Van Niekerk, Matthee claim Pursuit titles at Track Champs in Durban

New national champions have been crowned at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The competition is well underway as we enter day three today, on our national Worker’s Day public holiday, culminating on Saturday, 3 May.

Covering all the age group disciplines, the 5-day event has seen the best of South African track cycling take to the outdoor concrete track, close to Durban’s Golden Mile.

Team Abantu in full flight on their way to claim the Team Pursuit National Championship title at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

The Individual Pursuit events kicked off Tuesday’s proceedings, with several new champions donning the green and gold striped National Champion jersey. Morne van Niekerk (Panda Abantu Academy) and Maroesjka Matthee (Intellibus) won the Elite titles in the 4000m and 3000m Pursuits respectively.

London 2012 Olympian Bernard Esterhuizen accelerates ahead of Chris Mlotshwa in the Elite Men Sprint semi-finals at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Van Niekerk said: “It’s been a lot of hard work, which has paid off. My coach, Sheldon, and I have targeted this event since October last year and we worked very hard. All the road tours I was able to do have helped me with my endurance and I’m very happy to have won here tonight.”

Jean Smith turns on the speed in a duel with Kyle Borchjes in the Elite Men Sprint semi-finals at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Theuns van der Bank (Yorkshire Giants) claimed the silver medal, whilst Nolan Hoffman (Team Abantu) settled for bronze. Ilze Bole claimed the Elite Women’s silver medal, with Dalena Nel claiming the bronze medal.

Myrtle Hagedorn sets a new national record in the Women’s 50-54 Sprint qualifier at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

The Junior Men 3000m title went to Stefan de Bod, whilst Monique Gerber (Bestmed ASG) won the Junior Women’s 2000m. Joshua Buchel recorded the second fastest time to claim the silver medal, with Waylin Young claiming bronze. Chante van der Merwe (Hartebeespoort) won the silver medal with Kayla Edwards taking the bronze medal.

Team Gauteng in the Team Pursuit Final where they claimed silver at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Europcar’s Dylan Le Roux stood on the top step of the podium when he won the u16 Men’s Pursuit in 2 minutes 37.36 seconds. Bradley Gouveris finished second, with Joshua van Wyk (Europcar) earning bronze.

Bonitas Pro Cycling, a road cycling team, show their support of track cycling and the Team Pursuit at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Team Abantu cemented their dominance in track cycling as they claimed victory in the Team Pursuit on Wednesday night. James Perry, David Maree, Kellan Gouveris and Nolan Hoffman put on a solid performance in their heat, claiming the gold medals. Silver went to Morne van Niekerk, Joshua Buchel, Steven van Heerden and Dirkie Nel, with Giant CVT’s Theuns van der Bank, Evan Carstens Graeme Ockhuis and Peter Lambert winning the bronze medals.

Seven-time South African Sprint Champion Willie Marx at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Track cycling legend and seven-time South African Sprint champion Willie Marx (Eden Cycling Club) won a calculated Sprint race in the 70+ category against local riders Albert Fryer (Jowetts) 2^nd, and Adrian Schoeman (Mr Price) 3^rd.

Multiple Champion Wendell Bole wins the 200m Sprint qualifier ahead of Noel Ziady and Robert Alexander at the 2014 SA Track and Para-cycling Championships, currently underway at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban. Photo: Mylene Paynter

Multiple Champion Wendell Bole (LPCC) was the fastest qualifier in the 200m Sprint in the 60-64 category, and a new national record was set by Myrtle Hagedorn (City Cycling Club) in the 200m Sprint qualifier in the Women’s 50-54 category.

The action continues to heat up today as the Para-cycling classes begin their racing today andtomorrow as well. The endurance events will kick in as the Championship continues, with the Points and Scratch races due to start whilst the Sprint and Individual Pursuit events continue amongst the age categories.

Click here for the full Programme of Events and start times.

For regular updates, visit the South African Track and Para-cycling Championships Facebook page, and visit Cycling South Africa’s Facebook page for more event photos.