Big talent continues to emerge on the national cycling scene with two of South Africa’s under-23 cyclists recording a top-ten finish in yesterday’s gruelling 180km Elite/under-23 Men’s road race at the 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships in Westville.
Image credit: Mylene Paynter
Sunday’s finale delivered exciting, top-class racing as the country’s top cyclists battled it out along the M13 in Westville for the National Championship titles.
Twenty-one year old Louis Meintjes (Team MTN-Qhubeka) claimed the overall victory in a time of 4 hours 27 minutes and 14 seconds, with a fine performance from 19-year-old Ryan Gibbons (Team EuropcarSA), who crossed the finish line tenth in 04:33:10.
Elite cyclist Christopher Jennings (Bonitas Pro Cycling) recorded a top-ten finish when he crossed the line in fifth place. Cycling South Africa’s post-race press release did not acknowledge Jennings’ achievement, as his result had not reflected on the timed system used for the race.
Jennings’ chip had come off his bike during his race and the timing system did not register him crossing the finish line. Race officials have confirmed that he did finish in fifth place overall.
Meintjes clinched the victory on the finish line against South African professional cyclist Daryl Impey (Orica GreenEdge). Impey looked set to take the victory when disaster struck and his chain broke in the final 15-metres before the finish line. Defending champion Jay Thomson (Team MTN-Qhubeka) claimed the bronze medal.
The women’s race saw Moolman-Pasio claim the victory after a calculated race with several attacks on the strong field. Cherise Stander crossed the line second, and 18-year-old Heidi Dalton, racing in her first year as an Elite, finished third.
Full race results for each category are available here.
Summary of FINAL Results – 2014 Time Freight SA Road Cycling Championships (road race)
Overall Results – Elite / U23 Men [180km]
1 Louis Meintjes* 04:27:14
2 Daryl Impey 04:27:14
3 Jay Thomson 04:27:30
4 Darren Lill 04:27:49
5 Christopher Jennings 04:28:04
6 JC Nel 04:28:05
7 Jacques Janse van Rensburg 04:28:15
8 Nolan Hoffman 04:30:27
9 Carl Pasio 04:33:05
10 Ryan Gibbons* 04:33:10
*under-23
Elite Women [126km]
1 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio 03:57:31
2 Cherise Stander 03:58:38
3 Heidi Dalton 03:58:49
4 Carmen Buchacher 04:00:16
5 Charlene Roux 04:00:27
6 Anriette Schoeman 04:01:10
7 Elmari de Wet 04:02:00
8 Lise Olivier 04:03:23
9 Chane Jonker 04:05:54
10 Leandri du Toit 04:07:22
Wasn't there three?
They missed one due to timing chip falling off, but he was confirmed 5th overall.