quickly the bunch scattered to pieces on the 1st King of the Mountain climb.
A group of 12 riders broke away and managed to stay away to the finish line where Rabie outsprinted David Maree (Tasol-GT) and team mate Darren Lill (Bonitas) to secure the yellow Le Coq Sportif leaders jersey. Rabie is also the holder of the green sprinters jersey sponsored by Maemo Motors as well as the Mountain jersey.
Pieter Seyffert (Westvaal BMC) took over the combined leaders jersey of the Mountain bike and Road race from Gawie Combrinck (Columbia sportswear) when he finished in the winning break of the 12 riders today.
Robyn de Groot, busy with final preparations for the London Olympic Games stormed to a solo win in the women category, while the veteran competitions were won by Thys van Jaarsveld, Jacques Fullard and Mark Thijs.
Thursdays 2nd stage will start at Kloof, Rustenburg over 133km back to Kloof at 9am.
Johann Rabie ,David Maree,Darren Lill on the finish line
Neil Schalkwyk (Le Coq Sportif) and Johann Rabie with the winners jerseys
Tx Admin.
I would love to see the route they are following. There is only one or two "proper" climbs in the Rtb area. Rest is flat to rolling. Should make for very fast racing, a Sprinters dream.